William and Kate fund Norfolk mental health pilot

The Prince and Princess of Wales are teaming up with a Norfolk charity to provide mental health support for those living on the Sandringham Estate.

The couple are co-funding a pilot programme with Norfolk and Waveney Mind to provide additional care for rural and farming communities.

It will aim to reach across the 1,500-strong community in north-west Norfolk, with almost half of those living on the royal estate.

Sonja Chilvers, interim chief executive of Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: "We're delighted to be working with the Prince and Princess of Wales... and we are keen to see the difference that this pilot will make to local people's mental health."

Kensington Palace said the issue of rural isolation and poor mental health was something that was still widespread across the UK.

The pilot will provide face-to-face counselling and targeted sessions, including with parent and toddler, menopause and men's groups.

It will also include a rollout of mental health training to employers, so support can be offered to people before they hit a crisis point.

The announcement follows the Prince of Wales's pledge to provide mental health support for tenant farmers on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.

It is hoped the programme could become a blueprint for sustainable rural mental health funding.

Ms Chilvers said it could be replicated in estates across the UK.

She said: "We are all too aware of the specific mental health challenges faced by people in rural settings, particularly those in the farming community.

"Our innovative new partnership will drive proactive outreach and preventative measures to the whole community and form a vital step in better protecting the wellbeing of local people."

The scheme will be officially launched in 2025 and run for two years.

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