Hub to tackle health issues could 'change lives'

Jo Thewlis/BBC The entrance to The Link at Breckland Business Centre. The entrance door is made of sliding glass and is surrounded by red-brick walls. A sign saying 'The Link' is attached to the wall to the left hand side of the doors.Jo Thewlis/BBC
The Link in Dereham will offer support to help tackle the causes of mental and physical ill health

There are hopes a new hub to help tackle mental and physical health problems in Norfolk could change people's lives.

The Link has been opened in Dereham, offering support with finances, benefits, housing and employment issues.

Set up by Breckland Council, the project was officially opened by Lady Philippa Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, on Monday.

She said: "There will be wonderfully trained men and women who passionately want to help people change their lives and get to a better place."

Jo Thewlis/BBC Lady Philippa Dannatt has shoulder-length, blonde hair with red glasses on her head. She is wearing a red jacket with a colourful scarf around her neck and is smiling at the camera.Jo Thewlis/BBC
Lady Philippa Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, opened the new hub in Dereham

The Link is based on Breckland Business Park, which is owned by Breckland Council.

It brings together a range of services to help people with problems that can cause poor health, such as low income, housing issues and unemployment.

Lady Dannatt said: "Too many people in this area and across the county are really without any hope.

"When you're without hope, you despair, and there's a lot of despairing going on at the moment.

"I'm hoping that just by coming through these front doors that will all change; that nobody will feel hopeless, nobody will feel despairing."

Jo Thewlis/BBC Steve James has short grey hair with a short beard and moustache.
He is wearing a blue suit with a white shirt and pink tie.
Behind him is the red bricks of The Link building and some green bushes.Jo Thewlis/BBC
Steve James helped to create The Link project for Breckland Council

Staff from Norfolk and Waveney Mind will be based in the new offices, alongside Citizens Advice and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Nick Francis, chairman of Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said mental health problems were caused by various issues.

"Physical ill health, not being in a job, financial difficulties, relationship difficulties can often trigger a mental health crisis," he said.

"So, by trying to support people at an earlier stage and to de-escalate some of those issues, we can help them manage their mental health and let them lead the life that they want."

The service will be by referral initially, but it is hoped it could be open for people to drop in once the system gets established.

Steve James, an executive director at Breckland Council who helped create the project, said: "Sometimes when people find themselves in a difficult situation, quite rightly some people respond to that by burying their head in the sand and hope the problems go away.

"They don't, they just get bigger," he said. "And when people do build the courage to come and speak to somebody, we just want to make sure that we are able to try and deal with as many of those issues at the same time."

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