Two leading local mental health charities have become one this month.

Mind in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Fenland Mind merged to support people experiencing mental health problems across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire.

The newly merged organisation Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind - to be known as CPSL Mind – officially launched on Monday 10 April, with a joint history of more than 130 years of supporting local people recovering from mental health issues.

“This is an exciting time for both organisations,” said Aly Anderson, Interim CEO of CPSL Mind.

“We have been working closely in partnership for a number of years and are now delighted to be formalising our relationship. We believe this will place us in an even better position to serve the communities in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire into the future.”

For those who use the charities’ services there will be very little change, however.

“The services that we provide local people from our three bases in Cambridge, Peterborough and St Neots will continue exactly as before the merger - as will our various outreach services. The only difference will be the change of name,” Ms Anderson added.

Mind in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough & Fenland Mind provide community-based services and projects across the county and, between them, reached more than 7000 local people with their counselling, wellbeing services, advice and information, training and campaigning work last year.

They are part of the Mind Network of independent mental health charities across the country and are affiliated to national Mind.

The two organisations have been working in partnership on various projects in recent years – including The Sanctuary out-of-hours crisis service, the STOP Suicide project and the Blue Light Programme which supports the mental wellbeing of local emergency service personnel.

For more information, call 01733 362990.