A CHARITY set up in memory of a teenager who fell to her death from Accrington’s Arndale Centre is aiming to open a mental health support centre for young adults by Christmas.
Dawn Johnson, whose Burnley-born daughter Lauren died last June aged 17, said the Lauren’s Place charity was very close to concluding a deal to use part of a building in Great Harwood to offer therapeutic group sessions to 16 to 18-year-olds battling mental illness.
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The centre will allow the charity to start supporting people while continuing to work on plans to open the Lauren’s Place café, which will be a place for people to feel safe, get help or find out more about mental health and available services.
Mrs Johnson said the charity was also set to petition the Government calling for education about youth mental health first aid to be added to the teacher training curriculum.
Mrs Johnson said: “Lauren would be proud about Lauren’s Place and the work that is being done. Lauren always thought about other people first and now that the charity is helping improve people’s lives.”
Mrs Johnson, who lives with husband Ian, in Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, said Lauren’s Place had now hit its £5,000 fundraising target enabling it to apply to become a registered charity. If approved, it means the charity would be eligible to match funding via Gift Aid.
Mrs Johnson was speaking at a wellbeing day at the Accrington Town Hall Ballroom on Saturday, organised by the charity to boost its fundraising and raise awareness of mental health following the death of the former Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School pupil.
“The day went really well. We had some fantastic stallholders each offering something different,” she said.
“Although it was a fundraiser for Lauren’s Place the main purpose was about awareness.
People think it’s something that only happens to other people, but it can happen to anyone.”
The event featured demonstrations, tasters and stalls promoting homeopathy, yoga, tai chi, reiki, reflexology, healthy eating and more.
Visit laurens-place.org.uk
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