The Oxford Coasters, run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust which support mental health patients to participate and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities from football to rock climbing have been awarded a £1000 grant by Comic Relief to help with the purchase of new equipment for the group.

Last week the group of staff and patients completed a series of 7 day walks along The Ridgeway from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire and in September the group will be completing their annual 200 mile coast-to-coast walk from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin’s Hood Bay in Yorkshire.

Rachel, who has suffered from mental health problems for years reports that her involvement with Coasters has meant that she has achieved things she would never have imagined before and definitely feels more positive as a result. It is therefore hoped that this grant will enable more patients to benefit from the work that Coasters do.