A Hampshire charity is set to cash in with a £40,000 donation.

Solent Mind are the worthy recipients of the grant from Southern Co-op, which has raised the money through its carrier bag levy.

It comes as mental health organisations across the south mark seven days of awareness and fundraising with Mental Health Awareness Week running throughout this week.

And the week kicked off the start of a two year ‘peer support’ project between the Co-op and their chosen charity Solent Mind.

Solent Mind’s head of peer support Sue Forber said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as a community partner for Southern Co-op.

“Their generous initial donation will enable us to develop our ground-breaking new peer support groups in local communities throughout Hampshire.

“These groups are run by trained volunteers who have experienced mental health issues and offer hope and mutual support away from a medical setting, by sharing interests, hobbies and social activities.

“We can’t wait to work with our Southern Co-op!”

Solent Mind is the fourth community partner chosen as part of Southern Co-op’s ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ campaign.

The campaign addresses four key themes: greener, safer, healthier and more inclusive neighbourhoods, with a community partner for each one.