For better mental health

Welcome to the Suffolk Mind website

30 Years a Volunteer (whilst working fulltime!)

Volunteers are the rock on which many voluntary services are built, all are valuable and their contributions cannot be compared as each gives what they can.

We are grateful to all our volunteers and we appreciate the very individual contribution each one makes. Many have given us extraordinary service but one must stand out – even in this amazing crowd. Dr Richard Young volunteered to become a Trustee for West Suffolk Mind in 1977 – and he hasn’t left yet!

For 30 years Dr Young has helped us in many ways, he is again serving as our Chair. Since 1977 Richard has been involved in the development of our charity from a small mental health housing provider (with two flats in one town) to a £million turnover charity, which offers a wide range of services. We now offer 26 supported housing flats, respite care for carers, an employment service, programmes, support groups, and counselling. Over the last two years Dr Young has been instrumental in developing our PC-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy service from a small pilot to a successful service (for 50 people a year) which has had such positive results that the Suffolk PCT are currently considering funding it. Dr Young has volunteered one full day a week to provide the required therapist component. Without this invaluable contribution the service would not be able to continue.

Dr Young has always been completely focused on the needs and requirements of the users of our charity. In both his professional and voluntary endeavours he has always pushed for the best quality services for vulnerable adults in need of care. In the 30 years he has volunteered his time for West Suffolk Mind he has positively benefited the lives of thousands of people either directly or indirectly. We are all very grateful for his astonishing commitment to us.

Date: 05/10/2007

West Suffolk Mind: Charity No.260479. East Suffolk Mind: Charity No. 1003061. East Suffolk Mind is a Registered Company. Company No. 2611510. Click here for full details.