MENTAL health charity Dorset Mind has won a £4,500 grant to help provide a new support group for women and girls.

The money, from the Dorset Community Foundation Tampon Tax Grant, will fund the Women in Mind group in rural Dorset for a year, starting in the summer.

The charity already runs at Bournemouth Women in Mind group, which meets at Kinson Community Centre from 1pm to 3pm every Wednesday, and now wants to replicate the model across more rural parts of the county.

Marianna Storey, chief executive of Dorset Mind, said: "In Dorset, we also have many rural areas as part of our geographical layout which, due to location and lack of public transport, means many residents don’t have access to the support services for women and girls offered in Bournemouth for example.

"It’s our intention through this project to remove barriers to women receiving treatment and support for poor mental health across the whole of the Dorset conurbation."

Women in Mind is a female only peer-based discussion and support group giving women and girls the opportunity to talk about their feelings and their mental health in a safe and confidential environment.

It also hosts workshops, education programmes and practical advice to help women and girls manage their mental health on a daily basis while supporting them towards full recovery.

Visit dorsetmind.uk to find out more.