A mental health charity whose home is being sold by Greenwich Council is to be given £100,000 for works at its new base. 

Mental health services have been provided from two houses in Ormiston Road, east Greenwich, since 1979, when Greenwich Mind moved in.

But the charity’s successor, South East London Mind, will be moving out in August to The Forum in Trafalgar Road, about half a mile away.

Greenwich Council plans to sell the houses as part of plans announced last year to close a £33 million budget gap.

However, the council will pay £100,000 to help adapt South East London Mind’s space at The Forum. A large open-plan room will be converted into a counselling suite with four private rooms, while an annexe building will be converted so it can be used by peer support groups.

“The move will provide a more accessible and suitable environment for mental health service users,” a council document announcing the decision says. “The funding would be used to make sure the space is fully accessible, with a calm and wellness focused environment, benefitting the support and recovery of South East London Mind’s users.”

“The investment will ensure long-term sustainability for South East London Mind’s services, reducing future financial pressures, securing support for vulnerable people suffering from mental ill health and opening up opportunities for new services to be developed.”

The cash comes from Section 106 money paid by developers in the borough.

The council originally took the decision to sell in 2019, but announced it as part of a wider property strategy in October last year. 

Other sales include car parks in Charlton, Blackheath and Plumstead, while the strategy was later expanded to include a house in the grounds of a community centre in Shooters Hill, as well as the borough’s equestrian centre – causing a row which ultimately led to the resignation of local councillor Ivis Williams last week.

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