A NORTHERN charity that helps people in South Lakeland and Barrow with mental health problems on the road to recovery by getting them back to work is calling for support from local employers, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The Making SPACE employment link, based at Grosvenor House, Stramongate, Kendal.

helps people suffering from mental illness to gain access employment and education opportunities.

The project is a two-woman show run by employment development worker Liz Swallow and project support worker Kath Towes, who are backed by an administration support worker.

Together the two women provide clients with continual support, advice on work opportunities and benefit claims, and run eight-week-long Build on Your Skills workshops covering everything from CV writing to interview techniques.

Their main objective is getting people back to work, but to do that they desperately need the support of local employers.

"There is still a lot of work to be done educating employers.

There is still a stigma attached to people with mental health problems.

Some employers in the area are fantastic but we need more like them," said Mrs Swallow.

The two women have seen people from all walks of life come through the door, from people suffering long-term mental health problems to professionals who have become ill through the pressures of the modern workplace.

They have placed past clients in jobs ranging from conservation work to retail and want more employers to participate in the scheme and

offer work opportunities such as voluntary placements or part-time paid work.

"We have a wealth of untold skills - people who will work for nothing.

We desperately need more employers to offer opportunities in any kind of work.

"People forget that a vast percentage of people at some time in their lives have suffered with a mental illness," said Mrs Swallow.

Liz Swallow is keen to talk to employers and explain more about Making SPACE.

They can call her on 01539-722282.