SERVICE which helps people overcome post traumatic stress is set to continue thanks to Lottery funding.

The South East and Central Essex Mind post traumatic stress disorder service has been given £282,000, enabling it to carry on for another two years.

The service, which was launched three years ago at Mind’s Southchurch Road, Southend headquarters, offers counselling for service men and women and members of other stressful professions such as the police and ambulance service.

Without the funding, it would have struggled to continue.

Anthony King, chief officer at Mind, said: “This is extremely good news as it has given us another two years.

We couldn’t take on any new referrals without more funding.

“The service is the only one of its kind in this part of the country. We have people travelling two-and-a-half hours each way, coming from Norfolk and Surrey. This money will enable us to reemploy two full-time cousellors who will see up to 40 people a week.”

Mr Knight added: “We work to address the trauma that has caused the post traumatic stress disorder and give people a strategy to cope with it.

“About 50 per cent of our clients are from the armed forces, but we also see members of the police and ambulance services as well as people who have suffered traumatic car accidents or assaults.

“We worked with one of the victims of the 7/7 bombings.

We have a very good record for getting people back to work through our counselling.”

The award, one of 14 in the region, was part of the latest Lottery funding for the east of England totalling £4.4million.

A spokesman said: “The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK.

“We are responsible for giving out 40 per cent of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

“Since June 2004 we have awarded over £6.5billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for Second World War veterans.”

Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £32billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.

For more information, visit biglotteryfund.org.uk