Harleston Kindness Help Hub hits the road in fancy dress to mark World Mental Health Day

A community group spent the weekend engaged in a flurry of activities to spread some happiness on World Mental Health Day.

Harleston Kindness Help Hub organised its own ‘Kindness Day’ to raise money for Mind, the mental health charity.

Various activities saw volunteers touring the town on Saturday in a convoy of vehicles, with residents turning out to wave their support and enjoy a picnic in their gardens.

An online family quiz was hosted via the group’s Facebook page the previous evening, and there was a chance for people to enjoy coffee and cake at The Swan Hotel.

Residents and businesses were encouraged to paint a new batch of kindness rocks to spread positive messages.

Michelle Ward, one of the help hub’s co-ordinators, said: “The plan for Saturday was that we hide the new kindness rocks around Harleston for everyone to find. We dropped a batch off at Trees Nursing Home in town as well, so the residents could hide them for each other to find.

“We had an online quiz to win a £30 voucher for Pura Vida and a collection bucket for Mind at The Swan, with volunteers stationed there to meet and talk over coffee and cake with anyone who stopped by for a chat.

“We also had volunteers in fancy dress and a convoy of vehicles touring the town, including a fire engine, a motorbike and a Mustang classic car to brighten the day, and we handed out leaflets for Norfolk and Waveney Mind as well.”

The group helped the Chalk Bomb Charity to publicise an art trail to raise money further funds over the weekend, as reported in last week’s Diss Express.

Further activities in the pipeline include events to mark Hallowe’en, which will include a socially distanced pumpkin trail for families, and Remembrance Sunday.

For more stories about the Kindness Help Hub, click here .