A NEW and innovative service - which is the first of its kind in Wales - is all set to reach out to people living in rural areas of Denbighshire who need help with their mental wellbeing.

Vale of Clwyd Mind, in partnership with the Coop Resilience Fund, will provide a mobile social prescribing service in rural towns, villages and farmers’ markets, starting on February 1.

A vehicle, affectionately known as DORIS (Denbighshire Outreach Rural Information Service), will help to support people in mental distress.

On board will be a fully trained social prescribing practitioner who will provide short term emotional and practical assistance – and provide referrals to other organisations who can help.

Its first outing will be next Tuesday, February 1 at Ruthin Farmers' Market from 10am onwards.

Paul Moore, chief executive officer of Vale of Clwyd Mind, said: "We have had a long-term ambition to provide this service on a regular basis in rural areas.

"Circumstances have now come together to provide us with a great opportunity to help people who need emotional and practical support as we continue with our long journey through Covid."

Help from DORIS and her team can be accessed easily – either through local GP surgeries, by phone self-referral – or people can just drop by for a cup of tea and a chat with social prescribing practitioner Gill Pullen and her team of expert volunteers.

DORIS will be delivering the service in the area’s four main towns – Corwen, Denbigh, Ruthin and St Asaph – but will also visit local farmers’ markets and local villages on a regular basis.

A range of partners will be involved including the Coop's own Community Champions.

Mr Moore added: "We have had an amazing response from a wide range of organisations who can see the potential in what we are trying to achieve.

"Local GPs are working with us to refer patients who are depressed or anxious, Denbighshire County Council is providing free parking for DORIS in accessible places, the NHS audiology department are keen to take part and other organisations will be ‘on board’ to provide help when needed.

"Local people will have no trouble accessing DORIS – she is a very large and very yellow vehicle it would be hard to miss!

"It’s been a difficult project to bring together but none of it would have been possible without the Co-op who are funding the year-long project.

"It follows a successful Social Prescribing project in Rhyl which provided real help to over 500 people.

"We now want to replicate that success in rural areas where 50 per cent of the county’s population live without many of the amenities enjoyed elsewhere."

During the project, people throughout south Denbighshire will be asked to complete a community questionnaire to find out what would most improve the lives of those living in the rural area.

Those views will inform a report which will be available at the end of the project to the NHS, Denbighshire County Council, partners and anyone who is interested.

A list of where DORIS will be and when will be circulated widely.

Anybody who would like to find out more about how the project can help them can either contact their GP for a referral or visit the DORIS team.