The founder of a mental health charity wants to make Helston home to one of the first dedicated 'wellness centres' in Cornwall - but says she is being stymied by high rents.

Natasha Long set up Your Voice in July this year, to support people affected by mental health issues as well as the small charities that already provide help.

Her long-term aim is to create a wellness centre that would provide various services and help under one roof - everything from counselling, to reduce the long waiting lists by offering a sessions through either doctor or self referral, to part-subsidised or fully-funded gym and fitness sessions, as physical health is proven to improve mental health.

Such a centre could also be a base for workshops for people to learn new skills in a relaxed environment, where people with anxiety, agoraphobia and other conditions could socialise while building confidence.

A number of instructors and health professionals in both these areas have already said they would like to be involved, including one man with an established music therapy business.

Other sessions would include talks to educate people about mental health, how to support someone affected and where to get help.

The centre could even include a cafe, where people could chat with staff or simply go to combat loneliness and isolation.

Natasha said: "I think there isn’t really anything this far down, and this area and the surrounding areas house a lot of the demographics impacted by mental health.

"All of these would be invaluable to those affected by mental health. All of these could be helping to save lives."

However, she has been left frustrated at the high rates for empty shops in the town centre, which she said were just sitting empty as result.

Two in particular that she believed would be perfect for a wellness centre were the former Factory Shop building in Coinagehall Street and the empty JobCentre building further up the same street - but these cost £2,500 and almost £1,800 respectively, every single month.

She said: "These are two empty shops that are just sat there, making our town look scruffy.

"Whilst we’re desperately trying to raise funds, these properties sit empty - rotting and soulless.

"For the sake of getting some rent in, would it be the worst thing in the world to lower the rent or look at other options to rent the space out?

"Would it not be better to have a local organisation in there - with a massively reduced rent - that is supporting the community whilst earning an income through the shop that could eventually cover a full rent?"

Natasha said she was in the process of deciding whether to become a community interest company - a business that reinvests money back into itself or the community - or a charitable incorporated organisation, which combines the benefits of being a charity with those of being a company.

Once this had been established she could start applying for funding and believed it would cost around £40,000 to £45,000 to get off of the ground, including a year's rent based on the current figures for larger properties around.

In the meantime she is looking for somewhere to open a shop to sell donated items, to start raising funds on a more regular basis and also be a point of contact for people needing support.

This would be run by one paid member of full-time staff and potentially a paid part-time staff member, with the rest of the team made up of volunteers who had already come forward.

A Crowdfunder campaign has been set up at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yourvoice and fundraising events have already taken place, with the next being a Christmas Fun Day at Culdrose, for which more details will be announced nearer the time.