A mental health charity celebrated 25 years of helping the community with a visit from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

The Creative Living Centre in Prestwich received mounds of praise and in return, gifted Mr Burnham his own "worry worm", encouraging him to "tell it his worries to help manage the stress of his role".

Read more: Prestwich charity calls for help ahead of 25th birthday

Speaking on the anniversary, Thursday, September 22, the mayor said: “It’s a real privilege to be here, when I heard about the things that have been achieved here it’s phenomenal, when I was reading about you I knew this would be right up my street.

Bury Times: Andy Burnham with staff from The Prestwich Creative Living Centre Andy Burnham with staff from The Prestwich Creative Living Centre (Image: Public)

“What really struck me was you were massively ahead of your time. If you go back to 1997 mental health was not up there at the time.

“I’m here on behalf of the people of Greater Manchester to say thank you.”

The charity helps adults who could benefit from mental wellbeing support through one-to-one meetings, social and group activities, talking therapies, creative writing, art therapy and wellbeing support courses.

Mr Burnham said: “Mental health is everyone’s issue today. We got to move to a way of supporting people that is very different.

“I’m here to say places like Creative Living Centre should be at the heart of the system.

"A brilliant achievement of 25 years of Creative Living Centre well done it’s amazing.”

Bury Times: Andy Burnham digging for the time capsule at The Prestwich Creative Living Centre Andy Burnham digging for the time capsule at The Prestwich Creative Living Centre (Image: Public)

While visiting the Rectory Lane centre, Andy helped to bury a time capsule containing mementoes of the centre’s history that will be unearthed in another 25 years’ time.

Heather Heathfield, chief officer of Creative Living Centre, said: “We’ve supported 500 people in the last year on their journey.

“Our members said most of them felt more connected to others and had improved their mental health.

“We’d like to thank the staff for their dedication, enthusiasm and humour used to deliver the service. I am humbled and in awe of it every day."

Bury Times: Holly Brown, Andy Burnham, Charli Headley Holly Brown, Andy Burnham, Charli Headley (Image: Public)

During the celebrations, there was a performance of a song that was written especially for the occasion by local composer and songwriter Ben Parsons with musical accompaniment from Sarah Denman Music Therapist from Nordoff Robbins.

Photographs of the history of Creative Living Centre and artwork on display were created by members and Liz Thompson, chief officer, who died in August 2021.

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