The campaign to set up a Swindon Well-being Centre aimed at helping stressed people in the town was given a boost yesterday by a cash donation from this summer’s White Horse Festival.

The organisers of the arts and music festival held in Wanborough earlier this year, handed over a cheque for £1,000 to Kathleen Aitken, the manager of Swindon Mind. She is a member of the team planning the new centre.

The rest of the cash raised by the festival, amounting to several hundred pounds, will be given to other local mental health charities.

The planned Horizons Well-being centre is aimed at helping a wide range of people and families suffering from stress or distress, as well as being a one-stop shop for those suffering mental health problems.

The centre will offer guidance, help in getting information and treatment, and also training.

The aim is to improve the mental health of the people of Swindon and to reduce health inequalities.

Similar schemes set up elsewhere in the country have been a huge success.

The organisers have already spent a grant of thousands of pounds drawing up a business plan and now are seeking a highly motivated leader to bring the project to life.

“We are hoping to attract a high calibre candidate who wants to give something back to society,” said Kathleen.

“We shall be advertising the post in the coming days.

“They will have an office and administrative back up but they may have to work for free at first, until the Horizons centre is fully funded and operational.

“We are hoping they will have the drive to get the centre set up in Swindon, and it will be vital in these tough economic times.

“Worries over jobs, pay freezes and paying the bills can produce enormous emotional distress from some people and families.”

Anyone interested in the post should contact Swindon Mind on 01793 432031.

The Horizons team hopes some local public bodies or private companies might offer one of their staff to help with the scheme.

The White Horse Festival festival featured the Bob Bowles blues band, the Mill, and a host of dancers and actors from the Liberatus School of Performing Arts and London dance schools.

It was held in the grounds of the Wanborough home of John House, of Stanwells, the Old Town tool supplier.