A VOLUNTEER who has devoted years of his life to helping others says he needs funding for a project helping beat addiction and recover after mental health problems.

Lawrence Curtis said he needs the cash to keep running Healthy Minds Healthy Bods after running it for several years free of charge.

He said he believed it could work with up to 350 clients in its first year should he get the funding. Last month Mr Lawrence won a Mayor’s Civic Award, as nominated by Councillor Sue Lukes, for his contribution to Islington, and will attend an awards ceremony later this month.

He founded Healthy Minds Healthy Bods five years ago after a “lost year” of “big depression”. He struggled to find the support he needed – so he created his own project to fill the gap in the market.

Along with Dean Pannick, the two men take people on walks and trips, exercise classes and nutrition advice.

Mr Curtis said he “didn’t want people to go through what he had gone through” by being alone and depressed, but instead wanted to give them the opportunity to get out and meet other people and have fun.

Instead, he created a course in which nutrition, exercise and mental health are “all encompassing, because everything is linked,” he said.

Mr Pannick said: “I used to be low in confidence [so I know how they feel]. We see a massive impact from day one to today, there’s a big confidence boost in them. They’re upbeat – we don’t get them depressed, we get them smiling. They come out and meet each other – they love it.”

A spokesperson for North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The local NHS is investing significantly in mental health services and we’re extremely pleased to be working closely with a range of excellent local charities who have been commissioned to deliver community mental health support to residents, alongside NHS staff.”

They added: “So far, this programme has led to 42 new jobs in local charities – more roles will be created over the next two years and we will welcome bids from any interested local charities and follow open and fair procurement processes when awarding contracts.”