Change Mental Health is to absorb the services offered by listening charity Listen Well Scotland.

Edinburgh headquartered national charity Change Mental Health will incorporate the Nairn, Highlands based charity’s training and listening services, as well as its staff and volunteers into its organisation.

In addition, all Change Mental Health’s staff will be trained in listening skills.

According to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Listen Well Scotland's income for the financial year ending December 2022 was £26,789.

In contrast, Change Mental Health’s income for the year ending March 2023 was £4.9m.

Listen Well Scotland says the move has been made “to ensure continuity, sustainability and more visibility of our work”.

“We are so passionate about making sure the great work of Listen Well Scotland continues,” said Listen Well Scotland chair Linda Harding.

“Change Mental Health is the perfect home for this vitally important work. Their values of integrity, leadership and compassion are a perfect fit, along with their commitment of making sure that everyone gets the support they need, when they need and in a way which works best for them – which is exactly what Listen Well Scotland is all about.

“This new phase ensures that our work and services will live on within Change Mental Health.”

Change Mental Health chief executive Nick Ward added: “These are challenging times for charities of all sizes and we are pleased to be able to step in and offer a new home for Listen Well Scotland’s vital services.

“Together, I know we can do greater work than either of us could have done alone. In times like these, the third sector must work together to ensure a continuity of support where we can.

“We welcome Listen Well Scotland into the Change Mental Health family and reconfirm our commitment to making sure that no one needs to face mental illness alone.”

---