Mental health provision has long been an issue very close to my heart. I have seen first-hand how mental health issues affect friends and family members and can destroy lives.

My own father sadly suffered a complete and tragic life collapse as a result of a toxic mix of head injuries, a career dependency on gambling and untreated mental illness including depression and alcoholism. Just ten years after winning the 1958 Grand National as the Queen Mother’s jockey, these issues meant he lost his marriage, livelihood and access to his children.

I also saw the devastation that mental health can inflict upon the families of my friends – including the suicide of a late friend’s son after years of battling bipolar disorder.

That’s why I always go out of my way to shine a light on this crucial issue, and why I welcomed the opportunity to visit Norfolk and Waveney MIND’s REST hub in Norwich this past Friday.

While visiting Dereham Town Football Club back in the autumn, then club chairman Ashley Bunn made me aware of his role as Director of Strategy and Business Development at MIND, inviting me to come and meet with the team, as well as find out more about the vital work they do every single day.

The REST hub in Norwich is an incredible local asset – one of four such hubs run by MIND in Norfolk – and MIND are contracted by the local Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board to run a wide variety of other mental health support services across the county too.

They do vitally important work and it was a real privilege to see what they do on the frontline.

To learn more, please see the video I filmed with Kate Frost, Manager of Norwich REST below.