I am the Managing Director of Karma Times CIC. We are a "not for profit" limited by guarantee community interest company (CIC). This means that all the profits go back into the company to provide FREE complementary therapies to people facing emotional crisis and on a low income within the Harrogate and surrounding area.

I founded Harrogate Black Dog approximately 5 years ago and we now have nearly 600 members. It is a mental health support group and a great bunch of people. We now have a social event once a month to help prevent isolation and loneliness in the community.

I retrained to become a complementary therapist a couple of years ago and practiced on the group members. I knew it would be something they would like but I was not expecting to see the results that I did. It changed peoples lives profoundly; it reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and helped people with relaxation. Not only that it helped with the physical symptoms such as aches and pains, insomnia, fatigue, and many other things.

After seeing the results I knew that I wanted to set up some kind of organisation/charity to be able to provide people in emotional crisis with free or heavily discounted complementary therapies. I now have CIC status and I am now in the process of applying for grants and funds to be able to do this.

I will be holding fundraising events moving forward however a lot of them have been put on hold due to the current Covid-19 virus hence this JustGiving button which I will also be putting onto my website https://www.karmatimes.co.uk I recently started a fund-raising campaign to provide Harrogate with mental health awareness benches but as yet have not received a response from them so the £35 that was donated will be added to this campaign now that I am registered and hopefully I will be able to combine the two things.

I am also compiling an anthology. A collection of poems written by people who suffer with mental health and also the loved ones of people that suffer. I would like to get this published in time for Mental Health Awareness week in October. Also, for anyone who has lost a loved one from suicide please contact me if you would like to include a dedication in the book.

I also treat private clients but the profit goes straight back into the company. In the meantime until I start getting funds and grants people in need can pay by "donation only". My daughter will also be doing me as a beauty therapist and a micro-blading practitioner. She will be creating eyebrows for people who have lost their own due to either alopecia or radiotherapy and on a low income.

16 people in the United Kingdom commit suicide every single day and that is 16 too many. It is so important to raise awareness as this number is rising fast. Until I have enough funding people in need can still book in with me on a "donation only" basis.

Help me make a difference to someone's quality of life; an act of kindness goes a very long way. Change someones day, week or life by donating and showing you care and letting them know they are not alone.

I appreciate times are difficult right now which is why every £1 makes such a huge difference to someone who is not coping.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have donated thank you so much as it means so much.

Please share where you can.

Tracey