A befriending scheme has received a cash boost.

The Handshake scheme in Maybridge, Worthing, has received a donation of £2,572 from the Nationwide Foundation to support its work.

The money will be used to recruit, train and meet the expenses of the volunteer befrienders and to widen the scope of activities that will be able to be accessed by the scheme.

Handshake is one of a range of community action programmes in the Maybridge area of Worthing run by the Mile project based at Maybridge Community Church.

Gay Jacklin, co-ordinator of handshake, said: "We are very grateful to the Nationwide Foundation for this donation as it has enabled the project to really get off the ground.

"We can now recruit more volunteers and begin to meet the real need for social contact that people with common mental health problems often have unmet."

Jacqueline Reeve, the foundation's chief executive, said: "Every donation made by the foundation aims to help disadvantaged people and communities.

"We are confident our donation will make a significant impact and we are delighted to be able to help."

The Handshake scheme was set up in liaison with Worthing Community Mental Health Team, Worthing Local Planning Group for the National Service Framework for Mental Health and The Strand surgery primary care teams.

Handshake is a befriending scheme for people who have short or long term common mental health problems such as stress and depression.

People who experience these problems often feel socially isolated and can come to feel prisoners in their own homes.

This often leads to increased stress and feelings of depression.

Handshake provides a befriender for people who will meet them on a regular basis and accompany them on activities outside the home, helping to increase their social network and reduce feelings of isolation.