A PROJECT offering young people a place to speak about their mental health is seeking volunteers.

The Leader reported in June on the launch of Declan's Den, a scheme which is being run with Wrexham-based organisation Yellow and Blue.

Its aim was to reach out to people with suicidal thoughts, initially young people aged 11 to 18 in particular and came after the death of 21-year-old Declan Cameron Patterson-Jones in June last year.

An inquest into his death in December recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Since launching, Declan's Den has established a group for lonely or isolated 11 to 18-year olds and now offers parent support, volunteer advocacy, form filling, mediation and visual stress screening.

Moving forward, the project hopes to offer further mentoring for young people, co-working with other organisations in the town, specific groups on various topics of life challenges, trips and more.

Nia Lloyd, who leads Declan's Den, said: "I feel like we are bridging a gap.

"I didn't want to have waiting lists but we have one already, for young people who want to come and be part of a group.

"We are having a lot of people asking if their sons or daughters can come - and I am having to say not at the moment, it is a closed group and we don't want it to be larger.

"We need more volunteers - The more we have, the more we can do, so this is a call for help.

"You don't need a degree or a diploma. You just have to care, and the key ingredient is listening.

"It's not about giving advice or counselling or therapy, it's listening.

"Some of these young people may never have been listened to in their lives.

"It can be very challenging, but also rewarding.

"The volunteers are supported themselves and have someone they can speak to afterwards to offload."

Anyone who wishes to find out more about volunteering with the project can call Nia on 07443035246.