£75,520 from Channel Islands Lottery proceeds has been awarded to two Jersey charities supporting islanders and their families.

£47,220 has been given to Focus on Mental Illness, an organisation that provides support for those in mental health crises through creative and artistic workshops.

A further grant of 28,300 has been gifted to Jersey Eating Disorders Support. 

The charity offers group support, one-to-one counselling and peer support for islanders battling the illness and their loved ones. 

Its CEO Karen Dingle said the funds have come at a very important time: 

"It means the absolute world because we can't carry on the service without funding. The cost of living is making everything so expensive.

"It's hit charities hard and has made it even more difficult to get funding to continue what we're doing."

Over the past two years, £61,202 of Channel Islands Lottery funding has been given to other mental health projects and charities.

These include: Art in the Frame Foundation, Kairos Arts and Jersey Action Against Rape. 

Jon Taylor, Head of Lottery for States of Guernsey, says:

“Seeing the impact of Channel Islands Lottery funding in our island communities is incredibly rewarding. It’s important to us that our funding goes directly towards improving the lives of those in Jersey and Guernsey.

“Focus on Mental Illness and Jersey Eating Disorders Support, as well as many other mental health charities and projects, play a crucial role in our community, providing lifelines to people affected by serious mental health challenges.

"We’re proud to be part of supporting initiatives that offer real, hands-on support to Islanders coping with mental health challenges."

This year's Channel Islands Christmas Lottery will be drawn on 19 December.