A NEW support group is in desperate need of a home after their bid to move to the High Street was turned down.

Talk Listen Care was set up this year following the closure of a young carer support group in Braintree and Halstead.

Clare Reeve, a private counsellor from Braintree, wants to provide a free ‘safe haven’ for young people struggling with mental health issues.

She is raising funds to name Talk Listen Care an official charity, and is trying to find a home for the group.

Her bid to move into a space above the future Manze’s pie and mash shop was recently rejected.

She said: “We had applied for a premises on Braintree High Street but it got turned down as we got beaten to it.

“It was disappointing as it was in a good locality.

“We are back to the drawing board but it has to be somewhere central, even if we had a couple of rooms here and there.”

Crossroads Care, which runs young carers’ centres, closed the Braintree and Halstead centres on April 1.

Talk Listen Care has recruited counsellors willing to offer their services voluntarily to young people in need of support.

She said: “There isn’t anything like this in Braintree, only private services.

“The whole point is people can’t afford to pay for that.

“There is such a need for this and as soon as we have a few rooms we can get going.”

She is calling on businesses who have space available to get in touch.

She said: “There are a lot of buildings in Braintree with rooms that are just sitting empty and they can be utilised.

“Community centres and church halls can also be used.”

To offer a space contact 07766084479.