AN East Lancashire mental health charity - set up by a law student who had battled with depression - has become the UK's first funding hub for other local mental health charities.

The Blurred Line Group has now launched as a national charity and has announced is has set up a university funding programme to help support students battling with mental health struggles.

Lewis Baxter set up the foundation set up the foundation at the start of this year and initially supported charities and organisations by providing them with funding to help people in the Ribble Valley and other areas of East Lancashire.

However the foundation has expanded, taken on more than 30 professionals from the charity, health, government and media sectors and expanded to all areas of the country.

The university programme will launch across the UK next year and will enable student ambassadors to sustainably fundraise at their own universities.

All funds raised will be redistributed by The Blurred Line Group to grass root mental health campaigns and charities identified by the organisation.

Mr Baxter, a former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School student from Langho, spoke to the Lancashire Telegraph in 2017 about his battle with depression and how it almost overcame him.

He told the newspaper he had withdrawn from family and friends, and turned down invitations to social gatherings, feeling little motivation as life moved on around him.

Two years later, Mr Baxter, 21, is now helping others who are going through a similar circumstance.

He said: "From humble beginnings in rural Lancashire, we are so excited to continue our work on a national scale, providing a helping-hand for mental health charities and projects, whilst supporting those with mental health conditions in communities across the UK.

"It’s an exciting new chapter for us, as we seek to engage with corporate partners, philanthropists and local councils, in addition to holding our own fundraising events and initiatives, to provide accessible funding to mental health charities and projects across the UK.

" All proceeds from fundraising efforts at these universities will be allocated directly to projects at their university or local community, supporting those with mental health struggles and promoting positive health and wellbeing.

"We want to make mental health clearer at universities and ensure university-led projects get the financial support they need to thrive and help more students.

"As a university student myself, I see first-hand the mental health struggles on campuses.

"There is not enough funding for university mental health or support for student-led mental health initiatives, so we want to do something about it."