Yasmin Ahmad and Caroline Ward of MKB’s Commercial Property team have recently provided pro bono advice to the award winning North East mental health charity Anxious Minds in the purchase of some designated woodland. Anxious Minds located an acre and a half of beautiful ancient woodland to turn into an outdoor therapy centre in Prudhoe, Northumberland.

Anxious Minds reported to us that a lot of the charity’s service users (particularly service veterans) have said they would like to attend their “Woodland Therapy Centre” because they feel intimidated by office-based therapy. They explain that it is a huge step for someone to admit they need help, so the less traumatic Anxious Minds can make their therapy sessions for them the better. A key issue that service veterans face is learning to relax and feel calm and at peace. The tranquillity provided by the woodland is a new feeling for most of them, and it enables them to change their point of reference to something that makes them feel good.

Yasmin, a Commercial Property Solicitor at MKB, has specific expertise in purchasing woodlands for clients, having done so on many occasions previously, and she was therefore sought out by Anxious Minds for this reason.

At a time of difficulty for many charities, MKB were pleased to offer pro bono support to the charity to progress their purchase of this woodland and enable this invaluable and rare service, particularly given the difficulties caused by the pandemic which has exacerbated mental health symptoms in many people.

Edward Dean, Chief Officer of Anxious Minds commented “MKB Solicitors offered their time free of charge to the charity in this very difficult and challenging year for the charity sector, helping us secure the woodlands and start preparing it ready to support the thousands of service users the charity supports each year. This small piece of woodlands will help make the lives of the people we serve so much better thanks to MKB Solicitors. Thank you for all your support.”

Yasmin observed “I am proud to be part of a firm that recognises the importance of supporting efforts to tackle mental health issues in society, especially given the impact of COVID-19, and I strongly believe that I should support charities where I am able to do so. The initial telephone call with one of the charities Directors resonated with me in such a way that I researched some of the work the charity had undertaken in the past. I saw the work they were doing with the likes of veterans and their families and knew then that I wanted to offer a helping hand to the charity where I could. I was pleased therefore to provide my services for free and enable this wonderful project. I hope, in the future, once COVID restrictions are no longer in place, to visit the woodland and offer some voluntary assistance!”

Please do not hesitate to contact Anxious Minds www.anxiousminds.co.uk should you feel their services could be of value of you.

Yasmin Ahmad is also available on yahmad@mkbsolicitors.co.uk or 01226 210000 to provide expert advice on any commercial property matters.