A regional builder is embarking on a fundraising drive to help a leading mental health charity.

Norwich and Central Norfolk MIND has been selected as 2017's nominated charity for Persimmon Homes Anglia, and will be the focus of the company's employee events all year.

The charity provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Andrew Fuller, managing director of Persimmon Homes Anglia, said: 'Every year, all our staff are asked to vote for the charity they would like to support and this time they overwhelmingly chose Norwich and Central Norfolk MIND for the work this organisation does to help a wide range of people.

'We have pledged to make MIND the focus of our corporate and employee fundraising throughout 2017, and are already planning lots of sponsored events and activities.'

Staff at Persimmon are now drawing up a fundraising calendar to raise as much money as possible for the charity.

Sarah Ingram, fundraising and media manager for Norwich and Central Norfolk MIND, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to be chosen by Persimmon Homes Anglia to be their charity partner 2017.

'It is so important for us to raise awareness in our area so that no one has to face a mental health problem alone, and with the support from such fantastic organisations like Persimmon we can go a long way to helping people within our community.'

Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind was established in 1966 by a group of people what who wanted to greatly improve mental health care in Norfolk, by challenging the traditional large institutional model that was dominant at the time.

The group led by the UK's first female Psychiatric Social Worker, Cicely Mc Call, MBE, started the first group homes in the country.

Ms Ingram added: 'We are very much looking forward to 2017 and working with all the great staff and supporting the events they have planned.'

Persimmon Anglia recently handed over a cheque for £11,348.56 to East Anglian Air Ambulance, which operates across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.