A Norwich-based support group for people living with Obsessional Compulsive Disorder - widely known as OCD - has been awarded essential funding, enabling it to officially launch a new clinic following a successful pilot scheme.

The Norwich and Norfolk OCD Voluntary Support Group recently received a £10,000 grant through the Big Lottery Fund to allow it to continue offering counselling to anyone who has, or feels the condition is impacting them.

It comes following last year's grant of the same amount, which allowed the group's successful pilot scheme to take place.

Geraldine Scott, the organisation's founder and specialist psychotherapist, said: 'Last year's pilot was very popular, an enormous success, and due to this accomplishment the Big Lottery has awarded us another grant to run an OCD clinic in Norwich city centre for 2017.

'The pilot and OCD clinic is the first of its kind in the UK. It is a breakthrough helping people to have specialised treatment for OCD and will also enable people to have one to one counselling.

'The group has been in existence for 13 years now and we are always looking at ways of growing, flourishing, and developing all the time. The help it offers really does make an enormous difference.'

Help is available through sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques, which will take place during Friday afternoons in the city centre, as well as post care via the support group.

Sessions will initially be booked up as six weekly appointments but there will be scope to extend these and they could also be open to carers or family members that are struggling to understand or cope with OCD themselves.

Sessions are currently be offered for the rest of the year, subject to availability.

- For more information about the sessions or support group visit the website www.norwichandnorfolkocdsupport.org.uk or call Geraldine Scott confidentially on 01603 619246. You can also send a text message to 07432 655579.

- Are you part of a group or organisation looking at hosting an event to raise funds for your cause? Email reporter Donna-Louise Bishop at donna-louise.bishop@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772326.