A HAMPSHIRE organisation is celebrating a £400,000 lottery grant to set up a pioneering project to help relatives of mentally-ill people.

The National Schizophrenia Fellowship (NSF), which is based in Southampton has been awarded the cash to develop a family support service.

The aim is to improve the quality of life for relatives of those affected by severe mental problems, reduce isolation and help them to become more involved in recovery from the illness.

A team of support workers will be employed by the new service to cover England, including the South, and will work with carers and people who are in contact with NSF.

It will help the development of self-help groups, support and develop existing NSF units, provide a range of training for carers and service users and help them to become more engaged in the services.

The family support scheme will also promote mental health issues to the wider community.

Director of membership services Terry Hammond said: "It is a real boost for families affected by severe mental illness, especially schizophrenia.

"For too long, the family has been ignored and forgotten.

"The family support service will be a lifeline to the many thousands of families who contact the NSF every year.

"The service is the first-ever nationally co-ordinated service which focuses on the needs of families, many of whom are struggling to cope with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses on a daily basis."

It is hoped that the service, set up with a grant from the National Lottery Charities Board, will be launched formally in the new year.