If you're picking up a latte or cappuccino in one of Newcastle 's branches of Starbucks, you can now also help provide "little extras" to improve the lives of mental health patients around the region.
The Seattle-based brand's stores in Neville Street and Northumberland Street are now working in partnership with the charity run by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust. CNTW - which runs mental health and disability services in the North East - operates the SHINE Fund.
The SHINE Fund supports patients looked after by CNTW in ways ranging from taking them on horse-riding outings to helping to decorate inpatient wards. Now, both city centre Starbucks branches will be fundraising for the charity - and they'll also be highlighting mental health resources including self-help guides to customers.
