STAFF from the Olive Tree Café teamed up with Halifax today to spread positive messages of goodwill and to encourage people to open up about mental health.

The collaborative gathering was in aid of World Mental Health Day with this year’s theme pivoting on workplace wellbeing.

The team were on hand with tasty cakes and bundles of information about support for people wishing to talk about personal struggles.

Phyllida Richards, manager of the Olive Tree café said: “Everyone has mental health and this year with the theme being in the work place, we are trying to promote and encourage people to get support should they need it.

“If some people feel that they can ask for help in the work place if they need it and other people are there to listen then it is worthwhile.”

Halifax got in touch with the team at the Olive Tree to explore ways they could work together to do more work in the community and Tuesday’s event was just one outcome.

Ethan Clegg, assistant manager of the branch in Bridge Street, added: “Our charity of the year is Mental Health UK and we thought it was really important to get involved in the local community and to do something that will make a different in Swindon.

“Working with the Olive Tree Café has worked out really well so far and for us, it is about raising awareness of mental health and getting people to talk about it.

“A lot of the time, people brush it under the carpet and we thought it would be a good chance to talk to people and let them know about the support out there.”