A CHARITY that helps people with mental health problems is being thrown a £200 lifeline by Dartmouth Town Council. Dart Cool, which holds weekly meetings at the Guildhall, warned last week that it is facing a cash crisis and could be forced to close its doors at the end of the year. But this week the town's finance committee said yes to an appeal from the charity for a £200 grant. As the councillors recommended that the grant should be approved, Cllr David Gent said: 'It is a very, very well run organisation and very useful.' But he warned: 'They have told me that they have something like £50 in the bank.' Dart Cool started in 2005 when a number of people in the town wanted to set up a support group to help the growing number of individuals and families affected by mental illness, isolation and the increasing pressures of daily life. Since then, the group has met every Thursday for mutual support, fun, skill sharing, outings and fundraising. But now, because of lack of funding, it needs help if it is to survive. Dart Cool is part of the mental health charity Cool Recovery that will see its Big Lottery funding come to an end in December. There are other branches in towns across the South Hams. Co-manager Claudia Benzies said: 'Cool Recovery needs core funding of £120,000 per annum to continue but in the current conditions will close on December 31.' South Hams MP Dr Sarah Wollaston – who is patron of the charity and chairman of the Commons Health Select Committee – is calling on the Government to provide financial support to the independently-run organisation. Dart Cool appealed to the town council for the £200 to support 'activities to promote members' social inclusion and engagement in the local community'. The group told town councillors it was also appealing to St Petrox's Church in Dartmouth for help. Cllr Gent said that anything between10 and 20 people took part in the weekly Guildhall meetings. He told councillors: 'I know this group well and although the address is Torquay, this is for the local branch which meets in the Clifton Room in the Guildhall every Thursday. 'Each of the local groups is self sustaining.'