COUNCILLORS in Dawlish have recognised the efforts of businesses in the town for supporting mental health.

The first Town Council Outstanding Awards for Loneliness (OWL) were made to the Living Hub Store and the No 1 Cafe.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Dawlish Cllr Lisa Mayne with the Chair of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Working Group Cllr Carole Tamlyn.

The aim of the awards is to promote the Outstanding With Loneliness OWL project.

Its plan is to reduce the stigma associated with loneliness and ‘build a community, empowering people to feel comfortable and become proactive around those who sometimes feel lonely and isolated’.

Byron Woods from No 1 Cafe is pictured with (centre) Cllr Carole Tamlyn and Mayor Cllr Lisa Mayne.