A poet from Wanstead is set to have a poem published in the anthology book Please Hear What I’m Not Saying, in aid of mental health charity Mind.

Victoria Richards, from Blake Hall Crescent, Aldersbrook, is Victoria says: “I’m so proud and honoured to be involved in raising money for mental health charities. I hope that it will raise awareness of all of those who suffer in silence, and help them feel less alone.”

Victoria, 36, a freelance journalist and writer, got involved with the collection, which features 116 poets and is curated by poet and theatre assistant Isabelle Kenyon, in the hope that it will raise an incredible amount for UK mental health charities, while also providing support and advice for anyone experiencing mental health problems. The book received more than 600 submissions form poets around the world, all with the goal of raising money for Mind.

Curator Isabelle adds: “I am thrilled to be editing this anthology to raise money for charity. This is one of the toughest, yet most thrilling project of my life. “Knowing the money we raise will be used to improve the lives of people living with mental health problems throughout the UK is amazing. The money raised will fund vital work such as helplines, advice services and the campaigning.”

Isabelle is the author of This is not a Spectacle and The Trees Whispered. Her poems have been published in many poetry anthologies, such as Anti - Heroin Chic, Bewildering Stories, Literary Yard and The Inkyneedles anthology.

She has won prizes in competitions such as the Great British Write Off, the Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama, the Festival of Firsts, and the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama.

The book will be released on February 8 through Amazon, and will be available to buy both in paperback and Kindle formats, worldwide.

The charity Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.Our local Minds support over 513,000 people across England and Wales. Their services include supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, employment and training schemes, counselling and befriending. Find out if there is one where you live.