A YOUTH charity based in Halesowen is inviting members of the public to join staff in the town centre this afternoon as they attempt to climb Mount Everest – on an inflatable slide!

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, Phase Trust are working with local schools in the borough and beyond to help children and young people talk about the issue and give helpful tips to protect themselves from potential problems in the future.

Called ‘Mountain to Climb’, the trust have visited over 10 schools to deliver lessons and assemblies on the theme of resilience to better equip our future generations from the difficulties associated with mental health and wellbeing challenges.

As well as delivering lessons, the trust have also set themselves a challenge to climb the equivalent height of Everest on an inflatable slide – that means they need to climb the slide over 2,900 times!

The inflatable slide has visited a couple of schools in the area during the week and will be at Somers Square between 1pm and 5pm today (Friday, May 18).

A charity spokesman said: “Everyone is welcome to have a go to contribute to the distance required to reach the top.”

For more information, and to keep up with the team’s progress, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/phasetrust1.