Friend provides sustained individual support for people as they make their journey from acute phases of illness to community activities and ultimately to training and employment.The Aspire service is a person-centred provision that caters for the needs of all the individuals who are socially excluded due to their mental health problems.We promote opportunities for people with mental health problems to participate alongside people from across the community rather than offer segregated provision.

Reports by HM Government identified the economic and individual cost of mental health issues and it is recognised that people with mental health issues need opportunities to access and partiicipate in the community. In 2006/7 the User Focused Monitoring team consulted with service users in North Somerset and produced a report on employment and training which identified the reasons preventing people returning to work were fear, no confidence, discrimination and benefit loss.

The aim of the Aspire Project is to promote social inclusion for people with mental health problems in North Somerset and to develop services that focus on that social inclusion and possible employment outcomes. It is also an aim of the project to develop strong links with community services and local partners.