A Crisis Cafe is launching in Lutterworth today, as part of a major expansion of mental health crisis support in the county.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups (LLR CCGs) and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), in partnership with Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) are expanding the number of crisis cafés as they announce the next 11 cafes that are set to open.
Crisis Cafes offer local support for people who need immediate help with their mental health. The cafés are drop-in centres, for anyone over the age of 18, to come and talk to about their mental health – no appointment needed.
There are 11 due to open in 2022 and a remaining 10 in 2023, bringing the total of cafes across Leicester, Lecestershire and Rutland to 25.
Today (Friday, July 1), the second of the new cafes, the Lutterworth Crisis Café, is having its opening event at The Wellbeing Hub, Lutterworth Sports Centre, bringing the total of crisis cafes open across Leicestershire to six.
Jacky Waring from Beacon Care and Advice CIC, which is hosting, said: “Beacon is delighted to be running the twice weekly sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays which will allow members of the community to access support and advice to manage their mental health and wellbeing. The launch will be a valuable opportunity to meet with staff and local partners and allow the opportunity to find out how we can support some of the valuable work that is being undertaken in the local area.”
Today’s opening event will run between 11am-12.30pm.
The Lutterworth café will be open on Wednesday from 5pm – 9pm and Fridays from 9am – 1pm and will be open everyone with no appointment necessary. It will run its first session after the launch, on Wednesday, July 6.
The cafes are funded by the NHS and are supported by other partners including the local authorities.
Councillor Simon Whelband, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: ”These cafes are a great investment for the mental health and wellbeing of the residents of Lutterworth and its nearby villages. It can be hard for people to find this support and having it closer to where you live can only be a good thing. The council will be working with Beacon over the coming months to make sure that residents know about this valuable asset.”
Rosie Klair, Project Lead, Urgent Care & Access Pathway at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted that Lutterworth is now open, and it follows hot on the heels of last month’s opening at Coalville. With more cafes coming on board in July, August and September, our network will soon reach 15,with a further 10 to open in 2023.
“We have seen an increase in numbers attending across the city and Loughborough cafés, so to widen the presence further across the city and county will mean that more people can travel less to access this valuable support. The range of new providers will enhance the localised support for the communities they serve.”
The grants are being administered on behalf of the NHS by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) who will continue to work with the Cafes as they set up and develop.
For more information visit VAL’s website here Crisis Café Grant Scheme – Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (valonline.org.uk)
View the fill list of cafes here – Crisis Cafes – Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (leicspart.nhs.uk)
