A cafe for people with nowhere to go when mental health services are closed has opened in Huddersfield.
The Well Bean crisis cafe has opened in New Street and provides one-to-one support, practical advice, hot drinks and homemade food for people experiencing mental health crisis.
It has been set up by Kirklees mental health charity Touchstone and Huddersfield social enterprise the Basement Recovery Project, which supports people with addictions and in recovery.
Open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 6pm to midnight, it has opened following the success of three Well Bean cafes in Leeds.
The team is planning to open a cafe in Dewsbury and another in Leeds.
Jayne Moss, manager of the Well Bean café, Huddersfield, said: “After a successful pilot, we look forward to continuing to open the doors and providing a much-needed support service to those in need across Kirklees.”
Jim Leyland, Touchstone’s operations director inclusion, said: “Touchstone is pleased to be leading on the Well Bean Café in Huddersfield and soon to be developed cafe in Dewsbury.
“We are delighted to build on our current successes and support for people at risk of self harm and suicide. We aim to reduce social isolation and to contribute to a borough wide response to safeguarding people in crisis.”
The original cafe opened in November 2016 in Lincoln Green, close to St James’ hospital in Leeds, and has since welcomed more than 4,000 people through its doors.
The Huddersfield cafe, based at 3A Union Bank Yard, New Street, next to Imperial Arcade, has been funded by NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group.
Anyone wishing to attend can self refer or ask a professional health or social care worker to refer them. Phone 07741 900395. The line opens at 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
