The NHS Integrated Care Board in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is expanding its network of Crisis Cafes in 2023 from 15 to 25 in total, to increase mental health provisions in the area.
We are delighted to announce the launch of round 2 of funding for these grants. Voluntary Community Sector organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being given another opportunity to apply for a grant to host a Crisis Café to support people in their communities who are dealing with issues ranging from stress and anxiety to financial worries and family troubles. They are good places to find some help on any worries you may have.
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is working in partnership with the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council to disseminate these grants to groups across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The aim is to provide a total of 25 cafés covering diverse communities of place and of interest in different areas where specialist support workers and volunteers with experience of dealing with mental health problems will be on hand to help. There are currently fifteen cafés already up and running in the
city and county.
Each Crisis Café aims to provide a safe, supportive and welcoming space for individuals struggling with emotional and mental wellbeing who do not require urgent medical care. They are open to anyone who wants to talk about their mental health, with recovery workers and volunteers available in a cafe setting – all without the need for an appointment. (People can simply drop-in to the cafes, so there is no need to get in touch with a GP or other service to make an appointment before getting help).
Each café location will be allowed to apply for a maximum of £30,000. The cafés are staffed by peer support workers and volunteers, all of whom have experience in dealing with mental health and wider issues who will provide advice, support and guidance, steering them in the right direction for any further support or treatment.
Dave Cliffe, a support team leader at VAL, said:
“We are incredibly proud to continue to deliver this grant scheme to give local organisations the opportunity to apply for funding to set up and run more Crisis Café’s across the city and county and make a real difference to local people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our aim is to open another 10 to take the total up to 25, building on the excellent work of the 15 cafes currently operating
in our local area.”
He added:
“These cafés are open to everyone, whether you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, financial worries or family troubles – there will be a friendly face there to listen, support and help you plan the next steps.”
John Edwards, Associate Director for Transformation for mental health in the NHS said:
“The Crisis Cafés represent a key element of how we want to transform mental health services for people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We are bringing more services into local communities so that people can get the help they need, often from a place they already know, without having to travel far to get this help.”
For more information on the Crisis Café grants and how to apply, e-mail: grants@valonline.org.uk
or https://valonline.org.uk/crisis-cafe-grants/
Anyone in need of urgent mental health assistance can get help by calling the NHS Mental Health Central Access Point on 0808 800 3302, or visiting the NHS Leicester Partnership Trust website here:
https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/contact/urgent-help/
VAL has been helping volunteers and community groups to thrive for over fifty years and across a
range of services encompassing education, employment, support and funding for some of the hardest
to reach and most marginalised people in society.
To find out how VAL can help you call: 0116 257 5050 or visit https://valonline.org.uk/
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