Syston Neighbourhood Mental Health Café

Since it’s opening at the end of June 23’, the Syston Neighbourhood Mental Health Café has had a big impact on Syston and the surrounding areas. Many people are attending from Birstall, Mountsorrel, Queniborough and Sileby and over 200 people having been supported already in lots of different ways.
Our coffee connect van attends each week and is very popular, our lovely locals grab a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, a welcome treat in this cold weather, and come inside for a friendly chat.
Our barista has an important role, welcoming attendees with a friendly hello and a smile and sometimes that’s all that’s needed to help someone step inside and start them on the journey of support they need.
Attendees enjoy a warm, comfortable space, a welcoming social area with games and puzzles, free hot drinks and lots of chatter. If needed, face to face 1:2:1 support is available in our quiet, confidential area and over the last few months we have built up a wealth of local knowledge & information on local support available. We guide attendees directly to local support, groups and clubs and help them with signposting to other services if needed. We have lots of information on social groups, educational support, careers advice, along with volunteering opportunities and veterans support services.
For those who need more intensive support whilst at the café, we have access to an urgent care hub put in place to support the 25 cafes now running across Leicestershire & Rutland. They are able to give an immediate response & provide support to anyone needing urgent care, along with a 24/7 call service and a Central Access Point for anyone wanting to receive mental health support over the telephone whilst at the café.
Mental Health Central Access Point – available 24/7 : 0808 800 3302
Our fabulous volunteer Gillian has been with the café from the start and is a valued member of our team, “I started volunteering with the cafe as soon as it opened. It is lovely to see people who have become regular visitors who come for the company and those who come in crisis and by the time they leave they are feeling more settled. For anyone who keeps coming back, it is great to see their improvement. It is helping people that I really enjoy seeing and I look forward to my Thursdays at the café”.
Long winter months can be hard for many people and our cafe is fast becoming a trusted weekly respite for local people who need a comforting chat, a social space to engage with others and the opportunity to speak to someone directly about their mental health, without the lengthy wait times we see with some local MH services…
If you find yourself or a loved one needing support, come along to the café to see how we can help.
We are open every Thursday 12pm – 3pm at the Community Centre on School Street in Syston.
Or we’re contactable on the phone for a friendly chat & more information, call Tracey on 07752 183044.