Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés are a safe space for individuals struggling with emotional and mental wellbeing who do not require immediate medical care, they are places that people can go to if they are experiencing a crisis, usually to access mental health support and advice as an alternative to attending A&E.

We have launched Round 3 of the Neighbourhood Mental Health Café Grants programme.

An application update from the LPT:
Please be aware that Melton is no longer included in this round of grant applications. New applications are not currently being considered for the Melton café at this time. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.    

 

Grant Applications open: 17 January 2024

Application closing deadline: 14 Feb 2024 – 5pm

View the information on how to apply and download the supporting documents below:

Mental Health Cafe – Guidance notes – Round 3
NMH-Cafe-Grant-Round-3-Application-fillable
Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafe Service Specification 2024
University Mental Health Cafe Service Specification 2024

The Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés were formerly known as Crisis Cafés.

VAL worked with the voluntary sector to develop and establish 25 Crisis Cafés through the grants programme. 

Neighbourhood Mental Health cafes are an integral part of the transformation of mental health services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The pilots started in 2020. The first cafes are in Leicester City, Loughborough and Market Harborough and are run by a leading charity, Turning Point, and are funded by the NHS.

The cafes are from the NHS’s Long-Term Plan which aims to provide more support for mental health and wellbeing closer to home and relevant to local communities’ needs. It also is a key element of the new mental health crisis pathway that aims to make it much easier for people to get help in a crisis. The cafes are open to all people without appointment, including family members and carers.

To find out more about the locations, opening times and providers of each café click here

A Neighbourhood Mental Health Café

  • Provides immediate, community based support during the hours of operation
  • Ensures that individuals experiencing acute, severe mental health difficulties are supported in a relaxed and friendly environment within their local community.
  • Provides the facility for one-to-one support if required.
  • Provides hot and cold refreshments.
  • Remains involved with the service user until the crisis has resolved and the service user is linked into on-going support services. Follow up support will be provided where needed. This might mean people coming back again, further phone calls or supporting a person to access other services and support as part of an overall plan.
  • Supports the service user to develop a recovery plan and crisis management plan/safety plan, support with symptom management, the provision of practical help, psycho-education and learning from the crisis, identifying and addressing social and family issues, planning for future crisis, and early discharge planning.
  • Provides a viable alternative to acute mental health services for those most in need.
  • Provides clinical triage and/or assessment for those that require secondary mental health input.

Reports

To find out more about the Cafes and the findings from both rounds of the grant view the reports below.

Best Practice example

Lutterworth Crisis Café Wellbeing Hub

Lutterworth Crisis Café was launched in July 2022 and is run by Beacon Care and Advice on behalf of the NHS.

Beacon are proud to have been awarded funding to start the crisis café in July 2022.

As a small not for profit company, Beacon is led by workers with a professional background in Mental Health, substance misuse, advice, information, and advocacy.

Read more