Easy access to both emotional and practical support for people in Manchester approaching mental health crisis.
The Pitch
Problem statement
Over 2 million people are on waiting lists for NHS mental health support in England alone. 95% of those referred to Talking Therapies in Manchester have to wait for 18 weeks. Some people are waiting for support that never materialises. The wait causes deterioration. This is not good enough. We want to contribute to it being easier for people to find the right help at the right rime. We want to provide alternative choices beyond the one where referrals are made, people wait and then told they don’t meet the threshold for support. The door is shut. People are left isolated and lost.
Solution
Our aim is to make it easier for people to ask for help. Our goal is to provide a destination for people where they can access the support they need in order to reduce crisis and improve mental health. We run Support Sessions every Monday and Thursday for 30 Mancunians to attend. We will be responsive. Call us today and come in this week. We will be consistent, providing warm welcomes, hot drinks and food, access to advice, psychoeducation and referrals to longer term community support. We will listen and ensure you are heard. As a result, people will have improved mental health, feel more able to manage their mental health and have increased community connections.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We have 36 years’ experience of delivering support which makes a difference. In 24/25 we had contact with 11,500 people. Many of our skilled staff have lived experience of mental health. We listen, as to be validated is powerful. We focus on creating a feeling of belonging as this builds community. We recognise that mental health, physical health and environment are connected. We follow a trauma-informed approach. One Support Session attendee said: “You all really care and genuinely understand what it is like to live with trauma”. We have broad networks and understand local referral pathways. We value collaboration, working in partnership with statutory and community services.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| 15 hrs p/w of Support Session Worker salary | £5,421 |
| 9 hrs p/w Service Manager’s salary | £5,662 |
| Management/ safeguarding support | £1,662 |
Beneficiaries
100 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
We expect the impact to be that over the next 6 months 100 people approaching a mental health crisis have a safe place to turn to, be heard and linked into both practical and emotional support that improves their immediate situation, de-escalating their crisis. Our outputs will be that:100 people will attend at least one Support Session and have hot drinks and food100 people will attend and be welcomed and be heard 40 people will receive advice pertaining to welfare benefits, housing or debt; thereby reducing anxiety and stress70 people will receive information and advice relating to mental health and ongoing management and coping strategies50 people will be referred into other community services The outcome we aim to achieve is that 100 people feel more hopeful and have strategies to deal with emerging crises in the future.
Track record
In 24/25 we ran 100 Support Sessions attended by 186 people. 88% said their mental health improved. 75% said they were more able to manage their mental health 90% said they felt more connected to their community We hold the Advice Quality Standard, Investing in Volunteers Award and have recently been audited by national Mind who said: “Manchester Mind provides a person-centred, values-based, effective range of services, is held in high regard by its service users and exerts a positive influence on the culture of the wider Manchester mental health sector.” We are well connected in the City both at operational and strategic levels, experienced in managing grants, contracts and partnerships. We’ll leave you with the words of someone who attended our services: “Without Manchester Mind, I wouldn't be here writing these words. That's not dramatic; it's simply true…My mind is still a battlefield. But Manchester Mind gave me weapons for the fight and comrades to stand beside me.”