Crisis Cafe

Working with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Client

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Location

Wigan

Value

£362,500

THE PROJECT

Refurbishment of a vacant town centre shop to establish a mental health crisis café and community support hub. The space provides a safe and welcoming environment for individuals in mental health distress, offering immediate crisis support alongside access to wider wellbeing activities, peer support and local services.

OUR APPROACH

The design process was guided by service users, the Trust and Gilling Dod, with a focus on creating a safe, welcoming space that actively supports positive mental health, avoiding a clinical feel, with a connection to nature and a sense of belonging within the community.

WHAT WE DID

Every design decision was made with mental health in mind: to reduce anxiety, to promote connection and to create a safe harbour where people in crisis can feel supported and at ease. The outcome is a space that feels welcoming rather than clinical, rooted in the community through both design and artwork, flexible enough to meet a range of needs.

THE IMPACT

By focusing on comfort, belonging and openness, the Crisis Cafe provides an environment that supports recovery and offers a genuine alternative to more traditional clinical crisis services. It reduces pressure on emergency services, improves accessibility to early intervention and strengthens community resilience through a central, visible and inclusive support facility.