Safe Spaces Partnership
Safe Spaces offers same-day support for anyone aged seven and over from Bradford District and Craven who needs urgent help with their emotional and mental wellbeing. This could include experiencing severe anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, intense depression or feelings of disassociation.
The service is led by mental health charities The Cellar Trust and Mind in Bradford and replaces former safer space services Sanctuary, Haven and the children’s overnight service, Towerhurst.
Kim Shutler, CEO at The Cellar Trust and Helen Davey, CEO for Mind and Bradford announced partnership:
“We are delighted to be extending the Safe Spaces in Bradford District and Craven, and excited to be working with 10 other brilliant local charities. This will enable us to reach and support even more people in our community.”
Safe Spaces Partners
Hear from the other charities involved in the Safe Spaces partnership:
“We are delighted to be part of Safe Spaces; providing support for children and young people across the entire Craven district.”
“Working together we will be able to provide this much-needed service for those living in our rural communities, ensuring that children and young people are able to access mental health support where they live.”
Emma Pears, Chief Officer, SELFA
SELFA is a local children’s charity based in Craven. They deliver services over three sites in Skipton, Bentham and Settle. Last year SELFA supported over 450 children and young people who live or go to school in Craven through a range of health and wellbeing activities, mentoring, counselling and residential breaks.
SELFA also have experience of delivering crisis support and were one of the 70 national partners for the Barnardos during the pandemic.
“Pioneer Projects are delighted to be part of the new Safe Spaces programme for Bradford & Craven District. As a large often overlooked rural area, Craven has its own unique problems when it comes to accessing timely mental health support.”
”Safe Spaces provides the opportunity to build a more robust local offer whilst also building faster and more effective links to specialist services in the wider Bradford area. It’s great to be involved in such a forward thinking, cross sector approach to locally responsive mental health support”
Leon Fijalkowski, Strategic Director, Pioneer Projects
Pioneer Projects is a specialist mental health and community arts organisation that has been providing creative wellbeing support across Craven for over 25 years. They are experts in harnessing the power of creativity to ensure that those experiencing or at risk of poor mental health are included, maintain their wellbeing, fulfil their potential and contribute to more capable and vibrant communities.
They also work in partnership with a range of local and district organisations to ensure that their work has both community reach and benefits from the skills and specialisms of other mental health providers.
Restore Recovery College
“Restore Recovery College is pleased to be part of the Safe Spaces project, creating innovative solutions to address the needs of those in crisis within our communities”
James Blezard, Director, Restore Recovery College
Restore Recovery College (formerly Healthy Lifestyle Solutions CIC) are a VCS organisation supporting the BD4 and South Bradford Communities to reduce health inequalities. Their projects include Restore Recovery College and Social Prescribing. Over the years the programmes have changed but the focus has always been reducing ill health, supporting healthier lifestyles and empowering individuals to take more control of their lives. Restore is a Community Anchor representing Health amongst local voluntary and faith organisations.
Project 6
“Although there is a tendency to see problem substance use (including alcohol) and mental health distress as separate experiences, they are inherently linked and intertwined. We are excited to be bringing expertise to the Safe Spaces partnership, helping build a comprehensive and effective range of support.”
“We know the voluntary sector is uniquely placed to respond to the specific needs of our local communities. The Safe Spaces partnership is an opportunity to draw on the wealth of knowledge, skills, experience, and resources of local organisations, to achieve an exceptional standard for mental health crisis support in West Yorkshire.”
Vicki Beere, Chief Executive Officer, Project 6
Project 6 has been delivering services for individuals, families and communities affected by substance use for over 30 years. Evolving in response to the changing needs of our communities, their projects have now extended to include provision for complex needs and young people.
Touchstone Support
“Touchstone are pleased to be working in partnership with specialist organisations across Bradford and Craven to deliver the new crisis mental health support service, Safe Spaces.”
“This service will be a vital space for so many in crisis and we recognise the crucial role we can play in sharing our expertise in Perinatal Mental Health. We look forward to building strong, fruitful relationships with our partners and working side-by-side with the women we support to ensure that their voices and needs
are truly heard and met during times of crisis in their lives”
Sharon Brown, Business Development Director, Touchstone Support
Touchstone has been delivering mental health support services for women and families in Bradford since 2015. These include a range of dedicated specialist Perinatal Mental Health services, such as the West Yorkshire Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support Alliance and MyPlan Perinatal Service in Bradford. These services work with mothers struggling with their mental health as a result of recent pregnancy and/or issues faced in the postpartum year. At Bradford Safe Spaces, Touchstone’s support workers will be sharing their expertise in this area, supporting perinatal women to cope with issues affecting their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Touchstone will offer tailored one-to-one support, challenge stigma around perinatal mental health and work with women to ensure their voices and needs are heard and met in the region’s crisis services.
Other organisations involved in the Safe Spaces partnership
