A NEW mental health and wellbeing hub has launched in Wrexham offering free support and activities for local residents aged 11 and over.

The Hub, based at the Caia Park Partnership, is run by North East Wales Mind and offers a drop-in service with free tea and coffee for anyone to call in for a chat.

There’s also a wellbeing coaching service, Active Monitoring, offering expert one-to-one support to help people discover ways to improve their mental health and develop their own wellbeing recovery toolkit.

Partners and local residents joined together to celebrate the launch. Paul Ford, local resident and member of The Local Conversation Programme’s Caia Park Steering Group, cut the ribbon, together with Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Ronnie Prince and Sarah Atherton MP.

The Leader: (Photo courtesy of Tim Rooney Photography)(Photo courtesy of Tim Rooney Photography)

Food was provided by community caterers, the Happy Hedgehog, live music by Andie Hickie and wellbeing taster sessions included mindful eating, colour therapy, sewing and Indian block printing.

There are wellbeing walks every Tuesday between 1.30pm and 2.30pm which alternate between Wrexham and Flintshire, with more activities to be announced soon.

Jenny Murphy, chief executive of North East Wales Mind, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Caia Park Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub, which will provide a valuable resource for the local community with access to a wide range of free support, from the opportunity to have an informal chat, to more in-depth help.

"Importantly, no one needs a referral from a GP to access the Hub, so local people can drop in whenever they feel they’d like to.

"Early intervention is so important to helping people improve their mental health and wellbeing, which is why making support as accessible and friendly as possible is crucial. I hope as many local people as possible will come along and find out more about the services and activities they can access through the Hub.”

The Leader: (Photo courtesy of Tim Rooney Photography)(Photo courtesy of Tim Rooney Photography)

An early intervention service for people with common mental health problems, the Wellbeing Hub is part of the ICAN community hub network, a Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board initiative to offer a chance for people to talk through their problems over a brew, be listened to without judgement and access the services and support they need.

The Hub has been launched in response to the needs of local people. It’s been brought together by Caia Park Partnership, Caia Park Community Council and North East Wales Mind, with funding from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.