Mental health charities join forces to open Birmingham's first wellbeing cafe

Two mental health charities have joined forces to launch Birmingham's first wellbeing cafe.

The charities, Living Well UK and Birmingham Mind, have joined forces to launch the cafe in a bid to tackle growing mental health concerns.

NHS England has helped to fund the cafe, named 'grounded.', with over £450,000. It will officially open its doors in Selly Oak in September, with more sites due to follow.

The first-of-its-kind cafe has rejunivated a former GP surgery and will offer visitors a place to relax, recover and recoup with a host of community events and workshops, as well as group and one-to-one therapies on offer.

Two of the city’s leading mental health organisations – Living Well UK and Birmingham Mind – have joined forces to tackle growing mental health concerns with the city’s first wellbeing café. With over £450k of funding from NHS England, grounded. will officially open its doors in Selly Oak this September with more sites due to follow.

The cafe will generate multiple jobs across Living Well UK, Birmingham Mind, and Evolve Birmingham, and is set to become a hub for the Selly Oak area, which is home to over 25,000 residents – nearly a third of which are studying at the University of Birmingham.

Living Well UK CEO, Ben Howells said: “In the midst of a mental health crisis, both locally and across the UK, grounded. presents an opportunity to bring much-needed support to local communities. We’ve been honoured to help bring grounded. to life, and the entire team behind its development has been fantastic.

“With the financial support of NHS England, we’ve been able to transform what was once a GP surgery into a hub for the diverse community in Selly Oak and the wider South-West Birmingham area. The team on site will be working hard to deliver accessible mental health support for those who need it and a warm, welcoming space for those who just want to come by for a cup of coffee.

“Supported by the investment into the region’s mental health services, we’re already looking ahead to how we can open more grounded. hubs, create more jobs, and make mental health support more accessible in the West Midlands.”