Our Littlehampton mental health support hub on Maltravers Drive was officially reopened last week by outgoing Littlehampton Mayor, Cllr Michelle Molloy, at a reopening ceremony – complete with speeches and a celebratory cake.
The newly renovated building will provide a more modern and comfortable experience for those getting support with us – after extensive rebuilding works that started in November 2021.
Around 60 guests came to the reopening, which offered the opportunity to look around the new facilities and hear more from staff and service users about the support and activities we provide in Littlehampton.
West Sussex Mind deputy CEO, Kerrin Page, opened our event, by reflecting on the building’s origins as a children’s and family centre and former care home, and thanking our supporter, Jessie Rodford, whose generous legacy enabled the building renovations to happen.
Maxine Thomas, manager of our Littlehampton Pathfinder service, reflected on her three-and-a-half years at the Maltravers site and said that within her first year, demand for mental health support in Littlehampton had increased by 40 per cent and it was obvious that changes would be required to meet growing need.
“This once dated and unusable space has been transformed into a welcoming, accessible and vibrant environment, allowing those being supported to feel valued and to have an improved sense of well-being," said Maxine.
The new site has four separate rooms for one-to-one mental health support sessions, a multi-functional main space, new kitchen, conservatory and three accessible toilets. The main space can provide drop-in support for up to 30 people, host social activities (such as music groups and the centre’s peer-led men’s group) and offers a space where people can come together and share and learn from each other.
Two people who have received support with us Littlehampton shared their experiences at the event and said that we had helped them feel understood and supported and had helped rebuild their confidence. Thank you to them both for sharing their stories.
Cllr Michelle Molloy reopened the building on the last day of her mayoralty in Littlehampton and shared how the experience of suicide in her family had led her to fundraise for us and support our work, which she said was “so amazing for the community and for my family and friends”.
Renovation work isn't completely finished! There are plans for a new shed and furniture for the garden and plans to develop a section of the garden into a sensory area, where people can enjoy a moment of calm.