06-02-2025
'If they take this away, they'll take the heart out of the community'
A mum who runs a support group for mums from a wellbeing centre in Harpurhey fears for its future after it was announced the facility's café is to close. Lauren Gregory, 35, from Blackley, has run Mindful Mums for almost two years.
She was commended for her work at a recent showcase at then Manchester Science Festival. The group is based at No 93 Wellbeing Centre, Church Lane. The facility is run by Greater Manchester Mental Health services (GMMH).
Lauren's free sessions - for mum mums suffering from mental ill-health - include meditation; arts and crafts; walks; and visits with kids to farms and petting zoos.
The full-time mum runs the group for free. Lauren was inspired to set it up after being helped at the centre herself during the Covid pandemic.
She also speaks with social services on mothers' mums' behalf if they need her help - and helps mums find talking therapies sessions; and set up health visitor and GP appointments.
"The need is massive," Lauren told the Manchester Evening News. "I am the only maternal mental health support group in this area - and I'm a service user myself who's doing it for free."
Lauren, who currently supports 10 mums and 14 children, said she is worried for the group's future after she was told the centre's café will close. It offers subsidised food and drink.
Sessions will still take place, but Lauren said: "Are people still going to want to come? How do I engage these vulnerable adults and get them to come to a building where they can't even make a brew? I am really worried about what will happen.
"I know for a fact some of our users won't go home and eat. They either can't cook, or they haven't got the money. And I know parents in my group go without food to feed their kids. I know the café closing is going to put people off. It's going to have a huge effect."
Lauren added: "We don't have the money around here, people aren't in work, we have one of the highest rates of mental illness, and of people claiming benefits.
"If they take this café, they will take the heart out of the community and there will be nothing there for people. It's really sad. I will carry on with the mums' group, but I won't get as many people to come. I might have to start buying them breakfast because I know some of them won't go home and eat. They just haven't got the money."
Carol Harris, chief operating officer at the trust, said: "We are looking at all our services to ensure that they provide the best offer for people throughout our communities."
