New Recovery Café opens in Essex to support mental health patients
People getting support in the area can drop in every Friday and chat with others on similar journeys, aiming to break down stigma
A new Recovery Café has been launched in Wickford to support patients at Brockfield House, a mental health unit run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
The café offers a patient-led, stigma-free space every Friday for individuals undergoing mental health and addiction treatment.
Designed to promote connection and peer-to-peer support, the weekly sessions provide an opportunity for patients to enjoy open conversations with likeminded people, creating a welcoming environment focused on wellbeing.
Matthew Sisto, Director of Patient Experience and Participation at EPUT, described the initiative:
"The Recovery Café at Brockfield House is a warm, stigma-free space where patients can connect with others who understand recovery.
Peer workers use their own lived experiences to create an atmosphere of support and understanding.
Whether someone comes along for a full session or just a quick cup of tea, they are welcome to do whatever feels right for them."
The café was co-produced by EPUT peer workers, an expanding group of staff and volunteers who draw on personal experiences of mental health challenges to ensure the patient voice remains central to care.
Feedback on the initiative has been positive, highlighting the value of lived experience in fostering deep connections among both attendees and staff.
Discussions range from everyday topics to personal recovery journeys, offering guidance and empowerment.
The Recovery Café complements Brockfield House's Recovery College programme, which provides a range of peer-designed and therapist-led group activities.
These include pet therapy, educational workshops, spirituality groups, talent development, breath work, and more, aiming to empower patients to take an active role in their recovery journey.
Local supermarket Tesco has supported the café, donating coffee, tea, and biscuits.
Currently, the café is open to patients receiving care within EPUT services. It is hoped that similar initiatives across the region will expand access to community members seeking recovery-focused support.