Salisbury charity offers mental health support through Riverside Sanctuary
ALABARÉ provides free drop-in service during challenging summer months
A Salisbury-based charity is urging individuals experiencing mental health challenges this summer to utilise it's free and confidential drop-in service, instead of going to A&E.
Alabaré is offering support at its Riverside Sanctuary facility, to allow people to get help faster and ease the strain on the NHS.
The charity says the summer season tends to be a critical period for mental wellbeing, with hot weather and disrupted routines potentially affecting many. As a result, the Riverside Sanctuary often sees increased demand for its services during this time.
Located on Watt Road, Churchfields, the Riverside Sanctuary offers a calm environment for visitors and operates every evening from 4.00 to 11.00 pm, without the need for appointments.
It offers a variety of support from board and video games, cooking and creative writing.
Service Manager, Filippo Fiori says there are lots of opportunities for people to "work on their mental health in a less clinical setting to make social connections."
Recent statistics show ALABARÉ handling up to 15 visitors a day during summer, paralleling a rise in demand reported by Wiltshire Police. The police force has observed a 9.1% increase in 999 calls in June compared to the same month in 2025, with record figures on 27th June.
The Riverside Sanctuary collaborates with emergency services and Salisbury District Hospital to provide immediate mental health support, accepting referrals from police and ambulance services as an alternative to waiting at A&E.
People aged 16 or over who are registered with a GP or reside in Wiltshire can engage with the team to receive non-clinical, trauma-informed, and person-centred advice. The service is open to those willing to communicate in a safe space and who are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Individuals visiting the Sanctuary can also be directed to other services as part of their recovery journey, such as the Access Community Mental Health Team operated across Wiltshire by ALABARÉ.
Filippo said: “We completely understand that taking that first step towards recovery from mental ill health can be the hardest one, and the Riverside Sanctuary is set up to try and make that as calm, relaxed and easy as possible.
"There’s no obligation to unload all your concerns in your initial visit, but the team are on hand to listen and offer support when people need it.
"The summer can be a difficult time for some, and we’ve seen that having a cool and comfortable space for people to be themselves, speak to professionals with lived experience, and perhaps make new friends with other visitors, can have a big impact on wellbeing.”
To enhance mental health, the Sanctuary offers activities based on specific hobbies, including cooking, creative writing, board games, and crafting.
The drop-in service is located at the rear of Alabaré's base at 2 Watt Road, Churchfields, Salisbury, SP2 7UD.
For additional information, visit the service’s social media page or email [email protected].