A VENUE to help support mental health recovery has been set up in Tavistock. The ?Make a Difference? café provides a safe, relaxing and affordable place where people can meet and enjoy good food and refreshments. It has been created by users of Devon Partnership NHS Trust and is open some Saturdays from 10am to 2pm at the Parish Centre, next to the Bedford Hotel Car Park in Plymouth Road. From January to April 2006, it will be open on Mondays and Fridays 10am to 2.30pm. The café also includes activities, a homemade cake stall and daily newspapers are available for people to read and relax. For Dickensian evening tomorrow (Friday) a special ?Make a Difference? café will be open from 4pm to 9pm offering hot pork rolls, soup and drinks. All are welcome. Jackie Sargeant, secretary of the ?Make a Difference? café, said: ?We are applying for charity status and are currently writing to local community figures and businesses for their help and support. ?We wanted to set up something that would make a difference to people?s lives, would help to reduce the stigma of mental health and help service users feel part of the community. ?People have found it very beneficial - it has helped them build their confidence, meet new people, feel they have a role and made them smile!. ?However, to keep this project going in Tavistock we desperately need to find another location with kitchen and storage space so we can provide a more suitable venue and continue to provide this much worthwhile social setting.? The café?s future depends on being able to find appropriate funding to keep it going and to help secure a permanent location. Office space is also being sought and if anyone can offer a small area where the administration can be done they are asked to contact Jackie Sargeant.on 07762181082.
