Everton in the Community’s new mental health facility, The People’s Place gets planning

Everton in the Community is pleased to confirm that it has successfully been awarded planning permission from Liverpool City Council for its proposed mental health facility, The People’s Place.

The purpose-built facility will be built on the strip of land next to The People’s Hub on Spellow Lane and will provide tailored support to promote positive mental health and deliver support relating to suicide awareness and prevention.

The need for The People’s Place is greater now than ever before as the coronavirus pandemic amplifies many of the associated risk factors for poor mental health and suicide.

Interior of The People’s Place

Everton in the Community’s 12-year track record in delivering high-quality mental health provision – along with the charity’s ability to respond rapidly – provides a strong basis for suicide prevention.

The services and support that the facility will offer is continually evolving as Everton in the Community works to ensure that suitable provision is available to those who need it most.

The People’s Place will provide a space for people to access a broad range of activities including exercise, arts and culture that are shown to improve our mental health as well as being able to connect with other like-minded individuals who may have experienced similar challenges such as ex-forces personnel, men becoming new parents or children bereaved by a parent’s suicide.

The building will offer advice and support to users and direct them to the many specialist mental health and crisis centres in the centre whilst also incorporating a flexible space to engage with the community as well as a gym and activity space as it is proven that mental health is often improved by physical activity.

The People’s Place will form the latest part of the ‘Goodison Campus’, which over the last five years has seen Everton in the Community – along with partners – invest more than £10million in the physical regeneration of the area and has changed the face of the area around Goodison Park, transforming derelict sites into thriving destinations such as Everton Free School, The People’s Hub and The Blue Base and is helping to transform lives. Buildings have been acquired, renovated and repurposed with stunning physical and social impact, bringing them back into public use and putting pride and value back into the area.

Everton in the Community CEO Richard Kenyon said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded planning permission for The People’s Place and to move another step closer to bringing this much-needed facility to Liverpool 4. There was already a significant need for this facility, and this has only increased due to the coronavirus and the long-term impact that the pandemic could have on people’s well-being – including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. We’re more committed than ever before to bring this scheme to life as quickly as possible so the confirmation that we can proceed to the next stage is very significant.”

Interior of The People’s Place

You can still play your part in bringing the charity a step closer to its fundraising target and become a permanent part of The People’s Place by purchasing an engraved blue brick for a commemorative walkway at the facility which has been aptly named ‘Spellow Brick Lane’.

Priced at just £95 including VAT, the limited-edition light blue bricks can be personalised with a name and/or message of up to 32 characters and are the ideal gift for the Evertonian in your life or a poignant way to remember someone special. All purchases will come with a commemorative giftbox which will include a personalised certificate and an imitation brick keyring printed with your chosen message.

Purchase your limited-edition blue brick today and become part of Spellow Brick Lane here.