Monday will mark World Mental Health Awareness Day 2022, and a new high street mental health service will be offering free therapy sessions here in Manchester.
Locals will be able to spend 30 minutes with Self Space’s qualified experts, to reflect, reconnect, and maybe just find out what therapy is all about.
The free sessions will be taking place at Feel Good Club in the Northern Quarter, a cafe that was set up with a focus on well-being (as well as belting sandwiches).
Self Space itself was founded in 2019 and has just expanded into Manchester, with four stylish and welcoming therapy rooms in Ducie House.
The aim is to create a simple, straightforward, modern and flexible approach to therapy.
Self Space has opened in Manchester and is doing pop-up therapy sessions at Feel Good Club. Credit: Supplied
Founder Jodie Cariss says she wants to make therapy as ‘everyday as going to the gym, getting a haircut or grabbing a coffee’.
There are loads of barriers and reasons that prevent people from seeking mental health help, whether it’s long waiting lists or expensive therapy sessions.
At conventional mental health services, there’s an average waitlist of four months.
But at Self Space’s high street therapy centres – in London, Brighton, and now another here in Manchester – you can see a therapist the same day as booking, seven days a week.
A 70-strong clinical team of multi-disciplined therapists makes it all possible.
And that’s another thing that sets Self Space apart – you can be paired with a therapist that is the right fit for you using their free therapist-matching service, saving you scrolling endlessly through directories.
There are other barriers standing between people and the mental health help they need, beyond the logistics of actually getting an appointment.
Some people will be put off by the fear of the unknown. Others might not feel ‘low enough’ to seek professional advice.
The pop-up therapy sessions will open the door to the benefits of seeking professional help.
One in four of us will experience a mental health condition at some point in our lives, so the free Self Space pop-up is a brilliant chance to see how you can arm yourself with the tools and professional help that could make the world of difference.
Their therapy sessions encourage a Mental Maintenance approach which will support you when life gets a bit messy, whether it’s burnout, stress, anxiety, grief or something else.
The pop-up, free therapy sessions will take place at Feel Good Club in the Northern Quarter in Manchester on Monday 10 October. You can book your session here.
Featured image: Supplied
What's On
2:22 A Ghost Story at the Manchester Opera House – a nail-biting and thrilling night out
Clementine Hall
2:22 A Ghost Story has begun its UK tour in Manchester, and it’s a production certainly not for the faint hearted.
Since its premier on the West End back in 2021, 2:22 A Ghost Story has firmly established itself as a must-see.
It’s a production that promises to get your pulse racing, your palms sweating and the hairs stand up on the back of your neck – and believe me, it does just that.
Based on the personal experiences of playwright Danny Robbins, this spooky tale delves into the supernatural themes of love, loss, and enduring connections.
Image: Supplied
The script is fast paced and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat, infusing dark themes with unexpected turns and moments of humour – it’s a perfect recipe for success.
Set against the backdrop of a middle class dinner party there are no set changes, instead we focus on the four characters and their evening until the dreaded time comes around…2:22.
Jenny and Sam, played by Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, are joined by their old friend Lauren (Shvorne Marks) and her new boyfriend Ben (Grant Kilburn).
Image: SuppliedImage: suPPLIED
There was not one weak link in the cast, each player kept up to speed in the fast pace game as the plot unfurled around them.
The standout performance for me was by Grant Kilburn as Ben, a cocky chino-wearing, loafer-sporting builder who turns out to be more than meets the eye (no spoilers, I promise).
Stacey Dooley’s Jenny was gentle and strong in equal measures, whereas Kevin Clifton’s performance was exactly as you wanted it to be – ridiculously obnoxious and at most times incredibly unlikeable.
Image: Supplied
The syncopated score added to the tension of the plot perfectly, as did the red lighting that framed the performance throughout.
Again, I won’t give too much away but the jump scares dotted through the performance sent waves of terror throughout the audience. Followed by chuckles of laughter as grown adults came to realise they’d dropped their popcorn on the floor out of fright.
The ending of course brought it all together, and was the sort of ending that you had speaking to strangers walking out of the auditorium after the final curtain call.
So if you’re looking to get your pulse racing with a theatre production like no other, 2:22 A Ghost Story is at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday 16 August and you can your tickets here.
Sam Fender – Live From Wythenshawe Park, Manchester: tickets, times, supports and more
Thomas Melia
North Shields indie rocker Sam Fender is making his way to Manchester to play a massive summer date at Wythenshawe Park.
UK singer-songwriter Sam Fender is ready to hear the roars of the Manchester crowd as he heads to one of the city’s biggest outdoor gig venues ahead of the ‘Live From Wythenshawe Park‘ summer series.
The BRT award-winning artist released his third studio album, People Watching, back in February, and you can expect to hear quite a few of this LP’s staple singles like ‘Arm’s Length’ and ‘Rein Me In’.
It wasn’t too long ago that Fender last paid a visit to the music capital of the North with his performance being described as ‘one of the world’s greatest live acts’ (by us, in fairness…) last December.
Gig guide – Sam Fender at Wythenshawe Park: all you need to know
Now, get your ‘Seventeen Going Under’ “Oh woah oh ohs” ready as Mr. Fender is set to play out to a crowd of 30,000 this weekend as he takes on the mighty feat that is Wythenshawe Park.
Sam Fender is playing Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on Saturday, 16 August (Credit: Supplied via Mac Scott)
Sam Fender tickets for Wythenshawe Park gig
As you would expect, ‘You’re Not The Only One’ who wants to see this Geordie musical mastermind in action as they’re completely sold out.
However, if you want to ‘Play God’, you can try your best on verified fan ticket reselling platform, Twickets, right HERE. Ok, we’ll calm it with the puns now, promise – we’re just very excited.
As always with second-hand tickets, proceed with caution; it’s never worth getting stung by the touts.
Sam Fender setlist
Although the setlist isn’t confirmed, at recent festivals and events, he’s performed a more condensed collection of the hits and tracks from his newest album.
However, this is his biggest show in Manchester to date – a fair few thousand more than Co-op Live, in fact – so you can expect something closer to a full-blown headline set. Here’s what we’re expecting based on what was played at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park stadium in his hometown:
Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero (Mark Knopfler cover)
UEFA Champions League Anthem
Getting Started
Will We Talk?
Arm’s Length
The Borders
Howdon Aldi Death Queue
Crumbling Empire
Tyrants
Rein Me In (with Olivia Dean)
People Watching
Get You Down
Spit of You
Seventeen Going Under
Encore:
Remember My Name (with Easington Colliery Brass Band)
The Dying Light
Something Heavy (with CMAT, Liam Fender and Niles Krieger)
Hypersonic Missiles
One very stunning solo support act for Sam Fender at Wythenshawe Park
Olivia Dean is supporting Sam Fender amid his ‘Live From Wythenshawe Park’ gig this weekend / Credit: Supplied
You might have noticed one rather big name among the setlist there, and you’d be right to have paid attention because she makes this a truly great value-for-money live music billing.
Opening up for Mr. Fender is no easy feat, but this rising soul singer and incredibly talented ‘Lady Lady’ will no doubt take it in her stride.
London-based Olivia Dean is travelling up North to kick things off with her neo soul prowess, airy vocals and lovestruck tracks like ‘Nice to Each Other’, ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be’, ‘Carmen’ and more.
But that’s not all…
Sam Fender has two more support slots, which are confirmed to be indie/punk artist Bugman and folk singer-songwriter Charlie Noordewier.
It really is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best nights of the year, and we’re quite literally counting down to the moment Olivia Dean joins Sam on stage for ‘Rein Me In’.
What are the stage times for Sam Fender at Wythenshawe Park?
Gates for this gig are opening from 4pm, with Bugman ‘Getting Started’ at 5:15pm and Charlie Noordewier slowly after at 6:25pm.
Olivia Dean takes to the stage at 7:35pm, with the main man himself gracing us with his presence from 9pm onwards.
With a curfew of 11pm, this should give you plenty of time to get back home and tucked in bed – though we’re sure there’ll be little room for sleep as you replay the night over and over again.
Here’s a little taster of one of the warm-ups, Bugman.
How to get there
Last but not least, there’s just the small matter of getting there. While we’d always recommend travelling as green as possible/using public transport where you can, there are still some car park tickets that you can buy online from the Live From Wythenshawe website.
As for those of you catching a ride, there is yellow signage to the north of the site, which will lead you to the pick-up/drop-off point on Wythenshawe Road, M23 0AB.
There are also three tram stops to choose from: Wythenshawe Park, Moor Road and Baguley. However, it’s worth noting that both Wythenshawe Park and Baguley will be closed from 9pm, so you won’t be able to get back home this way.
Big Green Coaches travelling to the gigs will also be available from various locations.
Finally, you can always catch one of the shuttle buses back into the city centre. The service will be operating in a loop from Sale and the city centre, running from 1pm-8pm on the way to Wythenshawe Park and then from 8pm-1:30am when heading home.
For more information, you can find all the up-to-date travel stuff HERE, or check out (TfGM) Transport for Greater Manchester’s full guidance via the Bee Network app.