Manchester Mind: The charity fighting for better mental health, 30 years and counting
Mind has been providing an essential mental health service for three decades - and is now holding the city’s hand through the biggest crisis in living memory.
Pleas for help came from beyond the Crescent-shaped skyline hanging heavy over Manchester’s most dilapidated neighbourhood. But they all fell on deaf ears.
A disastrous social housing experiment had left an entire community abandoned on the doorstep of the city for years.
But then, in 1989, some people started listening.
A cluster of of mental health workers moved into the Z-Arts (originally the Zion Arts Centre) building on Stretford Road, setting up a support group called the Hulme Action Research Project (HARP).
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Suddenly, residents had someone they could talk to.
It changed everything.
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In the years that followed, Hulme clambered back to its feet, and that little support group morphed into one of the biggest, most important charities in the region: Manchester Mind.
During the past thirty years, Manchester Mind has reached beyond its inner-city suburb origins and right across Mancunia – providing vital services to thousands of people living in the borough.
Today, the organisation is holding the city’s hand through the biggest crisis in living memory.
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Research revealed over half of adults (60%) and two thirds of young people (68%) experienced a dip in mental health during lockdown. Those who experienced mental health problems in the past felt them resurface, whilst others began to suffer the pangs of depression and anxiety for the first time.
Mentally, Manchester has suffered more than most. But given the circumstances, this perhaps shouldn’t come as such a surprise.
The arrival of World Mental Health Day means we’re 284 days into 2020. For 175 of these, Mancs have been banned from seeing loved ones.
Other than a three-week window in July where it was deemed ‘safe’ to see friends and family, local residents have been urged to avoid any social interaction outside their bubble for six months.
Some people shielding have been unable to visit family since March 23. That’s 201 days of no face-to-face contact.
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When these sobering stats are laid bare, it’s a wonder how we’re all still trudging on at all.
Mercifully, we have Manchester Mind.
The charity has carried a troubled region through the initial phase of the pandemic and is now helping residents ride a grim second wave by providing a huge variety of essential services.
These range from The Listening Ear (allowing young people and adults to make telephone appointments with staff) and mental health guidance to food projects – delivering freshly prepared ready meals for people struggling with access to items either due to loss of income or isolation.
Manchester Mind has also got peer support available via video chat and support in place for young people – with one Mental Health Practitioner actually setting up a makeshift office from home to guarantee students across four schools in Manchester always had someone to talk to.
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World Mental Health Day is approaching at a poignant moment – and the charity is calling it “biggest yet”.
To mark the big day, Manchester Mind has struck a partnership with wellbeing and music festival Headstock – hosting a two-day virtual event with a stellar lineup starring huge performers and talks from the likes of Ricky Hatton and Brandon Block.
Manchester Mind had previously collaborated with Headstock to stream an incredible Ian Curtis tribute back in May.
The charity also embraced the hashtag #NeverMoreNeeded as part of an initiative to connect with more people in quarantine. And ahead World Mental Health Day, Manchester Mind has launched another campaign: #DoOneThing.
This initiative is dedicated to getting everyone involved in boosting mental health in Manchester by taking a single action – whether that’s reaching out to a loved one, starting a fundraiser, or sharing a story.
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As we head into what’s being referred to as “a difficult winter”, Manchester Mind is under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge ahead.
But the organisation is facing this task head on with tenacity, commitment, but most importantly of all, positivity.
“The important thing to remember is that things can get better, and they will – even if it doesn’t feel that way,” Sam Harwood, Manchester Mind’s Communications Manager, tells us.
“If you know someone who’s struggling – reach out. Ask them if they’re ok. But most importantly of all – listen.
“Listening without judgment is a powerful thing – especially when you don’t just jump in with advice.”
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Surprisingly, the anticipated surge in phone calls at the dawn of the pandemic did not materialise.
Perhaps Manchester was too busy scratching its head and trying to figure out what was going on rather than getting lost in its own thoughts.
Either way, Sam says the quiet period was something of a blessing – enabling Manchester Mind staff to take a beat, get set up remotely, and ensure they could continue providing services when demand would inevitably soar again.
Measures were also put in place to check on employees’ own mental wellbeing – particularly when anxiety spread throughout the region and the charity soon found itself busier than ever.
“We know that many people have developed new mental health problems as a result of the pandemic and, for some of us, existing mental health problems have gotten worse,” explains Sam.
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“But 90% of our services have been able to continue remotely – we’ve done our best to make sure we can support as many people as possible.”
Manchester Mind’s herculean efforts have not gone unrecognised – but Sam acknowledges there’s still much more work for them to do.
“There’s always been underinvestment in mental health,” she says.
“There’s still a lack of understanding and stigma. Men, for example, may be scared they’ll just get told to ‘man up’.
“But this virus has shone a light on the importance of wellbeing.”
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“As our CEO Elizabeth Simpson talked about recently, this pandemic is a defining moment for Manchester and mental health awareness.
“We need to learn from this; we don’t want to go back to how things were before. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how to do things better, adapt and change.”
We all miss our families. We all miss our friends. We all miss living, full stop.
But even in the most unsettling of times, none of us are ever alone.
Not with Manchester Mind just a phone call away.
Speak to the amazing team at Manchester Mind on 0161 769 5732, Monday to Friday. You can talk to them about anything – whether you’ve got a friend in need or you’re experiencing problems of your own.Learn more via their website.
Feature
Gig review | KEO at the O2 Ritz in Manchester – Sometimes you just KNOW…
Danny Jones
Fontaines D.C., Turnstile, Wunderhorse, Sleep Token, Neck Deep; sometimes it only takes a few listens and a live show to KNOW that a band is going to catch fire and go on to be huge – for Audio North and KEO, it only took a few.
But having now seen KEO for a third time, collectively, we’re more convinced than ever that they’re going to be massive.
Sadly, a prior engagement meant that we just missed catching the support act, Tooth (though we did hear great things rumbling around the eager young crowd), but there was no chance we were going to miss this lot show off how very good they are at what they do.
And there was absolutely no chance they were going to disappoint us, either…
We first caught this fast-rising post-grunge outfit live in action at Kendal Calling last year, where they somehow turned a daytime slot on the Woodlands stage into a moody mid-evening mosh.
They had even less fully produced and officially released music out then, but then we had the pleasure of watching them at The Key Club in Leeds this past October, and they were even better; punchier, more graduated at their game, and their fandom seemed plenty strong already.
As it turns out, that same progression proved true in Manchester, as KEO played their biggest headline show to date, and that same cult following only appeared more fervent than ever.
They might be based down in the capital, with roots in Portugal, brothers Finn and Conor having grown up there, but they certainly know a thing or two about how to please a Northern audience.
Of course, we’re sure they go off just as hard down in the capital – in fact, we’re certain they do – but the response they got from two sold-out rooms full of Yorkshire folk and us equally discerning Mancs felt like they had well and truly passed the litmus.
With flying colours, may we add.
Everything from the raw ’90s rock feel to the aesthetic hits just right. (Credit: Audio North)
It’s also worth noting that these London lads have built up this hype like very few ever manage to do: by developing a sterling live reputation right from the off and putting top-notch shows first.
For those unaware, they only just released their first five-track EP, Siren, back in June 2025, yet they’ve been packing out venues and festival stages pretty much since day dot, with die-hards growing their love for the band via performance and initially only learning the lyrics through social clips and snippets online.
While some have questioned why they’ve been chosen to headline this year’s Neighbourhood Festival here in Manchester city centre before they’ve even dropped a debut album, you only need to hear the entire Ritz screaming back the lyrics to ‘I Lied, Amber’, ‘Thorn’ and ‘Hands’ to know they fit the bill.
Frontman Finn pours so much unbridled power and emotion into his vocals, guitarist Jimmy Lanwern didn’t even need to look to know that his riffs were ripping the roof off, and they’ve quickly moved far beyond the early Wunderhorse parallels – they’re their own beast just waiting to be fully woken.
Acclaimed bakery and other businesses bid final farewell to Prestwich ahead of major redevelopment
Daisy Jackson
After years of the threat of closure dangling over their heads, business owners in Prestwich have finally been served their final notices – it’s time for the demolition and redevelopment of Prestwich Precinct.
The ambitious £100m+ plan will see the dated Longfield Centre – and all the businesses who have been based here – flattened to make way for a new village centre.
When the work is complete, Prestwich’s heart will be a market hall and village square, with space for local businesses, retail units, a new larger library, and even new homes.
In recent weeks, the footpath through the Longfield Centre has been officially cordoned off ‘due to health and safety’, and business owners based here have begun to move out ahead of the redevelopment’s next phase.
While the Prestwich precinct wasn’t about to win any architecture awards anytime soon, the tired facades hid some of the suburb’s top local independents.
Many have moved out into new units with time to spare – like Keg Cask & Bottle, which is now trading as a beer bar and bottle shop further down Bury New Road; and Village Greens, which moved just around the corner into a much larger space – but others are closed indefinitely while they look for suitable new sites.
One of which is Masa, the acclaimed bakery (with the queues to match) that has been operating ‘slap bang in the middle’ of Prestwich for two years.
While they’ve gone on to open a shop and cafe, Neighbourhood, down the road, their unit in Prestwich precinct has been their main home for their bakery operation since 2023.
Masa has run its bakery from Prestwich precinct since 2023
Masa boss Rick Marlow said that they are now on the hunt for a suitable new site, capable of handling the very specific requirements of a bakery – but in the meantime, they’ll be doing their best to keep afloat out the back of Neighbourhood.
He wrote: “It’s not ideal, it doesn’t fit half of our equipment including our ovens (they’ll be going into storage in favour of a smaller one). But, it will allow us to stay up and running for now, albeit with a lower capacity. You will also unfortunately be seeing more of Rick in the shop.
“We know this isn’t ideal, and we hope you’ll be patient with us. We’ve come this far only with the support of our community and we need you more than ever.”
Macca’s Irish pub has already shut
Another busy spot that’s disappeared from Prestwich precinct is Macca’s, an increasingly lively Irish pub right in the heart of the Longfield Centre.
Macca’s announced at the end of January that they’d be calling ‘last orders’ for good, due to the development of the Longfield Centre ‘gathering pace’.
The now-closed pub later added: “Thanks so much for all the love since sharing the news. The messages, comments and support have honestly meant the world to us.
“To give everyone a proper chance to pop in and raise a glass, we’ll be open every day until we close — including Mondays and Tuesdays. No rushing goodbyes, just pints, memories and one last bit of craic together.
“Let’s make these last days count.”
Woodpeckers Pet Store is another local independent that will have to leave when the Longfield Centre is demolishing, receiving notice from Bury Council to vacate the premises by early April.
They wrote: “Alas, the time has finally come! Today, I received my notice to leave the premises. Bury Council want me out at the latest, early April.
“I do believe that all remaining businesses on the precinct have received theirs too! Each business may have different months notice so best to ask each business of their leaving date individually!
“I am still on the lookout for a new premises so if you know of anything suitable, please message me! Now you know exactly what I know, ya know?”
The All Aboard Charity Shop has already closed down (though still operates over in Salford), writing: “Due to the redevelopment of Prestwich Village, our Prestwich shop has now closed and is scheduled to be demolished.
“We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Shop Manager Wendy and her team Maria, Cheryl and Victoria and all the wonderful volunteers who have supported the shop over many years. Their dedication, commitment, and resilience has meant so much to us and to the many charities we support. Saying goodbye was an emotional moment, especially for the team who have given so much to the shop and their community.
“We would also like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Prestwich customers and donors, whose loyalty, generosity, and ongoing support made the shop such a valued part of the community and helped make a real difference to the many charities we support.”
Keg Cask & Bottle is one of the lucky ones to already find a new location in Prestwich
Still open for a few more weeks is the Bury Hospice charity shop, which is selling off everything in store for just £1 before it closes at the end of March.
A business that had to leave before its time was officially up was Percivals of Prestwich, a gift shop and newsagent that had been in the village for 45 years.
When its current owners Nick and Christine took over the business, they believed it would only last three years before the precinct was demolished – it managed to hang on for 11 years.
But the pair had to move out last autumn due to the condition of the building, leaving them with just one site left in Ramsbottom.
The construction of a travel hub is moving at pace in Prestwich – and as the precinct itself empties out, it looks like the face of the village will soon change for good.
While the work is going on, it’ll be more important than ever to head out in support of the local businesses still operating around Prestwich village – we’ve rounded some up below.
RPB + Coffee– an award-winning barbershop with a star-studded client list, and brilliant coffee shop downstairs
Chin Chin – a beautiful wine bar from the team behind Elnecot, which has jazz vinyls spinning, Sunday roast sandwiches, and an ever-changing range of wines
Keg Cask and Bottle – a bar and shop where you can pick up a few cans of craft beer and sit in the shop to drink them
Cellar Door – another wine bar, operated by brother and sister Ben and Sarah, with more than 200 different wines, batched cocktails, and two floors of seating
Neighbourhood – the bakery shop for Masa, which has been thrown into turmoil by the closure of the precinct. Brave the queue and show them some support
Village Greens – a local co-operative that’s an organic supermarket, deli, and village community cornerstone
Chips @ No. 8 – An award-winning chippy, with fish and spuds sourced fresh and fried in beef dripping
Cuckoo – a cosy neighbourhood bar hosting cinema nights and serving top-notch pizzas
All The Shapes – seasonal brunches plus loads of craft beers and cocktails
The Crooked Man -a charming beer bar that feels like you’ve wandered into someone’s living room
Codi’s Kitchen – known for its freshly made, mouthwatering sushi but also offers a wide selection of pan Asian dishes
The Pearl – A neighbourhood British restaurant that’s deserving of every bit of the critical acclaim it’s received. Also, has a wine window
Remal – Authentic and unique home-style Lebanese dishes, in a cosy restaurant space
Whole Bunch Wines – A lovely wine shop where you can crack open your purchase and drink it on a seat by the windows with a charcuterie board
Thai Corner – A new-ish takeaway and small restaurant on the corner of Clifton Road, serving authentic Thai dishes.
The Manc -
10th October 2020 
