News

Manchester’s mental health cafe Feel Good Club needs help after being deemed ‘ineligible’ for Gov support

"We always say it's ok to ask for help. It's time we took our own advice."

The Manc The Manc - 16th November 2020
@wearefeelgoodclub

“We always say it’s ok to ask for help. It’s time we took our own advice.”

Staff at Feel Good Club are usually the ones offering support – not seeking it.

But after what has been described as ”a terrible week”, Manchester’s wellbeing cafe has heeded its own guidance.

Representatives took to social media on Monday to ask their followers for a favour…

@wearefeelgoodclub

Since setting up shop in Northern Quarter in October, Feel Good Club has functioned as a marvellous cafe, community and co-working space all rolled into one – committed to abolishing the stigma surrounding mental health whilst providing a safe place for people to talk, listen and enjoy a cracking cuppa whilst they’re at it.

Owners promised to remain open for takeaway throughout the second lockdown, but during the past week, they got some devastating news.

Feel Good Club is ‘ineligible’ for any furlough support or government grants. And now the cafe is running on empty.

“Last week we were told that we were ineligible for any government support during the second lockdown,” Feel Good Club posted.

“We’re doing our best to stay positive but we realised that we need to take our own advice and ask for some help so we can try and get as many eyes on this to get the support we feel we are entitled too [sic].”

@wearefeelgoodclub

The post continues: “We’ve sent endless emails over the last couple of days and it just feels like there are so many closed doors around us right now so we’re asking you all to share this as far and as wide as you can on all platforms and tag anyone you think can help.

“All of your messages over the past couple of weeks have shown us how much of an impact our space and team have had already and this only makes us more passionate about getting the support we deserve.”

The cafe is temporarily closing so owners can get their ducks in a row, assess the situation and see if they can find some more solutions.

But in the meantime – they need our help.

134,000 followers rely on the Feel Good Club to help them when they’re at their lowest. Now’s the moment to return the favour.

By spreading the message wide on social media, contacting local MPs, and sharing their story with anyone you think may be able to help, you’ll be doing your bit.

Feel Good Club cafe was one of the greatest things to come out of 2020. Let’s not lose it before it’s even found its footing.

Learn more about how you can help support Feel Good Club here.

@wearefeelgoodclub

News

Feel Good Club becomes Manchester’s latest independent cafe to announce ‘heartbreaking’ closure

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester mental health cafe Feel Good Club is the latest independent to sadly announce it’ll be closing its doors for good.

You may know the Feel Good Club from the success of its wellbeing-focused cafe which opened in the heart of the Northern Quarter in October 2020, where it has since been brewing up quality coffee, serving all-day brunch full of all your favourite comfort foods, and hosting regular events to bring the Manchester community together.

The Feel Good Club movement actually started humbly as an Instagram page filled with uplifting messages and top tips, however, by founders Kiera and Aimie Lawlor-Skillen.

The carefully-curated social media page aimed at normalising the stigma around mental health and has since flourished into a successful platform of 530,000+ followers, and has led the pair to being able to release their own book, clothing lines, start a podcast, and so much more.

But the upcoming closure of its Northern Quarter cafe next month is one that will hit Manchester hard, amid a growing number of independent businesses struggling to stay afloat.

Feel Good Club has announced the closure of its Manchester cafe / Credit: The Manc Group

Taking to Instagram yesterday to announce the closure, Feel Good Club wrote: “We’re absolutely gutted to have to deliver this message but, just weeks before our fifth birthday, our venue in Northern Quarter will be closing on the 23 September.

“We’ve spent the past 12+ months seeing some of our favourite venues in the city closing around us, and whilst we’ve been trying to do everything in our power not to, it’s felt like an inevitability that we’ve been unable to escape, and we’ll sadly be joining the list of some incredible places that have been lost to the current hospitality crisis.

“Holding on any longer would mean risking letting down our team and suppliers, and they come first here.

The Northern Quarter cafe opened its doors in October 2020 / Credit: The Manc Group

“We’ve poured every part of ourselves, our lives. and energy into the physical venue of Feel Good Club.

“We’ve loved, we’ve lost, and we’ve had some of the best moments of our lives in that space, joined by friends, family, and the chosen family we have met along the way. From the cabarets and dancing on tables, to the weddings, the markets, the protests, the music, the memorials, and the real, raw, and important conversations.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has brought their visions to life in the club.”

Founders Kiera and Aimie then went on to thank every single visitor who’s ever come through the doors of their cafe, as well as all the staff who have worked there over the years, and ultimately, everyone who has supported them on their journey.

They also made sure to add that ‘this is not the end for Feel Good Club’ and that they are actively looking for pop-up opportunities to keep the community alive.

“We will continue to be exactly what it always has been – a safe corner of the internet for everyone and anyone that needs it,” their statement concluded.

Read more:

Feel Good Club will close its doors in the Northern Quarter on Tuesday 23 September 2025, so make sure you go and show them some love before then.

___

If you or anyone you know is struggling right now, please know that you are never alone and there are many different places you can reach out to for support right here in Greater Manchester.

Suffering in silence never need be the way.

  • Manchester Mind – An organisation that has supported people in Manchester for over 30 years. Most services are now available over the phone, by email or video call. The number is 0161 769 5732 and the opening hours are Mon to Fri, 10am-2pm.
  • The GM Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust– The local NHS helpline is open 24/7 which you can call any time, day or night, if you feel your mental health is beginning to suffer: 0800 953 0285.
  • Andy’s Man Club – A group dedicated to starting conversations about mental health, assuring people that it’s ok to talk. You can contact them by email on: [email protected].
  • CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably supports people via phone and webchat. You can call 0800 58 58 58 or speak to a support worker online. Open 5pm to midnight.
  • Samaritans – The Manchester & Salford Samaritans offer emotional support by telephone and email. The phone lines and email support are available 24/7. Call 116 123 or visit the website.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester Mayors deliver update on Salford Red Devils situation

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mayor Andy Burnham statement update after Salford Red Devils RFL meeting

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham revealed details from the minutes of his meeting with the Rugby Football League (RFL) over the August bank holiday, sharing key updates from the crucial sit-down in hopes of securing the future of Salford Red Devils.

The Mayor and his Salford counterpart, Paul Dennett, met with chief executive Tony Sutton and other key RFL figures to discuss the ongoing crisis at Salford Red Devils, who remain on the brink of collapse.

For context, amid growing financial pressures and having to loan players from other clubs to stay afloat, the club had to reassure fans that their most recent fixture this past weekend would even go ahead following the late cancellation of the previous round against Wakefield Trinity.

Supporters marched on the streets of 0161’s second city in the immediate aftermath, expressing their dismay at the continuing struggles both behind the scenes and off the pitch, and Burnham was quick to call a meeting with the RFL as a result. The fans have remained in full voice throughout.

Posting a joint statement on social media, the pair wrote: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank the RFL and clubs across the Super League for their ongoing commitment to assist Salford Red Devils in fulfilling all other fixtures and get the club to the end of the season.

“Following that meeting, we have requested a meeting this Friday with the Jacobsen Management Group, the current owners, to discuss our serious concerns over the future of the club.

“The impending HMRC court hearing, the failure to meet tax obligations, the delay in payment of wages, and the lack of financial investment have resulted in a complete loss of confidence in the ownership among fans and the wider Salford and rugby community.”

Stating that “Salford Red Devils [still] face an uncertain future”, leading fan group The 1873 confessed that while it has been seen as a “welcome step”, it nevertheless “felt short of reassurance and commitment we’d hoped for.”

In short, they said: “We will no longer sit back while the club we love is reduced to a shell by those who do not speak to us, do not listen, and do not understand what Salford means.” They also called out the somewhat one foot in, one foot out ownership group and so-called current ‘stewards’ of the club directly.

You can read their response in full down below.

Furthermore, Burnham and Dennett went on to add: “Following discussions between the parties involved, there is clear agreement that Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Salford City Council and the Rugby Football League are resolute in their commitment to safeguard the club.

“We are committed to working together to secure the long-term future of the club, to implement a city-wide rugby strategy, and to honour the generations of players, supporters, and communities who have carried its spirit through more than 150 years of rugby league.”

What about you, Salford Red Devils fans – what did you make of both statements, and how hopeful are you that the storm will clear around the club?

The latest on Salford Red Devils’ financial situation as ‘winding-up’ petition is adjourned

Read more:

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Featured Images — Hullian111 (via Wikimedia Commons)/Scottish Government (via Flickr)

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