Safespace

Welcome to Safespace, a haven for emotional support provided by our friendly team of compassionate professionals. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed or simply need someone to listen, we're here for you.

Our services are completely free of charge and available 7 days and evenings a week, offering a lifeline for anyone aged 16+ in Calderdale.
​
Our team provide a listening ear during times of distress and can assist you in taking the next steps towards healing and stability. If you find yourself in crisis, remember that help is just a phone call away.

Safespace is open from

12.30pm - 10:30 pm, Monday to Sunday

Contact us via phone, text, email or through social media.
Speak to one of support team or to request a face to face appointment. (The last call taken will be at 10 pm.)

Healthy Minds are proud to collaborate with organisations across Calderdale providing a Safespace worker at local community drop-in sessions. See below for details about our current regular community sessions. 

How to contact us:

​Call us on 01422 345154 
Text us on 07388 990227 
Message us on Facebook (@SafespaceCalderdale)
Or email
[email protected]

In crisis?

Call 111

---

​Alternative numbers for support:
- Samaritans 116 123
- Night Owls, a support line for young people,       parents and carers. Call 0800 1488 244 or text   07984 392700  (8pm - 8am) 
- Single point of access 01924 316830.

How it works:

When you contact Safespace, a worker will take some brief details and arrange a telephone call, text or face-to-face appointment for you at an agreed time. Please be aware that the call may come from a withheld number. Facebook and email contacts will be monitored and responded to each shift.

If lines are busy, please leave a message and a member of the team will call you back. You will be offered up to 30 minutes phone or text support or 45 minutes at a face-to-face appointment with a member of the Safespace team.

FAQ

Who is Safespace for?

Safespace is for anyone in Calderdale who is 16+ who feels they are in emotional distress.

Is there a referral process?

No, anyone over 16 can self-refer to Safespace. 

How long is an appointment and how long can I use the service for?

An appointment will generally be up to 30 minutes, although your first appointment may be longer than that. You can use the service as long as you feel you need to. However, you are limited to one contact a day.

Is Safespace a counselling service?

We do not provide counselling or psychotherapy – what we do offer is a listening ear, emotional support and signposting. Our highly skilled team come from all walks of life, backgrounds and experiences. Healthy Minds is a peer support service, led by people with lived experience of mental health.

Is Safespace part of the NHS?

Safespace is a Healthy Minds service, and we are an independent charity.

Can I use Safespace anonymously

In order to access our service, you should be willing to provide your name, address and contact number as minimal information.

Will my information be shared?

Healthy Minds is a confidential organisation. We do not share information with anyone outside of the organisation without your knowledge.

How quickly will someone get back to me?

Safespace operates between the hours of 12:30pm and 10:30pm.
We will aim to call you back within 4 hours of your referral. If we are unable to support you in that time due to a high number of calls, we will always let you know and signpost you to alternative support.

Can I request a specific worker?

No. Safespace staff offer an in-the-moment service, which means the staff do not case work. They are there to offer you emotional support in your moment of distress, meaning there is no agreement or guarantee that you will see the same worker whenever you contact us.
You may request a worker of a specific gender if it is due to a sensitivity or trauma, however you should keep in mind that we may not always be able to accommodate this due to staff availability.

What if I struggle with substance misuse of addiction?

We recognise that it can be hard to find support for your mental health if you are struggling with addiction. If you are unable to engage meaningfully with our service, we will ask you to call back when you are better able to engage with the service.

CAN SAFESPACE PROVIDE ADVOCACY?

We are not an advocacy service. 

Does the service offer home support?

No, we do not come out to homes to provide support.

What about safeguarding?

If we felt you were at risk of harming yourself or others, we would follow our Safeguarding procedure. We will always keep you informed.

Tell me more about the sunday Social 

The Sunday Social is an opportunity to have a chat and a brew with other people, who may also be struggling with their mental health. The sessions are run by trained volunteers offering informal peer support and information about further Healthy Minds support and other services. You can stay for 10 minutes, or the whole two hours, chat with other people, or sit quietly with a colouring book, or work on a jigsaw.

To ensure everyone stays safe, respects each other and our space, we operate simple guidelines:
- The Sunday social is for adults 18+ who may be feeling isolated or struggling with their mental health.
- We respect people’s confidentiality
- We are respectful of difference
- We don’t offer unasked for advice
- We are respectful of each other’s boundaries and personal space – if someone asks for your number, it’s OK to say no. (We advise people to be mindful about sharing personal information.)
- We do not use threatening behaviour or language that others may find offensive
- We ask you don’t come to the social if you have been drinking/using drugs or your judgement is impaired
- If you want to speak to someone in private, ask a volunteer or member of staff, who will also be on hand.
- If you have accessibility needs, please get in touch so we can have a conversation about the best ways we can support you. 

 

Safespace in the Community:

Mondays 
1pm – 4pm 

Mixenden Food Bank,
​Holy Nativity Church, HX2 8RX

Wednesdays
10:30am - 12:30pm

The Gathering Place,
Halifax, HX1 1YS

Sunday Social
1pm - 3pm

Healthy Minds Office,
Halifax, HX1 1SR
(Call to book on)

Safespace  needs volunteers to help with the service, to assist the staff team and offer supportive company for people who come to us. This can be an emotionally demanding role and we have a rigorous selection process, with training and ongoing support provided for the right volunteers. 
​
Contact the Safespace team on 01422 345154 or [email protected] with enquiries.