16 January 2025

From left to right: Mel Hawkes, Area Manager at Hestia; Ellie Chesterman, Assistant Director of Strategic Commissioning and Investment; Emily Staines, Commissioning Manager at Islington Council; Cllr Anjna Khurana, Mayor of Islington; Cllr Flora Williamson; Patrick Ryan Chief Executive a Hestia; Rachel Jasper, Director of Complex Needs at Hestia.

Residents of Islington who need support with their mental health will now be able to access immediate support without needing an appointment, including at weekends and evenings.

According to Hestia's London Mental Health Index published earlier this year, half of Londoners (49%) have experienced symptoms of poor mental health in the last year, with one in ten experiencing suicidal thoughts and 5% disclosing they had self-harmed.

The new Islington Recovery Café is a welcoming, safe space located a short walk from Highbury & Islington station, for people who are experiencing mental health crisis or feel like they are unable to cope. It is run by the charity Hestia, on behalf of Islington Council and the North Central London Integrated Care Board.

Hestia’s mental health workers provide one-to-one support to help people manage distress, create safety plans, and to advise on other local resources and services in the area.

The Islington Recovery café, located at the Elfrida Society on Islington Park Street, is open 6pm - 10pm on weekdays and 2pm - 6pm on weekends, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Visitors can simply drop-in, or they can also choose to make an appointment by phone or zoom if they prefer.

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive at Hestia said:

“One in seven of those who used Hestia’s other Recovery Cafes tell us that they would have had to go to A&E if they hadn’t been able to access the Cafe. Having easily accessible support based in local communities provides a valuable alternative for anyone experiencing mental health crisis, particularly as they are available outside of normal working hours. We are pleased to now be able to offer this vital support to people in Islington, and I would urge other Londoners to look up their local service using our directory – you never know when a family member or a friend might need it.”

Councillor Flora Williamson, Executive Member for Health & Social Care said: 

“Supporting the mental health of our residents is a top priority for Islington Council, and the opening of the Islington Recovery Café is an important step in ensuring help is accessible when it’s needed most. This safe, welcoming space offers support to those experiencing mental health issues and helps them to find the care and guidance they need. We are proud to work with Hestia to bring this invaluable service to our community.”

Hestia already provides similar crisis support accessible across 12 other London boroughs: Brent, Camden, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. 

Last year, over 9,400 people across the capital accessed the charity’s mental health support – which includes registered care homes and supported accommodation, as well as day centres and community floating support.

To make it easier for Londoners to find accessible support for their mental health, Hestia has created a Directory of the Crisis Cafes available across the capital. 

Find out more about the support available at the Islington Recovery Cafe.