Mary Seacole House is a mental health drop in day centre primarily for the black and minority ethnic communities of Liverpool 8, although open to all, offering support and advice in emotional and practical matters. The Centre was established in 1991 to serve the needs of the local community and has charitable status. Mary Seacole house was primarily set up to meet the needs of the black and racial minorities. The service also addresses inequalities of mental health with in the black and racial minorities.

The Centre was established to provide a meeting place where primarily black and racial minorities could come together to discuss their problems and fears in a sympathetic environment. It also represents the interests of its service users to the health sector, social services and other agencies.

Aims & Objectives

Core aims of the organisation

• To increase confidence and life opportunities for local BME residents with mental health issues
  
• Advice / Information Service
  
• To educate people in the local community about their health and well-being
  
• To grow as an organisation
  
• To work in partnership with other agencies
  
• To reduce levels of ill health and hospital admissions amongst service users
  
• To promote education amongst mental health practitioners
  
• To provide services to local people who are experiencing mental health problems
  
  

The organisation will achieve these aims through the following services that we provide:

• Day care support
  
• Assessment service – a safe and calm environment where members of the community in crisis can be received and be assessed. As well as receiving referrals from mental health services the Centre prioritises direct referrals from the community.
  
• Welfare Rights advice
  
• Advice / Consultancy service – available six days per week this service is provided through telephone conversation and representation at stakeholder meeting groups.
  
• Surgeries e.g. CAB, medication, legal issues.
  
• Training and educational opportunities – supported by Liverpool Community College
  
• Leisure Groups and activities
  
• Alternative Therapies e.g. (Aromatherapy, massage, Acupuncture and relaxation)
• Attending relevant meeting groups
  
  

Geographical Area of Coverage

The activities of the Mary Seacole House are currently focused on an area, which includes the area known as “Toxteth” – that is the wards of Granby, Abercromby, Smithdown and Arundel. The Centre does not however limit its activities to these areas. It also services the city centre and other areas of Merseyside.

Legal Structure

Mary Seacole House is a charity operating under the umbrella of Granby Community Mental Health Group. GCMHG and Mary Seacole House share the same charity registration.

Current Activities

Mary Seacole House provides a range of activities and services which relate to its core activity of mental health development including:

• Day care support
• Assessment service – a safe and calm environment where members of the community in crisis can be received and be assessed. As well as receiving referrals from mental health services the Centre prioritises direct referrals from the community.
• Welfare Rights advice
• Advice / Consultancy service – available six days per week this service is provided through telephone conversation and representation at stakeholder meeting groups.
• Surgeries e.g. CAB, medication, legal issues.
• Training and educational opportunities – supported by Liverpool Community College
• Leisure Groups and activities
• Sport
• Alternative Therapies e.g. (Aromatherapy, massage, Acupuncture and relaxation)
• Laundry and cooking facilities
• Computer Group
• Photography
• Music Group
• Women's/Men's/Lesbian/Gay Man/Bisexual Group
• Health and Fitness
• Drama Groups

Mary Seacole House also offers the following services to local partners, stakeholders and the community:

• Orientation Days providing information about the services that MSH provides and opportunity to walk around the building. Health and social care professionals can access this service; workers from mental health related fields and those training within the mental health and social care professions.
  
  
• Community Education Facility – workshops and training courses on black mental health. MSH provides placements to local university students studying within Health and Social Care schools and Social Work students studying at Liverpool Community College.
  

Whilst all of these services comprise the menu of services offered to customers the real strength of the Mary Seacole House lies in its approach to its users. This attitude is encapsulated in a statement from the document produced by the Centre in 2001 outlining the activities of the previous ten years – “A Decade Done” – “…service users come from far and wide, although most people who use the Centre live nearby. Individuals classified as Black British, Afro Caribbean, Black African, Somali, Asian, Chinese and White all come. While they are in the Centre, they are simply classified as themselves.”

Mary Seacole House is also active in raising awareness of the issues surrounding mental health and regularly hosts open days / orientations to allow workers and prospective users to familiarise themselves with the facilities and services. Staff regularly undertake external presentations to groups and individuals to highlight race and mental health issues. External consultations are made available as and when required.

The Centre is open to service users all week except for Sundays.

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