The Solace Centre recently reopened its doors in West Ealing to coincide with World Mental Health Day. The centre and Marron House have had extensive refurbishments.
Solace offers a safe, accepting and inclusive environment to counteract the effects of isolation and loneliness in people with mental health problems who live in the borough.
Celebrating the event by officially cutting the ribbon was Councillor Hitesh Tailor, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for health and adults’ services, who played a vital role in campaigning for the centre to be back in service.
Accompanying Councillor Tailor to reopen the centre was mental health champion, Councillor Abdullah Gulaid, who celebrated with around 140 guests including service users, and their carers, family and friends.
Since April 2016, the council has leased the Solace Centre (out-of-hours social inclusion centre) and Marron House (24-hour residential housing) to Equinoxcare, part of the Social Interest Group charity.
For 22 years, the centre has been a place where people with mental illness can meet in a relaxed environment, build confidence and make new friends. It can help with respite, long-term self-management, resilience and sustainability.
Staff help users to resolve day-to-day mental health problems, ranging from anything from advice on budgeting through to thoughts of suicide.
Solace Centre manager Mirna Scholey said: “On behalf of users and staff, we would like to thank Ealing Council, particularly Councillor Tailor who officially opened the Solace Centre and Marron House’s new premises. It was a momentous occasion securing social inclusion for our current and future mental health service users.”
Councillor Tailor said: “It’s effectively taken three years to come to this point and to also reopen on World Mental Health Day was symbolic. I recognised early what the centre meant to the community by ensuring the service continued within a rebuilt centre. The new purpose-built building in the heart of Ealing will give current and future users much needed support.
“Having the Solace Centre is vitally important and creates a friendly and supportive environment for the users to enjoy while gaining friends and advice from staff. This centre is one of a number of places and methods residents can seek help in Ealing.”
Get involved
Visit Solace Centre’s new website where you can find information about joining the supportive service.
Other mental health services
For information about local sources of support visit the Ealing CCG website.
If you are in a crisis, contact West London Mental Health NHS Trust’s Single Point of Access phone line on 0300 1234 244, go to your GP or A&E.
