WORK PROGRESSES ON EVERTON IN THE COMMUNITY’S THE PEOPLE’S PLACE

Construction work is progressing on Everton in the Community’s purpose-built mental health hub, The People’s Place.

Close to Goodison Park, the facility is due to open in late 2022 and will promote positive mental health and suicide prevention through an extensive range of evidence-based provision.

The People’s Place will offer a first of its kind service delivered by a football club’s community foundation, providing wellbeing activities alongside educational and employment support with a layer of professional care from Health and Wellbeing Practitioners, GPs and Mental Health Professionals.

Mike Salla, Everton in the Community’s Director of Health and Sport, said: “We’re delighted that work is well underway on the People’s Place, as it will be a real beacon of hope for the local community.

“Everton in the Community has been offering comprehensive mental health provision for more than ten years and currently has 15 projects with a focus on improving mental health - but the need for The People’s Place is greater than ever and it will allow us to significantly expand on the support and services we provide.

“It’s going to make a huge contribution to our delivery and to the whole city region, as well as helping to tackle the stigma towards mental health and help normalise that conversation.

“The coronavirus pandemic has amplified many of the associated risk factors for poor mental health and suicide such as social disconnection, isolation and financial instability. The People’s Place will offer an overarching service to anyone who may need it regardless of age, gender, location or footballing colours.”

The People’s Place building will form the latest part of the Goodison Campus, which has already seen £10million invested in the regeneration of the area surrounding Everton’s stadium and includes Everton Free School, The Blue Base and The People’s Hub.

“Another key aspect of The People’s

Place is that it’s deliberately for everyone” Salla added. “We hear about how one in four people will experience poor mental health each year, and absolutely this is for them, but it’s also for the three in four people who are deemed to have good mental health. Everybody has mental health so it’s important that we all prioritise it.”