Jami’s Head Room Café launches Head Room To Go
Jami, the Jewish Community’s mental health service, has launched a mobile Head Room Café – Head Room To Go.
Head Room Café in Golders Green, part of Jami’s Social Enterprise, has been delivering accessible mental health support and reducing stigma and discrimination around mental illness for the past six years. So, when considering how best to reach people unable to visit the Café in a post-Covid world, we created the concept of Head Room To Go to reach even more.
At the start of the pandemic, we quickly identified that one of the most significant impacts of Covid would be on mental health, as a result of not only the physical health concerns, but also the effects of isolation, fear, uncertainty, grief and loss. We needed to be able to continue to deliver life-saving mental health treatment and services to people already in Jami’s care while meeting the rapidly increasing demand of new referrals. We adapted our services online while also adapting a physical check in with those most isolated and vulnerable in our community, through meal deliveries and safe-distance doorstep chat programme.
Laurie Rackind, Jami Chief Executive said,
“As we move toward resuming a more ‘normal’ pre-Covid lifestyle, it is clear that for people with mental health problems, being able to access treatment and support isn’t always straightforward or easy. And there are those people who continue to remain isolated. Being able to take the café out to the community is a huge opportunity for people to feel connected and approach mental health support.”
Thanks to the generosity of The Locker Foundation, we were able convert an electric milk float into a mobile café, mobilising Head Room Café to go out into the community while embodying the sustainability objectives of all of Jami’s social enterprises. Head Room To Go will deliver a kosher take-away food and drinks menu alongside information about our community mental health programme and how to access Jami services.
Malcolm Carter and Susie Segal, Trustees of the Locker Foundation, officially launched Head Room To Go at Jami’s Edgware Hub on Thursday 17th June, in honour of their late father, renowned philanthropist Irving Carter. They said, “Jami has never been more important. Their work providing practical and emotional support for the mental health of our community is truly inspiring. We are absolutely delighted to be able to support this exciting initiative.”
Head Room To Go will be available to book for specific location visits, including synagogues, schools, work venues and community centres. For more information visit www.headroomcafe.org or email headroomcafe@jamiuk.org.
