Steel town gets timely Sanctuary Service

An out of out of hours Sanctuary Service – offering respite to people with low level mental health needs - has opened in Neath Port Talbot.

The service, based in The Forge Centre near Port Talbot’s town centre, is being provided by mental health charity Adferiad (formerly Hafal) in collaboration with Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB).

The first Sanctuary Service Site opened in Llansamlet, Swansea, in 2020 and due to its success has now been expanded into Neath Port Talbot.

The service aims to provide practical, therapeutic and holistic person-centred support to people experiencing low level mental health crisis. 

It was funded by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, which is a multi-agency group, involving health, local authorities, police, ambulance and service users and carers.

The team provide guidance and early interventions that aim to keep people well outside of traditional service operating hours, and offer an alternative, non-clinical space.

Open from 6pm to 2am, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, The Sanctuary Service aims to help tackle stress and/or anxiety, low mood, financial worries as well as being a refuge for those suffering from domestic violence or deteriorating mental health as a result of a range of factors.

Dermot Nolan, SBHB’s Joint Service Group Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, said: “This has taken time planning the further expansion of the existing Sanctuary Service model that we had in place for the whole geographical area of SBUHB, which had one hub location in Swansea. 

“We are now going to be able to provide a second hub for the same service provision within the Neath Port Talbot area, which will make it easier and more accessible for the all the population of SBUHB. 

“This is an important part of the overall service model for the emotional and well-being needs of population across the West Glamorgan Region. 

“It will enhance and align with the future service provision as part of the West Glamorgan Emotional and Well-being Strategy, which was recently launched.”

Hannah Thomas (left), Assistant Directorate Manager for SBUHB’s Adult Mental Health Directorate, said: “Due to the success of the Swansea Sanctuary Service, we worked in collaboration with Hafal, to expand the Sanctuary service from Swansea into the Neath Port Talbot locality. 

“It’s designed to provide better mental health intervention for those experiencing low mental health crisis. It is available for any person above the age of 18 - our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) sanctuary provides a service for children, which has also recently launched.

“For the locality, this service is ideal for the people of Port Talbot, as it’s providing a mental health service more locally for those who need it. It’s not too far from the town centre, which makes it even more accessible for the local community.

“It’s a massive achievement for us and it’s been really exciting being part of setting it up.”

Hannah explained that the Sanctuary is not a drop in service.

She said: “Unfortunately, people are unable to self-present to the service, however they are able to self-refer through making contact via the phone. The Sanctuary Service will then triage service users and provide them with intervention as they see appropriate. They may invite the service user to the Sanctuary for face-to-face support or this may be conducted via the phone. 

Service manager, Nadine Jones, who is employed by Adferiad, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer a local base for people in Neath Port Talbot access rather than have to go all the way to Llansamlet.

“There was such a need for this resource, there is nothing available in this area after 5pm as everything closes. Now people have access to a local service where they can get support.

“We’re here for anyone who is suffering a mental health crisis. There does not have to be a mental health diagnosis, just a situational crisis they are experiencing in that moment. Finance, loneliness, relationship breakdown – people can come here, have an informal chat and we can and signpost them to further help and support as appropriate.

“We can also give out food packages, offer cooking sessions, and mindfulness sessions, empowerment and confidence building. 

“We have been open in NPT for just over a month, but the service itself has been running for almost four years.

“Alongside the police, this is probably one of the only places available in Port Talbot town that’s available out of hours.”

The service’s hub in Port Talbot is staffed by trained support workers. 

Nadine (pictured right) said: “They are a great team, with a lot of knowledge and experience.

“It’s really informal. It is not a clinical service. It’s a therapeutic and holistic approach to people’s mental health and well-being.”

The rooms dedicated to the service have been given a makeover.

Nadine said: “We’ve tried to make the space homely because people tend to be more at ease in comfortable and homely setting. Coming here gives them the opportunity to reach out and get help.

“That’s why we don’t see aggression – people genuinely want to come in and have a chat. Have a cup of tea, watch some Netflix, and talk about whatever is causing them distress. Where people are struggling, we can provide them with toiletries and food parcels and we can link them in with local area coordinators and things going on in their community if appropriate for them.”

As well as a kitchen and communal area, there is a one to one room for a bit more confidentiality for support and intervention to be provided.

The recent refurbishment had a local theme.

Nadine said: “The mural on the wall, which has a bit of Aberavon beach with the steelworks in there as well, is by a well-known street artist Steve Jenkins. He’s done them all around the town, including a large one of Michael Sheen.”

With the recent news surrounding huge job losses in the Port Talbot steelworks, the opening is seen as particularly timely.

Nadine said: “That’s another thing we’d like to touch on – what’s going on with the steelworks right now. There are many people being directly affected, there is a huge impact on the whole community – workers, families, businesses.” 

One of the Sanctuary clients said: “I have used the sanctuary service for a couple of years now and really like how the staff are and how they help me in a crisis.

“The new NPT building had a nice, cosy feel to it. I especially liked the painting on the wall, and it was easy to find with parking outside.”

People can access the Sanctuary by contacting 01792 399 676. 

Main pic caption: (From left to right) Hannah Thomas, Assistant Directorate Manager for SBUHB’s Adult Mental Health Directorate, Chloe Farnham, Adferiad’s Crisis Intervention and Involvement Strategic Lead, Lisa Midwinter, a Senior Support Worker or Team Leader, Dermot Nolan, SBHB’s Joint Service Group Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, and Nadine Jones, service manager.