COMMUNITY cafes have been successfully launched in four areas of Craven to help reduce social isolation and improve residents’ mental health and wellbeing.

Horton Housing Association has set up projects in Skipton, Embsay, Gargrave and Ingleton with financial backing from North Yorkshire County Council's Innovation Fund.

As well as the weekly get-togethers in Skipton and Ingleton, and the monthly gatherings in Gargrave and Embsay, it will be running ‘pop-up’ sessions in more remote areas of Craven district, including at Malham Show in August.

In total, 50 cafes will be held during the next year.

Sessions provide activities and support for over-18s in a cafe-style atmosphere, giving people a chance to relax, enjoy refreshments, socialise and share experiences with peers and professionals working in housing and social care.

Activities include cooking, crafts, exercise, information and advice on issues such as debt management and benefits, help to fill out forms, first aid and health-related drop-ins, such as keeping warm in winter, basic cookery or fuel poverty.

Support workers also direct people to other services available to them to help them live independently and improve their mental health and wellbeing, while one-to-one and confidential support is provided where needed.

Scheme manager, Hannah Brown, said: “Horton has a long history of working with vulnerable adults, who are lonely or who have problems accessing mainstream services for a variety of reasons, including mental health.

“The cafes are a fantastic way of reducing social isolation and helping people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Early intervention and peer support also helps to prevent problems worsening and reduces the pressure on more acute services offered by hospitals, doctors and mental health services.”

Weekly cafes run at Dyneley House Barn in Skipton on Thursdays between 1pm and 4pm and at Ingleton's i Centre every Wednesday between 1pm and 4pm.

On the second Monday of the month, cafes are held at Embsay Village Hall between 11.30am and 1.30pm and Gargrave Village Hall between 2pm and 4.30pm.