THE bar of a former pub has been transformed into a bright and welcoming space for a mental health project.
Mind Works, a Big Lottery funded project which helps people with mild or moderate mental health disorders to get into volunteering, was left looking for a new venue for its sessions when Grimsby Central Library closed for refurbishment.
Thankfully, the mental health charity Mind stepped forward and offered them a room at its base on Kent Street, the recently renovated former Kent Arms pub.
However, the room had barely changed from its pub days and was in need of more than just a lick of paint.
So service users and volunteers spent a whole day making the room a bit more homely.
Ian Disley, mental health development worker at Mind Works, which is run by Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, said: "We heard the main library was going to be closing for refurbishment and at that time we were running wellbeing workshops there. We spoke to Martin Skelton at Mind and he said this room was not being used but that it needed decorating and refurbishing.
"We decided to gut the place out and a dozen people turned up, four mentors and the rest service users. We took the benches out, painted the walls, cleaned it up and basically made it our home. We have brought in keyboards, arts and crafts and TVs. We now have a permanent place to run the workshops or small one-to-one groups."
Service user John Howarth, of Grimsby, carried out most of the painting and decorating tasks.
John, who jokingly referred to himself as Rembrandt and likened the refurbished room to the Sistine Chapel, has been coming to Mind Works since August.
He said: "I go to the art and crafts and well-being groups. You get to know people and we all gel together like a football team. They are all good people here and we bounce off each other.
"I think the room looks good. I can remember coming in here when it was the old pub. The painting and decorating is just something I picked up. It gives you something to do and something to accomplish in life."
Fellow service user Kath Whale, 55, of Cleethorpes, helped out during the refurbishment and now volunteers at the centre as a cleaner. She has been coming to Mind Works since July.
She said: "I was going to I2I, which is part of the Work Programme and my adviser said it would be a good thing to do.
"I went to see Ian and he put me into the well-being group and I have been coming ever since. I really enjoy it and I think it is the best thing I have ever been to. It has helped me a lot. You couldn't have a better group of people. Sometimes I just want to stay here all night."
Chris Scott, 49, of Grimsby, has been a voluntary mentor with the project for about five months, and is training to be a life coach.
He said: "Our role is being here, talking, making friends and helping people. It's about broadening their horizons. I see this as helping to empower, improve their confidence. It's about giving them the space to think things through for themselves.
"I love helping people. I'm out of work currently and I made the conscious decision when I was made redundant from Kimberly Clark that I didn't want to go back into manufacturing. I wanted to do something that's more rewarding.
"It's really good. I have made some really good friends and the group work so well together."
Commenting on the refurbished room, he said: "It's fantastic and comfortable. It's got an atmosphere and is not intimidating at all. I think there's lots of potential. It's only the beginning."
