CPSL Mind’s Night Light Café marks three years of delivering support

Our South Lincolnshire Night Light Café, which runs every Wednesday and Thursday in Long Sutton at St Mary’s Church Hall, celebrated its third birthday in February.

The Night Light Cafés are safe spaces that offer an out-of-hours, non-clinical support service and are staffed by teams of trained volunteers who are available to listen. They can also provide signposting advice and information on other organisations that may be able to help with specific needs, such as debt advice or emergency food parcels.

In our first year of supporting people, we had 332 visits from 31 individual visitors. In 2023 and 2024 there were totals of 736 and 785 visits respectively and so far in 2025 we are at 97. An average evening now sees 8/10 people, and sometimes 15 or 16.

The description has changed a little over the years and we now offer a ‘listening ear for anyone finding life difficult.’ We see people who are depressed and anxious, people who are bereaved, those who are lonely or socially isolated, and often people who just fancy a chat as an alternative to watching TV of an evening. We have also done long term work with people who may be struggling with addiction, homelessness, and personal trauma. We offer hot drinks and snacks to people attending, too.

We’ve seen many friendships made, and two of our regulars who have been coming since the start are now engaged to be married.

Leslyn, who has been attending for over two years now, reflects on the friendships that have developed. “We were feeling nervous and shy at the beginning, but after two years, we are all comfortable together and a few of us go out together once  month for a meal – we are all good friends now.”

Anna (pictured below) said, “I like coming to the night coffee on Wednesday and Thursday.”

The Night Light Cafes is a free service that helps people to have better access to face-to-face help when they are struggling in an evening, when practices and community mental health teams are less readily available.

Night Light Cafés are funded by NHS England and Improvements as an integral part of the Lincolnshire Mental Health Transformation Programme, which is committed to improving mental health and wellbeing by creating opportunities for people to thrive in connected communities. Acts Trust, who co-ordinate the service, works in partnership with existing charities across the county.

Nicholas Moon, South Lincolnshire Project Lead at CPSL Mind, said, “I am incredibly proud of the CPSL Mind team in South Lincs, who have delivered many hours of support to people who experience mental health challenges. I warmly welcome individuals in our diverse communities to join us on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, for the chance to chat, play games, and connect with like-minded people. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved the Night Light Café and look forward to continuing to deliver this vital and much needed service for the people of Long Sutton and the surrounding areas. Please do reach out if you need support.”

People can drop in without referral or prior booking. Alternately, they can self-refer by calling 0300 011 1200 or via Instagram DM or Facebook Messenger @NightLightCafeLincoln.

Agencies and GPs can refer individuals with their consent by completing the appropriate online referral form here: https://forms.gle/Ab92khJJeR4mUEp57

If you’d like any further information, please visit https://www.actstrust.org.uk/night-light-cafes  Or you can find them on Instagram / Facebook @NightLightCafeLincoln.

Our Night Light Café runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Long Sutton, St Mary’s Church Hall, Market Place, PE12 9JE

Contact: southlincs@cpslmind.org.uk for more information.

We also run a number of Good Mood Cafes in South Lincolnshire, visit: Mental Health Support in South Lincolnshire | CPSL Mind  to find your nearest session today.