Stevenage Herts Haven Café in finals at Children’s Services Awards

The Children’s Services Awards took place on 7th December 2023. This is an annual event to celebrate the work and achievements in Children’s Services over the past year. It provides the perfect opportunity to recognise some of the individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference to children, young people and families in Hertfordshire, as well as teams that have excelled and shown a passion for outcome focussed solutions for children, young people and families.

Commissioned by Hertfordshire’s Children & Young People’s Mental Health Services, Herts Mind Network’s Herts Haven Café in Stevenage were delighted to be finalists in the Partner of the Year category. Our team were nominated by Lucy Davis: Services for Young People (SfYP) Area Service Manager, who said:

“We are really proud to have Herts Mind Network utilising our Herts County Council Services for Young People, Young People’s Centre in Stevenage for the delivery of the new Herts Haven Café”.

“These free, welcoming drop-in spaces are for 10-18 year olds across Herts, to access support for their emotional wellbeing. The main goal of the cafés is to create a non-judgmental environment where young people feel comfortable sharing their concerns”.

“The team has made an amazing effort to integrate the invaluable emotional wellbeing support they offer into the wider offer within the Centre. They have made great links with our staff team to support us to signpost and even broker young people into this offer, complementing the support they are receiving from our service. Ceri and the team have attended our practice meetings to provide staff updates and are always open to questions if we have any! We are really proud to work with the Herts Haven Cafe Team!”

Ceri Roderick-Roast, Senior Lead CYP who attended the “Narnia themed” awards ceremony with colleague Rosie Williams (pictured), said: “The café team and everyone at Hertfordshire Mind Network are thrilled to have been nominated for this award”.

“We’re very grateful to be working in partnership with the SfYP team, helping as many young people as possible to get the help they need, by talking about their worries and learning new skills to help improve their emotional wellbeing.”

Our Herts Haven cafés in Stevenage & Watford opened in summer 2023 and the new Hemel Hempstead café opened in November 2023. Since opening, they have received more than 200 visits. Here are just a few of the comments received from those who have benefited so far:

“It was very welcoming and comfy… and it was peaceful”.

“The activities helped me be calm and relaxed”.

For more information on our Herts Haven Cafes, please click here.