Extensive refurbishment work at Wrexham mental health facility now completed

Extensive building works to extend and enhance a mental health facility in Wrexham has been completed.

Advance Brighter Futures (ABF), at 3 Belmont Road, was awarded £145,818 by Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme towards the total cost of the development of the community building.

The funding has provided additional one-to-one rooms, a fully accessible toilet, a refitted kitchen facility, extra visitor parking and a level 4 certified fire alarm system.

The charity supports over 700 people in and around Wrexham and Flintshire each year, with up to 100 people accessing the building every week (pre-pandemic). The improved facilities will make a big difference to the local community.

Rick Bedson, ABF’s Chair of Trustees, said: “Our building contractor, Malcolm Davies & Sons, together with the architect Blueprint have done a brilliant job. The extension looks great and gives us much needed additional one-to-one rooms of a quality that people deserve.

“The car park has been finished to an excellent standard, and we’re delighted with all aspects of the building work.

“The backing of Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme has allowed us to deliver a people-friendly building to match the people-centred, professional mental health support that ABF offers.

“Beforehand, we didn’t have appropriate one-to-one facilities available and were frequently running out of space, but the grant has allowed us to resolve both issues.

“We’ve also had further funding support; £2,703 from The Williams Family Foundation which helped with the kitchen refurbishment, and £1,000 from Tesco Bags of Help which helped create a visitors car park. Both of these aspects are really important as they impact on our visitor’s experience.

“We were pleased to receive two visits from the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, during the building phase which demonstrated the Welsh Government’s interest and commitment to community based mental health support and the services that ABF provides.

“On his last visit he got to see the work in progress, we now look forward to welcoming him again to show him around now everything has been completed.”

Lorrisa Roberts, ABF Chief Officer, said: “The welcome people get, and the atmosphere we create for people who need help and support is so important. A poor environment contributes to the negativity that people feel when in distress or crisis, so it was vital that we made these improvements.

“The Community Grant Funding has made a huge difference to the service and support we’re able to provide.

“Small charities play an important role in their local communities, reaching people that sometimes mainstream services don’t manage to. The distance between decision makers and the people who need services is very small. Community organisations are active in local community events, and local people direct their neighbours to small local charities, like us.”

ABF has also had support from a number of local businesses throughout the process, many of which have made donations or reduced their costs to help the charity out.

Lorrisa added: “We’re so grateful for the support we’ve had, and it won’t be forgotten. Don Hughes Electrical kindly donated LED light fittings and installation.

“Triton Peak Limited generously provided and fitted window blinds for us, free of charge. Jackson Fire and Security installed a new fire alarm system and TJ Services undertook the decorating, with both companies assisting us to make savings. Coleg Cambria’s Yale Estates and Grounds teams have also donated both time and effort to ensure these essential improvements were achieved. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed along the way.”

To learn more about Advance Brighter Futures and its services please visit www.advancebrighterfutureswrexham.co.uk