The Snug, which supports adults with severe mental health conditions, could face closure, writes trustee Ollie Welch

CREST’s award-winning mental health pilot project The Snug is a grassroots community service that reaches adults at risk of social isolation, offering comprehensive mental health support in a non-clinical, non-judgmental setting, delivered through a range of stimulating peer-to-peer activities. 

This includes adults living independently with physical and mental health conditions, older adults including those with early-stage dementia, and anyone whose circumstances make them vulnerable to social isolation. 

CREST’s mission for The Snug is to reduce reliance on statutory services, and facilitate smoother and more effective transitions to and from clinical treatment.

The Snug has been a resounding success and in 2024, CREST received the largest single investment in the history of the charity from the National Lottery Community Fund. 

This five-year, £750,000 grant is allowing us to expand the model and ethos of The Snug to establish similar services aimed at older adults with early stage dementia in Chingford and Leytonstone.

Around two years ago, Paul*, 54, first wandered into The Snug around two years ago, curious about what we did. When I explained that we were a newly opened community space supporting people with mental health challenges, he opened up about his own history.

He told me he had spent time in prison following a severe mental health crisis that resulted in an incident involving a knife.

Although he had been out of prison for several years, he had received no help navigating essential tasks such as managing his utility bills or applying for council tax support. As a result, he had accumulated significant debts that eventually went to court, and bailiffs had begun turning up at his door.

Over time, we worked closely with him, his borough link workers, and his community mental health team key worker. Together, we helped him secure the correct council tax benefits and begin a manageable standing order to repay his utility debts. He is now in a far more stable and sustainable position, both financially and emotionally.

As it stands, funding for The Snug runs out at the end of 2025. While our lottery grant is allowing CREST to expand its services across the borough, the restricted nature of this money means it cannot be diverted to sustain an already existing service. 

To ensure we can keep helping people like Paul, CREST must raise at least £60,000 to guarantee another year of operation. We are in the process of applying for new revenue streams from a number of possible sources and are hopeful of success – but without any guarantees at this juncture.

We are determined not to lose this award-winning service in Walthamstow as we stand on the brink of extending the successful model into new communities. 

*Name changed to protect anonymity

You can help support CREST and the Snug by donating to their JustGiving page

You can also volunteer for CREST here

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