Birmingham’s inaugural Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre (NMHC) is transforming access to mental health care by providing continuous, compassionate support for adults in Small Heath, Heartlands, and Bordesley Green. Officially opened on May 12 at the former Ghamkol Sharif Education Centre, the Golden Hillock NMHC offers a welcoming and inclusive environment that caters specifically to the needs of its community.
Since moving from a temporary facility at Omnia GP Practice, the centre has supported over 550 new referrals. As one of only six pilot sites nationwide, it combines practical and therapeutic spaces such as shared living and kitchen areas, rooms for reflection and wellbeing, and bedrooms for short stays, creating a holistic setting designed around recovery.
Claire Hastings-Spaine, 48, who experiences depression, anxiety, and psychosis, praises the centre’s unique accessibility: “I can come in here crying and leave smiling. When I was at the previous facility, appointments were required, which often meant waiting until I felt very unwell. Here, I can simply walk in when I need support, and that makes all the difference.”
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Another service user, Darren Westwood, 43, who has schizophrenia, has started leading art classes at the centre. “Art helps me on my recovery journey, and sharing it with others brings joy and achievement. The new building is comfortable and welcoming — a true sanctuary.”
Roísìn Fallon Williams, Chief Executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, emphasizes the centre’s innovative approach: “It’s not about traditional clinical appointments but about welcoming people warmly and responding to their needs in real time. We’re fostering community resilience by linking with local organisations and providing care when people need it most.”
David Melbourne, Chief Executive of NHS Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull ICB, highlights the centre’s vital role in reducing pressure on emergency services: “This facility offers early intervention in one of our most deprived wards, preventing unnecessary A&E visits and ensuring people get the right support promptly. We aim to replicate this neighbourhood care model across the region because mental health deserves the same accessibility as physical health.”
The Golden Hillock Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre exemplifies a compassionate, accessible future for mental health services — where people can find help anytime they need it, close to home.