Users of a cafe which helps people with mental health issues say they are optimistic they can save the valuable facility.

Bailey’s Cafe on Barrack Road in Christchurch provides valuable support for people with mental health problems through volunteer working in a framing business, social groups and more.

The resource centre is managed by the Richmond Fellowship, with premises provided by Dorset County Council.

But due to a change in their contract where the Fellowship will have to start paying rent, the vital service faces possible closure unless they can find a sponsor or partner to cover the costs.

Users of the facility say the cafe is a ‘safe haven’ for people who are socially isolated.

They fear many of the people who regularly use the centre for support could end up back in the care of health professionals if the service is lost.

Karen Staltmeier, who uses the centre four days a week, said they have been trying to get other charities to join forces with them.

“There isn’t another service like this and there isn’t anywhere else for people to go”, she said.

“There are four paid staff who provide one to one support. I don’t think I could have got better without it.”

A spokesperson for Richmond Fellowship said: “We currently use the premises for Bailey’s Café rent free.

“However, under the new contract we have this will no longer be possible and we need to find additional funding to cover this.

“We’re really keen for the café to carry on as it provides a valuable opportunity for people to gain employment experience as part of their mental health recovery.

“We’ve been having discussions for a while now with potential partner agencies, who would be willing to take on the café or work in partnership with us to keep it going. The council has given us an extension to our lease so we’ve got a bit more time and we remain optimistic that we can find a solution to keep the café open.”