Cost of living crisis: Preston community centre hires mental health expert to help locals struggling with soaring food and energy prices

The Intact Centre, which serves the Ingol and Tanterton areas of Preston, has launched a weekly counselling service and well-being drop-in sessions to give vital support to residents who are finding it difficult to cope.

Funding for the project has come from the Henry Smith Charity and Preston City Council. And centre staff are hoping to help hundreds of local people through such a difficult time for families and individuals.

Why is the service so vital?

An Intact spokesperson said: "Since the arrival of Covid-19, mental health is our biggest challenge, with people needing support with debt problems, food insecurity and counselling.

"This service is vital as rising inflation and the cost of living crisis affects our community and all who live here."

How are people being affected?

Denise Hartley MBE, CEO of the Intact Centre explained: "We see the impact of the current economic crisis everyday with our service users.

"People are scared and many don’t know how they will cope.

"We do what we can with our community food hub, digital exclusion support and advice service, but we wanted to help the growing mental health crisis as well.

“We are pleased to be able to hire a mental health practitioner to support the community in addition to our core advice and guidance service.

"Through the continuation of this service hundreds of local people will have access to key services enabling them to seek a way out of their problems, leading to improved independence and improved mental health and well-being."

What is Intact?

The Intact Centre, in Whitby Avenue, Ingol, was founded in 1993 and provides support, advice and a signposting service, as well as a drop-in service.

It is also a venue for community meetings, education and learning and provides a range of facilities for recreation and leisure for residents of all ages.

Intact says its primary purpose is to serve the Ingol and Tanterton neighbourhoods which comprise more than 3,000 homes, around a third of which are rented.

But the centre, which is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, also offers more services and activities to people in the city of Preston and surrounding areas.