The Cup Of Hope

31/03/2022

So, some of you who have already visited us know I'm from Stoke On Trent. Stoke is the home of the Staffordshire Oatcake, these are savory pancakes filled usually with sausage, cheese, bacon, beans and are a staple diet of many people still in the potteries. Recipes have been passed down through generations I absolutely love them but have never made any... until now :) various boyfriends have either hated them or loved them. So I thought I'd give it a go tomorrow, prepare to be a guinea pig if you visit us :) 🥞🥘

25/03/2022

24/03/2022

Made two new friends today, Brian and Berlinder. They're setting up home together, tough time to be young with housing :( I helped them out a bit with some furniture which they gladly collected and flew off with lol

22/03/2022

Ever felt no one is there to listen to you, feel alone or down, why not pop along and have a chat with us or equally if you feel absolutely great on this loverly warm morning pop down and support us with a range of some yummy goodness, bacon baps are just £2.00 :)

02/03/2022

Well this is us, Chris and Chris (I'm the porky one on the right)

01/03/2022

I thought I'd write a quick hello and why we are doing this as this is a new page and if you have scrolled this far well done :)
My name is Chris and I am a survivor of mental health issues and su***de. For many years I was successful at business owning a LGBTQ+ nightclub and spent my spare time volunteering for various projects, I was even lucky enough to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) off the Queen. Then it all fell apart, I lost my business, my partner and ultimately my home until one day I had had enough, I couldn't see a way to feel better and thought ending my life was the only way to find any form of peace, standing at Portland Bill on the rocks alone and crying a stranger spent time talking to me and thankfully talked me away from the edge, on my second attempt a rather elderly lady followed me and did the same. there have been other attempts but these two stand out as these people cared, they cared enough to help a complete stranger who was in pain to stop them paying an ultimate price which was death or far more suffering had it not gone to plan. Many people who do carry out their wishes and survive often come back to say at the very moment of stepping off a bridge or a cliff they instantly regret their decision. I'm not particularly religious but I do thank God that those people were there to just care enough to say that I did in fact matter that my last day on Earth was in fact not today.
Fast forward to now. I never want anyone to feel how I felt, that complete isolation, desolation and suffering and thought the best way of doing that is to listen to people, to point them in a direction that may help them in a safe and judgementally free way, I don't have all the answers, nobody does but we are a community of people that do care about others; we simply have to work together to show others the way. Now we have a place for doing that albeit small, but it's a start. Like all things in life that journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step and working with as many agencies as we can we can save lives . Next time you are passing us, pop in for a chat, you don't have to be poorly to be a friend and buying a drink or some food will support us for the long run. Be kind to yourselves Much love, Chris x

01/03/2022

As anyone who has ever had a mental health crisis is painfully aware, NHS support is very much lacking due to increased demand and years of Tory budget cuts meaning the sector is quite literally at breaking point with so many people unable to find support when they need it. We aim to help with signposting to other agencies and offering a friendly listening service for whatever you are going through, stigma and judgemental free. We have found many people may not want to go down the traditional route of clinical buildings, where they may feel others are judging them simply by going through the door. To anyone looking at our van we are simply a coffee and food trailer, you can certainly get a smashing breakfast off us :) but fundamentally we are here to support real people with very real problems big and small or just be there for someone to talk to if you are lonely. Mental health issues come in all shapes and sizes but a friendly face and understanding ear pointing someone in the right direction might just set you on the road to recovery. Even if you are absolutely fine, why not pop down and support us by buying a coffee, breakfast or lunch and make a new friend in the process :) Much love, Chris & Chris

01/03/2022

We are a new service working with Bridport CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) and various other agencies to support people in the Dorset, East Devon and Somerset areas with mental health signposting and listening services. Whatever you are going through come and have a coffee and a chat either online or in person. We are based on Jewsons Car Park right next to Morrisons. :)