About our service

Our Crisis Cafés are open every evening for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

They provide a safe, homely and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing a crisis.

The Crisis Cafés offer a safe haven for you to use if you are in crisis and want some time out or would like to talk through the issues that you are experiencing with someone who will listen, but not make judgements.

Please note, this service can only be accessed through the Nightlight Crisis Helpline (01923 256391) at present. There is not an open drop-in facility at the moment. As a result, Crisis Cafés are currently open from 7pm. Please call the Crisis Helpline number for more information.

How can we help?

Our Crisis Cafés are staffed by a team of crisis support workers and coordinators as well as crisis support volunteers who are on hand to listen to you and work alongside you to support you during your crisis. We understand that everyone’s crisis is unique to them. At the Crisis Café you can access support in a way that suits you, whether that’s through talking to someone or simply having time to yourself.

We won’t make assumptions or judgements about what will work best for you, but will provide you with choices about what sort of support you may like, such as:

• A safe space in a welcoming environment at our Crisis Café (dependent on a helpline assessment)
• 1:1 staff support (practical and emotional)
• Space to pursue individual activities (reading, journaling, art, watching the TV etc)
• Support with crisis resolution and building coping strategies
• Advice and information
• Signposting
• Onward referrals when required

Where appropriate we can support you with accessing other services and resources that may be helpful to you in relation to your longer term support needs. 

Nightlight is like a big comfy sofa that you can come back to after a bad day

Opening hours

Our Crisis Cafés at Watford and Stevenage are open during the following hours:

7pm to 1am every evening, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Our Crisis Cafés in Ware and Hatfield are open 7pm to 1am on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Our Hatfield Crisis Cafe is provided in partnership with Mind in Mid Herts.

If you are in distress and would like to talk to one of our experienced staff, please call us during our opening hours on 01923 256391 to see how we can best support you.

After discussion with one of our experienced crisis team, we may be able to arrange a face-to-face session if this would be helpful (no open drop-in service at this initial stage).

Contact us

To contact the team please call us on 01923 256391

To contact the team directly with any queries please email nightlight@hertfordshiremind.org

Emails are checked by staff at the beginning of each and every shift.