Centre celebrates 20 years of mental health services

Date published: 26/04/2006

The Richard Street Centre in Rochdale marks its 20th anniversary on Friday 28 April with an anniversary party and open day.

The aim is to celebrate the achievement of 20 years of mental health service provision at the centre and to relaunch it with a new name – the Richard Street Therapy Service.

The Richard Street Centre opened in April 1986 as a therapeutic day service specialising in group therapies for people with long term mental health problems.

This was at a time when there was almost no talking therapy available locally for people with any sort of mental health difficulties, particularly severe difficulties.

The service has naturally developed and changed over the years and although some individual therapy is provided, it has remained largely a group therapy service for people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties.

A decision was taken last year on a change of name for the service. It was felt the old name was too general and a name was needed that more accurately describes the work of the service.

After taking the views of a range of people, from service users to senior managers, the decision to be called the Richard Street Therapy Service was agreed on.

The Open Day itinerary includes the official unveiling of the new name plaque by Stephen Netherwood, Head of Adult Care in Rochdale MBC and Bev Worthington, Borough Director of Pennine Care NHS Trust.