Supporting young minds: the Open Door Charity
Children’s Mental Health Week serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring that young people have access to the right support for their mental wellbeing. In Wirral, the Open Door Charity is leading the way with innovative, inclusive services designed to support young people. At the heart of this effort is the Bloom Building in Birkenhead, a vibrant, welcoming space that redefines how mental health support can look and feel.
If you’re worried about a young person’s mental health, you can head to Open Door Charity and Branch. These services provide access to information, resources and professional help, ensuring that young people get the support they need without long waiting lists or financial barriers.
Reimagining mental health support
The Open Door Charity has revolutionised mental health support by combining creativity, arts, and culture with proven therapeutic approaches. The Bloom Building isn’t your typical clinical environment—it’s bright, colourful, and full of life, designed to make people feel at ease the moment they walk through the door. It’s a place where young people can find support without judgment, stigma, waiting lists, or costs.
As part of Wirral Council’s Family Hub Network, Open Door Charity operates as a satellite hub connected to the main Family Hub in its area. While it may not offer every core service available at the main hub, it strengthens the community by ensuring families can easily access the right support, whether directly through Open Door or by connecting with partner organisations. This network of satellite hubs helps build stronger, more resilient communities by making support more local, approachable, and effective.
Bazaar: peer support that changes lives
One of the standout programmes hosted at the Bloom Building is Bazaar, an eight-week peer support programme designed to help individuals aged 14 to 35 manage low mood and anxiety. The sessions are led by volunteer mentors who have faced their own mental health challenges, offering genuine empathy and understanding.
Bazaar incorporates elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and practical coping strategies. But what truly makes it special is the peer-to-peer connection. There are no referral hoops to jump through—anyone can self-refer or be referred by someone they trust. No formal diagnosis is needed, there are no waiting lists, and it’s completely free.
Luci, the Wellbeing Programmes Lead at Open Door, shares her journey:
Peer-to-peer support is so important because it says, ‘I understand you.’ That’s what makes Bazaar work. All our mentors have lived experience with mental health issues. They’re real people who members can connect with on a personal level. I actually came to Bazaar as a teenager for help with my anxiety, and now I’m here supporting others. It’s come full circle for me, and it’s incredibly rewarding.
Lorraine, a volunteer mentor, explains why she’s passionate about the programme:
I use my lived experience in a positive way. I’ve seen first-hand how the eight-week programme can be absolutely life-changing for members. It’s such a positive and welcoming environment, and you can feel the impact it has. All the volunteers are deeply passionate about mental health, and volunteering gives us a chance to make a real difference.
Mike, another mentor, adds:
Bazaar bridges gaps between people from all walks of life. It opens your eyes to different perspectives, and you become part of a diverse, supportive community. There are so many resources available—not just for members, but for mentors too—ensuring everyone gets the support they need.
Real stories, real impact
Sam’s Story: Sam’s mum reached out to Bazaar when Sam was struggling with low mood and anxiety alongside other health issues. At the beginning of the programme, Sam found it difficult to open up. But as the weeks passed, they started to connect with their peer mentor, showing remarkable improvement. By the end of the programme, Sam’s depression score had reduced by 72.72%.
Sam said:
I learned a lot of new and helpful things that I will be able to take with me into the future and utilise in my daily life and activities. :)
Robin’s Story: Robin came to Bazaar on a friend’s recommendation after struggling to find the right support elsewhere. When they started, Robin was battling severe anxiety and experiencing suicidal thoughts. Just two weeks into the programme, Robin began to notice improvements. By the end, they no longer experienced suicidal thoughts, and their anxiety score had decreased by 35%.
Robin reflected:
It was all fantastic. I loved every second of it because it helped me a major amount with my thoughts and feelings
OOMOO: empowering looked-after children
Another transformative programme at the Bloom Building is OOMOO, which provides dedicated mental health support for looked-after children in Wirral aged 11 to 18. OOMOO’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: put young people in the driver’s seat of their own mental health journey. It offers creative workshops, therapeutic interventions, peer support, and open conversations about shared experiences, all in a non-judgmental space.
Lorraine, Bazaar mentor and foster parent, shares how OOMOO impacted one of her foster children:
OOMOO changed his life. He loved going to the events and sessions because he was in an environment where everyone was like him. Everyone was a looked after child - there was no stigma. It was a place to meet friends, to feel understood. OOMOO is special because everyone involved is passionate about making it work. They tackle tough topics, like suicide, in safe, supportive spaces. It shows that no subject is too hard to talk about, and that’s incredibly powerful.
Branch: mental health resources at your fingertips
The Bloom building is also home to Branch, an online mental wellbeing hub for children and young people in Wirral. Branch offers support for those up to 18, and up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It’s a central hub for mental health resources, providing guides, tips, and links to local services.
Branch is designed to empower young people to choose the support that fits them best. Young people can create personal profiles, save resources, and explore tools that help them “grow their own way.” The platform is supported by Wirral Council and the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Wirral Place, and it’s continually evolving with input from local organisations and charities.
Philippa Tree, Operations Manager at Branch, explains:
Branch is about putting all mental health support on an equal footing. There’s so much help available, and it doesn’t always have to be clinical. Sometimes the best support is peer-based or creative. We wanted to create a space where families and young people can see all their options without having to repeat their story over and over. It’s all in one place, easy to access.
Learn more about Branch by watching the video below or visiting Branch.
Looking ahead: the Joy building
Open Door Charity is growing, and with growth comes the need for more space. In 2026, all services will move to Joy, a new hub designed to house Open Door alongside other third-sector organisations and NHS services. Joy will build on the vibrant, inclusive ethos of the Bloom building, creating an even larger space where mental health support, culture, and social action intersect.
The vision for Joy is bold: to create a place where people feel seen, heard, and supported - not just in terms of mental health, but as part of a thriving, creative community.
Learn more about Joy by heading to Where Joy Lives.
Support across Family Hubs
While the Bloom Building offers a range of mental health support, it’s important to know that all Family and Satellite Hubs across Wirral can support your family’s mental wellbeing. Staff at these hubs can signpost you to the right services or even offer immediate support when needed. Some Family Hubs also run dedicated mental health programmes, events, and sessions tailored to the needs of young people and families.
Family and Satellite Hubs offering additional mental health support:
- Equilibrium
- St James Centre
- The Bungalow at Grove Street Primary School
- Seacombe
Reach out to your nearest Family Hub to explore the support available. Find your nearest hub by visiting Family Toolbox.
Get involved
If you or someone you know could benefit from Open Door’s services, don’t hesitate to reach out. There’s no cost, no waiting list, and no need for a referral. Just walk through the door or visit: Open Door Charity
Because sometimes, the hardest part is simply knowing where to start. Open Door is here to make that first step a little easier.
