Lancashire Mind's new home - a space built for the future
A new chapter for Lancashire Mind, and the communities we support.
When the ribbon was cut outside Lancashire Mind’s new offices on a sunny evening in early July, it marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
We welcomed more than 50 of the people who helped make our new home possible to celebrate the official opening of Lancashire Mind’s new offices in Leyland.
Patrons, ambassadors, trustees, supporters, volunteers, staff and partners came together to mark a milestone that has been years in the making. While there was a ribbon to cut, the evening wasn’t really about opening a building. It was about celebrating what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
For guests, it was an opportunity to look around a building many had helped create. For the Lancashire Mind team, it was the first chance to pause and reflect after months of planning, moving furniture, unpacking boxes and settling into a new home.
A space built for the future
For more than 20 years, Lancashire Mind’s home had been two converted terraced houses in Chorley.
Those offices saw our charity grow from a small local organisation into one supporting more than 13,500 adults, children and young people each year. As demand for mental health support continued to increase, it became clear we had outgrown the space.
We needed somewhere that reflected the way we work today. Somewhere with private rooms for therapy and wellbeing coaching. Space for training and group sessions. Meeting rooms where teams and communities could come together. Accessible facilities. Quiet spaces for virtual appointments. And somewhere local people would feel comfortable walking through the door.
As CEO David Dunwell explained during the opening event:
“We wanted somewhere that had the right meeting spaces. We wanted to be more visible to the community, somewhere accessible. We wanted to have the opportunity for team members to meet and deliver virtual services in a one-to-one environment, which we didn’t have in the old offices.”
Today, that’s exactly what we have.
Situated in the heart of Leyland’s regeneration, our new home has been designed to connect people, strengthen communities and create a welcoming environment where mental health conversations can happen every day.
Supported by a community of local business and organisations
The transformation of our new offices wasn’t funded through a single grant or commercial contractor. Instead, it became something much more special.
Over 20 businesses and organisations donated their time, expertise, materials, furniture, technology, labour and funding to completely transform what was once a blank canvas into the vibrant community hub it is today.
Led by Eric Wright Group, alongside an incredible network of suppliers and partners, more than £100,000 worth of support was donated to bring the vision to life.
Speaking at the event, Barry Kilby from Eric Wright Group reflected on why supporting Lancashire Mind mattered so much.
“This is more than just a building. It’s a place where people will find understanding, support and a path forward. We are truly honoured to have been a part of creating it.”
That generosity means every person who walks through our doors benefits from the kindness, skills and belief of local organisations that wanted to invest in better mental health across Lancashire.
The stories behind the services
Throughout the evening, guests heard not only about the building, but about the lives it will help change.
One of the most moving moments came from 19-year-old Annie Roberts, who courageously shared her own experience of being supported through Lancashire Mind’s Housing and Wellbeing Service.
After experiencing homelessness alongside severe physical and mental health difficulties, Annie described how finding a safe place to live and receiving consistent support helped her begin rebuilding her life.
Annie told guests:
“The impact of having a place I can call home, as well as being supported by Lancashire Mind over the past eight months, has completely changed me for the better… I finally have hope for my future.”
Reflecting on the support she received, Annie added:
“I am proud to say I am one whole year suicide attempt free… Thank you for saving my life and for giving me the chance to have a better future.”
Her story was a powerful reminder that behind every room in our new building is a person whose life could be changed by the support delivered there.
Opening the doors to hope
Former Premier League footballer, Lancashire Mind Ambassador and Chair of national Mind, Clarke Carlisle, officially opened the building.
Growing up in Leyland himself, Clarke spoke about what access to services like Lancashire Mind could have meant earlier in his own life.
Addressing Annie directly, he said:
“What I know I needed in my life was that hope. And the fact that Lancashire Mind gave you hope is amazing.”
He went on to remind everyone why the building matters:
“This unit here, this hub will transform lives in our communities, just like Annie’s, just like mine, just like your next door neighbour or maybe someone in your family.”
His words perfectly captured what everyone in the room already knew. Buildings don’t change lives. People do.
But having the right spaces allows those life-changing conversations, services and relationships to happen every single day.
Thank you to our Office Founders
Our new home exists because businesses chose to do something extraordinary.
Rather than simply supporting a fundraising campaign, they invested in creating a permanent legacy that will benefit thousands of people for years to come.
As a lasting thank you, many of those organisations have become our Founder Patrons – recognised not only for what they donated, but for the belief they showed in Lancashire Mind’s future.
Their generosity has helped create a space where people can access therapy, attend training, build resilience, find support and discover hope. We will always be grateful.
Could your organisation help shape what’s next?
The opening of our new home marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Lancashire Mind.
Demand for mental health support continues to grow, and so does our ambition to reach more people across Lancashire. Our Patron programme gives businesses the opportunity to become part of that journey.
Whether through financial support, sharing expertise, volunteering or creating opportunities together, our Patrons are helping build healthier communities across Lancashire while demonstrating a genuine commitment to workplace and community wellbeing.
Together, we can continue creating places where people feel seen, supported and able to thrive.
If your organisation would like to find out more about becoming a Lancashire Mind Patron, we’d love to hear from you.
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