Name: Stepping Forward: The Future of Crisis Care Alternatives in Suffolk
Start: 2026-03-12T10:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-12T14:00:00+00:00
Location: Ipswich County Library

Stepping Forward: The Future of Crisis Care Alternatives in Suffolk

Your voice matters. Tell us what’s working and what needs to change in Suffolk’s four mental‑health crisis care alternative services.
About this Event

We’re bringing people together to shape how crisis alternative services in Suffolk are funded and delivered. If you have lived experience of mental health crisis, or support someone who does, your insight is vital.

Suffolk currently funds four crisis services: Steam Cafés (Access Community Trust), Suffolk Night Owls (Suffolk Mind), Community Connectors (Anglia Care Trust), and the High Intensity User Service (Green Light Trust).

As the next phase of commissioning approaches, we want you to tell us what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change.

We will explore the following questions

The following questions were coproduced with people with lived experience to ensure the conversation reflects real needs and priorities.

When you needed urgent mental health support, what did you try first and why?
What made it easier, or harder, to get help when you needed it?
What one improvement would make the biggest difference to people needing urgent help in the future?
What positive changes would you expect a person to experience after using these services?
What makes you feel safe and listened to when you are in crisis?

How the event works

As usual, each group will have a dedicated facilitator to guide the conversation.
We’ll have scribes capturing key points so you can focus on the discussion.
Attendees can add any feedback that falls outside the current discussion to the Park It board so we can share it with the commissioners.

Access to the venue

Level access to the building and lifts to all public floors
Accessible toilets

Please note that photographs will be taken during the event. If you do not wish to appear in any photos, please inform a member of staff.

A free light lunch will be provided to all attendees from 1 pm, with the event formally concluding at 2:30 pm.

We understand that discussions about crisis care can be emotionally triggering or difficult. The SUF team will be available throughout the event to offer support to anyone who needs it, and attendees are encouraged to take breaks at any time.

To help ensure everyone has access to support after the event, we will also provide a crisis card with key contact details to take home.