CPSL Mind supports ‘Bright Horizons’ café

< Last updated on 10th May 2025>

A partnership between Cambridge United Foundation and Cambridge Charity Fund Raisers (CCFR) has seen the launch of a new community café, which offers a safe space for people in the community to connect and seek mental health support. CPSL Mind’s Head of Services (Community and Prevention) Chloe Humphrey, along with Good Life facilitator Matt Wright and CPSL Mind’s Communications and Engagement Manager Olivia Hubbard, attended the February launch event and Matt Wright has been supporting the cafe’s monthly sessions ever since.

The drop-in café shares the same values and mission as CPSL Mind’s Good Mood Cafes across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire – to connect with like-minded individuals and to share interests in a welcoming and safe environment. Just like CPSL Mind’s Good Mood Cafes, there is no pressure to stay for the whole session time. The cafe provides an opportunity for members of the local community to gather together at the home of the U’s and have vital time to talk to one other. Bright Horizons offers people the chance to meet new people, to chat about the latest action on the pitch, the weather or anything else that is on their mind.

Sessions take place on the second Wednesday of each month in the hospitality suites at The Cledara Abbey Stadium. Refreshments are provided thanks to the generous support of CCFR .

Supporting local people

The need for drop-in and local mental health support groups has never been greater, with 1 in 4 of us said to experience a mental health challenge in any given year. During 2023/2024, CPSL Mind supported more than 6,000 local people.

Chair of the Foundation, Godric Smith CBE opened the café with an introductory speech, followed by Cambridge United’s Stadium Manager and Head Groundsman Ian Darler, and Simon Wall – the Community Engagement Manager for the Foundation, who will be running the café.

CPSL Mind’s Head of Services (Community and Prevention) Chloe Humphrey spoke to Sky Sports Football at the event and shared the charity’s support for new café and praised CPSL Mind fundraiser Ian Darler for his dedication to raise awareness of mental health. Ian walked an impressive 700 miles in support of CPSL Mind in 2024.

Ian also took on ‘The Big Fish Off’ event, to raise vital funds to help us to support, develop, and grow our services.

The driving force behind Ian’s fundraising walk, and wishing to support CPSL Mind, is his own previous battles with mental health challenges. “Having personally had depression and PTSD I appreciate how important it is to get help and support and to be able to talk to people about how you are feeling,” Ian explained.

Reflecting on his journey, Ian told attendees at the launch event, “When I look back at my 46 years at this football club, I’ve been so privileged to have won just about any award, whether it be ‘Groundsman of The Year’, ‘Life Achievement Award at Cambridge Evening News’, or even winning the ‘Queens Honour’. But let me tell you, nothing comes close to someone coming up to me and saying, ‘You helped to save my life.’

“When you’re in crisis, you can’t wait a minute. The fact we are doing what we are doing, and the Cambridge United Foundation has been kind enough to support me and that there are so many people involved means a lot.”

Commenting on the partnership with CPSL Mind, Ian Darler said, “Over the past few years, I’ve worked with CPSL Mind and for those of you who don’t know, CPSL Mind has been legendary in supporting people in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire for years. We are proud to have them on board with us.”

CPSL Mind’s Head of Services (Community and Prevention) Chloe Humphrey said, “Thank you to the Cambridge United Foundation for inviting us to be a part of the cafe and huge congratulations. Ian has been a real trailblazer in terms of what he has done at the launch, so many people have turned up. For us as a charity at CPSL Mind, Ian has fundraised so much for us, all it takes is for someone with a passion to make a difference.”

Adding. “I think football is the perfect place to be able to support people because you are capturing a group of people who maybe wouldn’t go to their local good mood café, or they wouldn’t reach out to their local mental health services.”

Community connections

Good Life Facilitator, Matt Wright, who supports people in the community at Good Mood Cafes in Cambridgeshire, has been attending since the launch event and has taken the time to speak to attendees and start those really important conversations.

CSPL Mind Good Life Facilitator Matt Wright

Reflecting on his experience, Matt said, “I thoroughly enjoy attending the Bright Horizons Café, days in the community like this are the reason I do what I do – supporting people in my local community who experience mental health challenges. Having the chance to work with so many great people and build connections is crucial to our work at CPSL Mind. I am looking forward to continuing to support Cambridge United Foundation in the coming months. I would like to signpost people to the CPSL Mind website to explore our Good Mood Cafes, which run on a weekly basis and at different venues. By working together collaboratively with partners and the wider community, we can ensure that no one gets left behind, and everyone has access to vital services when they need them.”

“It’s better to be around people when you’re struggling than on your own”

Hazel has been attending the Bright Horizons cafe since it launched and shares how the cafe is helping her to feel connected and supported. 

“I have known Ian for years and I’ve been a life long supporter of Cambridge United Football Club. I’ve also volunteered on match days. My mental health has been very up and down over the years as a result of having had a big horse riding accident about three years ago. I broke my pelvis and, because of the mismanagement of the treatment, I had to have surgery. I was walking around on a broken pelvis. Due to the long term complications, It led me to a very dark place. I haven’t been able to work since because some days I don’t know if I can drive or walk. My life became very small but football was the one constant to keep me going.

I came back to volunteer at the club and I was loving being back, I love this environment and I love the community of Cambridge United. I stumbled across a mental health podcast and heard Ian’s story and his issues with pain. It felt like I was hearing myself and the issues that I’ve been experiencing.

Sometimes you don’t know how you’re feeling until someone asks you again.

I knew I needed to speak to Ian. He walked past me and just looked at me that day and asked If I was alright. He said: ‘You aren’t alright, are you?’  I then really opened up to him and he’s been a pillar of strength to me. Ian is so selfless, he’s been amazing. I thanked him and I didn’t realise how much I needed to talk.

He said he was always here – I used to email with how I was feeling and he would just say what worked for him. He encouraged me to get help. I did get some help and he helped me to do that. Ian would check in with me on match day – he would check I was OK.

When Ian mentioned the Bright Horizons café, 18 months on, I was doing a bit better but the winter was really hard. The café launched in February, and it made me realise that nothing changes if nothing changes. It gave me encouragement that if these people can turn their lives around, I can. On the launch event day, I didn’t want to come and I sat in my car. I just thought I don’t want to go in, but I had promised Ian. I managed to get myself to the first cafe event. The people who were there that day, who I had conversations with, like Ian, who have come out the other side, just started to give me hope. Ian got me so far but it’s also about having other people to connect with.

I came back a month later and then again – it was easier to get there. It’s a comfortable and a safe space to speak to people.

The community element means you’re not on your own. Having a group of people who understand and are just willing to listen is just really helpful. There’s no judgement. Everyone has mental health and everyone needs to look after it. The more conversations that can be started, the better. Also the cafe means you are with people that you wouldn’t necessary meet in a different environment. The friends I’ve met here are not people I would have met if I hadn’t been supporting this club. We don’t necessary have anything else in common other than the football but they have become good friends. We all come from different walks of life and are different ages. It’s nice to mix with people who are a lot older and younger.

It’s been nice talking to CPSL Mind facilitator, Matt. We both have black Labradors and we chat about our dogs all day!

When you’re struggling with mental health, you often feel like you’re the only one and you’re stuck. The hardest thing is taking that first step and getting there. It’s a safe space and you’re welcomed. If you don’t want to talk, you can just sit and listen. It’s better to be around people when you’re struggling than on your own. You can always leave. You have to say to yourself: What am I going to lose? Give it a try and it could change everything by meeting people who can help you and who understand. Mutual understanding goes so far.”

‘Talking has made a massive difference’

Fellow Cambridge United legend Luke Chadwick, who has publicly spoken on his mental health struggles, most notably during his spell at Manchester United, spoke to CPSL Mind’s Communications and Engagement Manager, Olivia Hubbard at the event.

Left to right: Olivia Hubbard, Chloe Humphrey, Luke Chadwick

Luke said, “Cambridge United Football Club is the reason that I was lucky enough to have a career in professional football. I was here as a seven-year-old boy and fell in love watching the game. I’ve got so much gratitude to this club. Football has got a fantastic way of bringing people together, community is what football clubs are. Football is the connection that brings people together.

Luke continues, “I know the work that you do at CPSL Mind is all about connecting people, giving people the time to talk about their problems, it might be a conversation about how the game went last night but then it turns into: ‘How are you feeling? and ‘How are you?’ I think having those conversations are so beneficial to getting things off your chest and football is a great way to do that.

“Not every football club has an individual like Ian Darler who has brought this together working with the Cambridge United Foundation but I’m sure there are a number of initiatives across the UK – the more that can be done, the better. When you hear yourself talking, it helps to clarify things in your own mind, helps you understand your own thought process. I think what’s happening here is absolutely brilliant.”

Reflecting on his own mental health challenges. Luke said, “Throughout my life, I have gone through challenges. My biggest challenge as a young man growing up was not being emotionally intelligent enough or understanding why I was feeling like that, never having the vulnerability to talk about it. In my mind, saying that I was struggling was ‘weak’ but as a young man back then, that was what people thought. I think being comfortable to talk about my challenges has made a massive difference in my life and really improved my mental health.

“It’s not always easy to talk, but having a space helps. I would encourage people to visit the café. The drop-in nature helps because you don’t have to stay for the whole time. It makes it more relaxed and available for people if they choose to.”

The Bright Horizons Café runs on the second Wednesday of each month between 2-4pm. All are welcome to join. Launch of Bright Horizons Café – Cambridge United Foundation

Tesco, TA Construction Ltd, DC Carpets, Baxter Storey, Rocket Branding, and Camclad were all in attendance at the initial launch event, as well as special guests Luke Chadwick and John Taylor, and a number of local and national TV networks who captured the event.

Our weekly Good Mood Cafes provide an opportunity to meet new people to share interests, skills and wellbeing tips in an informal space to help boost your mood. Find your local session today: Good Mood Cafes | CPSL Mind