About the Organisation
James’s Place exists to save lives of men in suicidal crisis. The charity was set up by us in 2008 after our 21-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it. We believe death by suicide is preventable, yet 6,507 people died by suicide in the UK in 2018. Three-quarters of these people were men, and suicide is still the single leading cause of death of men under 50.
At James’ Place we have created somewhere that men in a suicidal crisis can access support, advice, and help. Our team works with referrers to offer an intervention to men who have arrived at a crisis point in response to predominantly social and psychological stressors, such as debt, loneliness, and relationship problems. Men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis can access a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment, with the aim of preventing avoidable deaths by suicide.
The first James’ Place opened in June 2018 in Liverpool, and we opened our second centre in London in 2022. We currently support around 850 clients a year and are looking to expand this figure to 2000. We want to ensure that help is available for every man facing a suicidal crisis and support them to find hope for the future.
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To facilitate the achievement of their ambitious target and ensure a better geographical spread, James’ Place plan to open another three centres, moving into areas that currently lack vital suicide prevention services and enabling them to reach as many men as possible who need their help.
They have recently identified a building that they feel would make a suitable home for a James’ Place Centre in the Newcastle area.
The space is a period property on a residential street with 3,220 sq. ft of internal space and an external yard of 675 sq. ft. The building comprises a self-contained office and workshop/studio, spread over ground, first and second floors, with secure internal courtyard. The owner has carried out extensive refurbishment to the property and further works will be completed to make the building suitable for the charity’s needs as a therapy centre. James’ Place are currently working with an architect to agree the best layout and interior design.
James’ Place are now seeking Pro Bono support to conduct a measured survey for the architect to use in drawing off accurate measured plans/sections and elevations on the property.
Timeline
ASAP – Urgent