'Bold' new link-up offers hope for Wigan Borough residents looking for support with their mental health

'Bold' new link-up offers hope for Wigan Borough residents looking for support with their mental health

The Hub of Hope is available as a free mobile app

A 'bold, proactive' new partnership between the council and a national mental health charity will help more Wigan Borough residents find the right support, at the right time.

North West-based organisation Chasing the Stigma is widely recognised for its ‘Hub of Hope’ - the UK’s largest and most comprehensive directory of mental health and wellbeing services.

Free to use online or via a mobile app, it brings together around 14,000 local, national, NHS, community and voluntary sector services, helping more than 300,000 people every year to find the right support, whenever and wherever they need it.

Now, in Mental Health Awareness Week (11th to 17th May), Wigan Council has become the first local authority in the country to formally adopt the Hub of Hope as part of its efforts to improve mental wellbeing outcomes for local people.

Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Wigan Council’s deputy leader and cabinet portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Chasing the Stigma to make important services more visible, accessible and easy to navigate for Wigan Borough residents.

“This partnership strengthens our commitment to improving mental wellbeing in our communities, complementing our existing work with health and care services, volunteer groups, businesses, charities and other organisations as part of our Progress with Unity approach.

“While much of our work focuses on prevention and addressing the root causes of mental health issues in our neighbourhoods, it’s also vital people know where to turn for help – and the Hub of Hope provides residents with a simple, trusted way to find support whenever they need it.”

As well as raising local awareness of the Hub of Hope, the collaboration aims to challenge the stigma around mental health and to encourage positive help-seeking.

Jake Mills, CEO and founder of Chasing the Stigma, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Wigan Council - the first local authority in the country to take this bold, proactive step.

“By embedding the Hub of Hope, Wigan Council is showing real leadership in making mental wellbeing support easier to find and stigma‑free. Together, we want every resident to know that help is out there, and that nobody has to struggle alone.”

For anyone in immediate distress, the Hub of Hope includes a ‘Get Urgent Help’ button connecting users directly to 24/7 crisis support lines. The platform is completely free for residents and the services listed within it.

To access, visit the Hub of Hope website (external link). The Hub of Hope app is also free to download from the App Store (external link) and Google Play (external link).