A men’s mental health hub in Liverpool is appealing for support after being hit with a large electricity bill.
Inner Guru’s The Hub has helped hundreds of men since opening in March this year but is now closed without electricity after being cut off due to complications surrounding the bill. The Walton CIC was opened to bridge the gap and provide early intervention and support to avoid crisis.
The Hub offers men a variety of activities and tools such as support groups, sharing circles, workshops and courses such as Macho Mind Magic and The Four Elements. The venue, which also hosts a sauna and offers cold water therapy, has had many supporters including Speedo Mick, but now its future is in jeopardy due to a large bill being unable to be paid.
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Founder Lewis Powell told the ECHO : “The whole process has been very stressful but the thing that’s most upsetting is that people have been missing out on support since we were cut off in October. Our job is to improve men’s mental health and avoid crisis and the dark, cold months and Christmas is when people need support the most. All these people are now missing out.”
The CIC, based at 2 Parkinson Road, was awaiting an electricity bill, when it finally arrived it was one bill for all of the tenants combined but as the other shops have recently been vacated it meant The Hub needed to pay the entire bill in order to avoid being cut off. However, this was not possible.
Lewis added: “We’re only a small CIC and couldn’t afford the whole bill, although we were more than happy to pay our share. Now that we’ve been cut off we’re having to raise money for our own sole supply — including £2,450 for excavation work, electrical work and £650 rent for December. The landlord gave us two months rent-free but people will still be missing out on support.”
The 36-year-old originally from Ellesmere Port went on a " healing journey" to the Amazon after struggling with alcohol and drugs. Wanting to change his life for the better, he decided to make the drastic move and live with tribes in Peru. Whilst there he learnt shamanic healing which is a form of spiritual guidance that has been practised around the world for more than 100,000 years. Lewis then took what he learnt to open The Hub.
The centre is currently raising money for its own supply in order to open again in January 2023. A GoFundMe has been set up where people can donate and a raffle is taking place to win a number of prizes including holistic treatments, beauty treatments, a signed Jamie Carragher shirt, courses, vouchers, free driving lessons and more. Lewis added: “So many people were involved in opening this amazing place and it has changed many people’s lives so to have this situation is extremely frustrating.”
Rob Collier, who runs The Four Elements at The Hub, said: “As someone who attempted to take their own life, I can say that centres like this are vital to bridge the gap and this place certainly changed my life. I am now helping others voluntarily through my own courses and it really pains me that people are being denied access to them.”
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