Sparky’s Café Is Raising Mental Health Awareness One Cuppa At A Time

Published on: 7 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 7 Aug, 2017

A Guildford café with a difference has been awarded a grant of £1,500 from the Co-op to fund workshops and events to focus on mental health issues and wellbeing.

Maris Ruiz (centre) with two staff members at Sparky’s Café.

Sparky’s Café is based at Farnham Road Hospital. It is run by the Richmond Fellowship, a charity with more than 55 years’ experience in mental health.

Not only does the café offers a delicious and varied menu with very accessible prices, its staff includes volunteers who have mental health issues and learning difficulties.

Something of a best-kept local café secret, it is used by patients, staff and visitors to Farnham Road Hospital, but is open to all and well worth a visit.

Sparky’s is open to all.

Sparky’s is run by team leader Maria Ruiz, who has a strong background in mental health, hospitality, marketing and business.

Currently, it has six volunteers who follow a programme designed to help them boost their confidence, learn social and team working skills, and gain specific skills in cleaning, health and safety and customer service. There is capacity to take a further four volunteers.

Maria explained that some of the volunteers are moving step by step towards a paid career in the leisure and hospitality industry. All are giving something back to the community. Some of the volunteers came via the Richmond Fellowship’s partner organisation Surrey Choices, others went along and asked to join in.

Maria said: “We don’t rush the volunteers in what they learn. We identify each person’s needs, and that often means taking small steps at a time with them.”

She added that customer service is friendly, there is a relaxed atmosphere, a lovely view up to the cathedral, and use of a courtyard garden decorated with pieces of sculpture. Standards of cleanliness are high, the café has 5 stars from the Food Standards Agency.

The Co-op funding will enable Sparky’s to offer workshops that will cover topics such as food disorders. Maria said local schools will be participating with small groups of pupils and a teacher taking part gaining awareness of mental health issues. She feels it is important to make these links with the local community.

She said: “It is very important to talk about how eating well helps the mind as well.”

Another idea is to set up a book club, in which members drop into the café to talk about the books they are reading. It will be open to anyone.

The landscapes grounds of Farnham Road Hospital and a number of sculptures are well worth seeing.

Unlike cafés and coffee shops that are in more central locations in Guildford town centre, Sparky’s is a bit tucked away. But it is ideal for people who live close by, off the Farnham Road area and in Onslow Village.

The outside of Sparky’s. Part of the new build at Farnham Road Hospital.

It can be accessed through the main entrance to the hospital off Farnham, Road, or from the ‘back’ entrance from Bray Road, with an easy walk to the café. Following the recent revamp of the hospital, it is worth going by this route to see the stunning landscaping of the grounds!

A view towards Guildford Cathedral.

Sparky’s is open from 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays, and from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Saturdays.

Click here for Sparky’s Facebook page. See what others say about the café.

Sparky’s is also in the running for even more funding from the Co-op. If you are a Co-op member you can vote for the café, but hurry as the deadline is August 8. Click here to sign in and vote now.

The ‘back’ entrance to Farnham Road Hospital. Ignore the no entry signs if you are on foot!

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