Plan Bee Turns 4!

On the 30th January 2024, local charity Apex Trust celebrated their 4th birthday of their community coffee shop – PLAN BEE based on North Road, St Helens.

As a local charity who delivers specialist advice and guidance support to local adults who are either at risk of offending or have a criminal record, we support individuals in breaking down barriers and moving them forward into a positive outcome which in turn will move them away from crime and reduce re-offending.

The Hive, is our community space, which is adaptable to accommodate groups, training, 1-1 sessions and partner organisations to meet their service users.

Three different social groups are held each week; their women’s hub launched in June 2019 taking the trauma informed approach, ensuring the group is women only and a safe space for women to be themselves, escape from their everyday problems, reduce isolation, improve mental health and be in a setting with women who all experience similar issues, but can be together to receive support. 

Their Young at Heart group launched in January 2022 is for individuals age 60+ who are experiencing loneliness/isolation, have no family support, have health issues etc.  The group meet once a week in our community space, the main aim is that they come together to chat, laugh, reminisce, and support each other.

The most recent social group is their men’s mental health group is a product identified from need.  When supporting men with advice & guidance, it was highlighting their levels of mental health and not having the right mindset to ask for help from their GP or other professionals.

Plan Bee is their community coffee shop which launched in January 2020.  Plan Bee enables the team to work within and with the community, as well as allowing individuals they support to volunteer within the coffee shop and gain valuable skills and experience within the sector.

Kim Hughes – CEO says ‘’Since launching Plan Bee, we have embedded ourselves in the heart of the community with all our projects and services under one roof.  From the beginning our plan was to involve the community and identify any gaps. Everyone involved in the charity are proud of the journey we have come on, knowing the difference we are making to the individuals who volunteer, attend social groups and receive 1-1 support’’.

So why not pop down to Plan Bee where you will receive a warm welcome, fabulous coffee, home baked cakes and freshly made food.