Birmingham Mind partnership delivers vital new Recovery House service

That’s how one guest described their stay at The Recovery House, a new service in Birmingham providing short-term support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

We’ve worked in partnership with Birmingham Mind to deliver The Recovery House, which offers therapeutic, recovery-focused support for up to 7 nights.

Commissioned by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the service helps guests to stabilise and begin their recovery in a safe environment as an alternative to hospital admission.

The Highfield Road building, owned by Citizen, was previously used as a women’s refuge. When it became available last year, we worked closely with Birmingham Mind, an existing partner delivering supported housing services with us, to identify an opportunity to meet a growing need for specialist mental health support.

Our Assets Team carried out a full refurbishment to make the accommodation suitable, including new kitchens and redecoration throughout.

Work began in May last year and was completed in October, with the service opening its doors in November.

The building now provides short-stay accommodation for up to 10 people at a time, including a dedicated women-only area to ensure safety and comfort for those who need it. Since opening, The Recovery House has already supported over 70 guests.

It is currently the only service of its kind in Birmingham and is already playing a crucial role in preventing hospital admissions by offering a more personalised, recovery-focused approach.

Birmingham Mind has a dedicated 24/7 team of 19 staff, including a Manager and Deputy Manager, ensuring round-the-clock support for residents.

One guest who stayed there said: “I came here broken and left a new stronger person. I never smiled before, but staff gave me my feelings, my joy and my brighter future back. Thank you.”

Ruth Coates, Deputy Director of Operations at Birmingham Mind, said: “At first sight, the building required significant work, and the Birmingham Mind and Citizen teams set about the huge task of transforming it into a warm, welcoming, and accessible environment. The team removed outdated bathrooms and inaccessible steps, repaired roofs, replaced plumbing, and installed new kitchens and bathrooms throughout.

“The end result, achieved in just seven months, allowed us to provide immediate short-term crisis care for adults who might otherwise have been admitted to hospital. Over 70 people have stayed with us to date, and it is only with the support of Citizen that we have been able to excel in delivering this service model.”

The partnership model also ensures clear responsibilities, with Birmingham Mind managing the day-to-day running of the service and support delivery, while Citizen continues to maintain the building and ensures it remains safe.

Peter Gill, Director of Housing Care & Support at Citizen, said: “The impact of the work at The Recovery House is really significant, and we’re proud that we have been able to breath new life into the building for such an innovative service.

“Our collaboration with Birmingham Mind demonstrates how we can deliver innovative housing and support solutions, helping people through crisis and onto a path of recovery.

“This joined-up approach enables both organisations to focus on what they do best – delivering safe, high-quality homes and life-changing support for those who need it the most.”

Our partnership at Highfield Road will run for a minimum of two years, with the potential to extend, providing a strong foundation for long-term impact. 

Read more about The Recovery House here.