Mental Health Cafe Founder Steps Down After 11 Years

The founder of Johnny's Happy Place, a community cafe in Kettering that offers mental health counselling, is retiring after 11 years. Denise Mackay, the founder's mother, is stepping down for health reasons but confirmed the cafe will continue.

The cafe was established in 2014 in memory of Johnny Mackay, who died at 29 after struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Opened in the summer of 2015 as a community interest company, it provides free sessions with trained counsellors and art therapy on weekends.

Messages from volunteers and visitors highlighted the cafe's impact, with one visitor calling it a "lifeline" that "saved his life." Denise expressed that while she didn't want to leave, she had to, citing her inability to dedicate the necessary energy. The cafe aims to foster friendship and love.