A mental health project based in Ely is holding its second pop up café next month – and entry is free.

Talking FreELY will be at the Ely Cathedral Conference Centre between 9.30am and 1pm on November 4.

The café will feature an information zone, guest speakers, a mindfulness session, a light therapy room, hot drinks and cake.

The guest speakers include Martin Baker, co-author of High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder.

Other speakers include Dr Steve Case-Upton from St Mary’s Surgery, who joined Talking FreELY as a charity trustee.

Jess Manley, project leader for Blue Smile, a Cambridgeshire based children’s charity that provides counselling, therapy and mentoring for children in schools aged three to 13, will also attend.

An award will also be presented to the winner of the poetry competition for poems that ‘Talk FreELY’ about mental health. The competition was announced on September 28 at National Poetry Day and the winner will read their poem at the event.

The second pop up café follows a successful debut last July where 93 per cent of the participants said they enjoyed the event.

One participant said: “I felt welcome and not judged. There was sympathy and cake, what more could I want.

“But seriously, it was great to feel normal and OK”.

Another person said it was an “excellent stigma-busting event,” and described the speakers as “inspirational”.

Lesia Zhuk, of Talking FreELY, said: “Talking FreELY has been set up to bring about change in attitudes toward mental health on a local level, here in East Cambridgeshire.

“The vision of the group is simple: a community that promotes mental wellness and empowers those suffering the effects of mental illness to step forward and seek the help they need.

“It has been inspired by the national campaign Time to Change, which was set up in 2007 and aims to end mental health discrimination.

“The group believes that the more people from all walks of life talk about mental health, the better. Whether you consider yourself to have mental health issues or want to learn more about wellbeing, you are welcome to the event.”

Visit www.talkingfreely.org or search Talking FreELY on Facebook and Twitter for more information.