Café set up after son's death needs volunteers

Steven Lynn runs the Betsy Jenny Wellbeing Cafe on Bridge Street in Sunderland

A father who set up a café following the death of his 25-year-old son says he needs more volunteers to keep it going.

Steven Lynn charges for food and drink but offers free mental health support at Sunderland's Betsy Jenny Wellbeing Café.

He opened it after receiving counselling when his son, also called Steven, died in 2018. His parents, Jean and Kenny, had died over the two years before, in 2016 and 2017.

Mr Lynn said he was expecting more people to pop in ahead of Christmas, a time when he said people can feel their loneliest.

The premises has private spaces where some therapy sessions are held

"It's been a rollercoaster financially," the former construction worker, from Grangetown, also in Sunderland, said.

"I've jumped in to run it myself, the kitchen, serving and washing up, and also the mental health side of things.

"I'm doing everything because I have to make it work."

The café, on Bridge Street, runs sessions including counselling, therapy, yoga and a "listening ear", a confidential service available for visitors.

However Mr Lynn said, despite opening in 2021, not everybody was aware the venue existed.

"We’re not like a doctor's surgery. It's not a clinical environment, it's relaxed, non-judgemental and anybody can come in for anything," he said.

"We just want to give people the chance to have a better life but on a budget food wise and with free activities."

Steven Lynn set up the venue following the death of his son, also called Steven

The Betsy Jenny is a combination of his son's nickname, Betsy, and the first names of his parents, Jean and Kenny.

His son contracted flu and was taken to hospital on Christmas Day, and became seriously unwell and died.

He said the café was a "tribute", adding Steven "lost his life far too young and my mam and dad were great, great people and massive influences on me".

"[My son] was very funny, he had a heart of gold and was a good lad... we were very close and I miss him dearly.

"This is my way of giving back to Sunderland," he said.

Ricky Richardson regularly visits the café and said it had improved his mental health

Ricky Richardson, who has been visiting the café since it opened, said it had helped him overcome his neurodiversity issues.

He urged men, in particular, to visit the venue as there was "no judgement or negatives or stigmas in anyway shape or form".