Festive fun with Christmas craft fair at Johnny's Happy Place in Kettering

The voluntary organisation was set up following the death of Johnny Mackay at the age of 29 after taking his own life in October 2014.

His family and friends wanted to open somewhere dedicated to supporting people like Johnny and after being given space at Keystone Youth Centre in Rockingham Road, Kettering, they opened a cafe as they felt there is not much available at weekends for people with mental health problems.

With the cafe providing vital support for people in the town, the group recently won the Changemaker Community Initiative of the Year category at an awards night by the University of Northampton and they are now looking forward to the Christmas fair.

Johnny’s mum Denise said: “We have got our Christmas craft fair coming up on Sunday, December 11, from midday until 5pm.

“We have got 30 stalls for it and it is open to everyone.”

Denise said it had been a relatively quiet summer, especially as the weather was nice, but demand for their support is likely to increase during the winter months.

She said people who are homeless or living rough rely on them for support, particularly at the weekend, and she added: “We need hats, scarves and coats, some are coming in frozen.

“But they take confidence from being here.

“They meet ordinary people who live normal lives and it’s a meeting place for them.

“We have also got various information about where they can go for support.”

The Christmas craft fair is taking place from midday until 5pm on Sunday, December 11.

There will be craft stalls, mulled wine, hot food, cakes, a raffle, animals to meet and Father Christmas will be there too.

Johnny’s Happy Place is based at Keystone at 97, Rockingham Road in Kettering.

Admission is £1 for adults and free for children.

For more information about the Christmas craft fair or to find out how you can get involved go to www.johnnyshappyplace.com.