Leeds youth mental health charity closes after more than 30 years
It has provided a beacon of hope for generations of young people suffering with their mental health.
Leeds youth mental health charity The Market Place has helped tens of thousands of youngsters for more than three decades.
It has delivered free and confidential youth work and counselling services in Leeds for 11 to 25 year olds since February 1989.
Fast forward to 2025 and the charity’s work has ended with the closure at its base on New Market Street in the city centre.
It had been commissioned to deliver services by NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council until the end of June 2024 and in addition received individual donations as well as applying to foundations and trusts.
A message on its facebook page reads: “We firmly believe that in the next few years the NHS and Council will realise how much the free services we offered are needed by young people in Leeds. We won't be here to provide them, but hopefully the next time young people's mental health support is commissioned in Leeds free face to face counselling will become available again.”
The end of an era was marked with a farewell concert at The Wardrobe when staff, volunteers and service users came together to celebrate its legacy.
One service user, Chloe, made a moving speech - and your Yorkshire Evening Post reached out and asked her permission to reproduce her words which she granted.
It reads: “Today is a bittersweet day - one filled with both gratitude and sadness — as we say goodbye to a service that has meant so much to so many of us, myself included.
“Standing here, I can’t help but think back to what this place truly represents. It wasn’t just a building, or a service, or a program. It was a community. It was a place where people found understanding, connection, and hope when we needed it most.
“As a former service user, I know first hand how life-changing that support can be. In some of my most difficult moments, when I felt completely lost and unsure where to turn, this place became my safe space. It was somewhere I could be honest — somewhere I didn’t have to pretend to be okay. The team here didn’t just listen; they heard me. They didn’t just offer advice; they offered understanding.
“The staff here went beyond professional care — they gave us kindness, patience, and genuine compassion. They saw the person behind the diagnosis, the story behind the struggle, and the potential behind the pain. That kind of care is rare, and it changes lives in ways that can never truly be measured.
“So, while it’s incredibly hard to see these doors close, I want to take this moment to say the most heartfelt thank you.
“Thank you to every support worker, every team member, and everyone behind the scenes who gave so much of yourselves — your time, your energy, your empathy - even on the days when it wasn’t easy. You showed up. You cared. And you made people feel seen and valued.
“Your impact doesn’t stop here.“
The speech goes on: ”The work you’ve done will continue to ripple outward, far beyond these walls. You’ve helped people not just to survive, but to start living again. You’ve planted seeds of confidence and hope that will continue to grow long after today.
“I can say that because I am one of those people. Without the Marketplace team, I truly don’t think I’d be standing here today, growing my little boy & loving life again. You gave me the strength to rebuild when I didn’t think I could. You reminded me that I was still a person — not just a patient or a case file — and that I still had something to live for.
“And for that, I will be forever thankful.
“Even on my darkest days, I was never judged here. I was welcomed, I was listened to, and I was supported. And I’ll say this — having dealt with many professional teams over the years — the Marketplace team will always come out on top.
“So although today marks the closing of a service, it doesn’t mark the end of its story. The lessons, the care, the humanity that you’ve shown — those things don’t disappear. They live on in every single person you’ve helped, in every life you’ve touched, and in every bit of hope you’ve restored.
“From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of everyone whose lives you’ve touched — thank you. Thank you for believing in us, for walking beside us, and for making more of a difference than you’ll ever truly know.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “The council, and its partners, are committed to ensuring young people continue to have access to high quality mental health support through services that meet their needs and this provision has been consistently maintained.
“As part of regular service reviews, a new contract specification was developed and, following a robust tender process, was re-commissioned to an alternative provider. We are confident this will deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people in Leeds.
“We would like to thank everyone at The Market Place for their work with young people across the city over the last 36 years.”
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board joins up health and care services, improve people’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.
A statement from the NHS West Yorkshire ICB in Leeds said it was committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Leeds.
“A comprehensive range of services and support is available to young people, their families and carers, dependent on their needs and accessible either face-to-face or online, depending on the service. . This includes early intervention, counselling and other therapeutic interventions, crisis support, and specialist services for issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Support is accessible through schools, community organisations, NHS partners, helplines, and digital platforms.
“Young people, parents, carers, and professionals can find information about local emotional health and wellbeing services for anyone up to age 25 on the MindMate website: www.mindmate.org.uk. The website also has advice on common issues, self-help guides, and stories from young people about their experiences.
“We actively promote the services available and how to access them, and we work closely with partners to remove barriers for all groups and communities. Our aim is that no young person should ever be without support for their emotional health and mental wellbeing.”
The statement added: “We regularly review our services to ensure they meet the needs of young people, families, and carers. Their voices and experiences are central to improving emotional health and wellbeing support in Leeds.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "This government is transforming mental health services with an extra £688 million, hiring 8,500 more mental health workers, delivering more talking therapies, and rolling out more mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
"These actions will ensure that young people receive the vital support they need, when and where they need it."