SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) will open the first of five Nooks in Glasgow later this year, finally giving people experiencing mental health problems a place to get help fast.

The largest mental health charity initiative in Scotland’s history, The Nook will provide barrier-free access to mental health support. There will be no need to book an appointment, no need for NHS referrals, and no waiting lists. Anyone looking for help can walk through the door whenever they need to.

Hardies will help transform SAMH HQ in Glasgow’s city centre into the first Nook to make the space welcoming, accessible and inviting for the many thousands of visitors expected when it opens this autumn.

Douglas Smith, managing partner at Hardies, said: “We were delighted to be invited to tender for this project. From the minute we met the team at SAMH, it was clear they had a passionate vision of what they were looking to achieve.

“We knew we had to be involved by supporting this project through project management, quantity surveying and principal design services as well as architectural services to Scotland’s first ever walk-in mental health Nook in the heart of Glasgow.

“With the ambitious programme came incredibly tight timescales, and we are delighted after eight months of involvement to be on course to deliver The Nook in Glasgow to the timescales the client wished for at the outset.”

Jude Deacons, senior project manager at SAMH, added: “We believe people with mental health problems should be able to ask once and get help fast, so we’re taking action to make that a reality.

“The Nook is the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done. We believe it will revolutionise mental health support in Scotland.

“It’s crucial that the space is welcoming, accessible and inviting for the many thousands of visitors expected when it opens, and we’re excited to see our vision of The Nook come alive.”

The Glasgow project is being carried out by Paisley-based contractor Taylor & Fraser.

Further Nooks are planned for Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverclyde and Lanarkshire, creating a network of mental health support hubs across the country. Each Nook will include an extensive outreach programme, helping many thousands more based in surrounding areas.

This transformational initiative will only become a reality with support from the public. The Nook is supported by SAMH’s first major appeal, with a target of £10 million to fund the hubs for three years. Donations can be made on the SAMH website at samh.org.uk/nook.