Since our formation in Hull in 1997, Focus has been committed to supporting Universities, Councils, NHS Trusts and the wider public with the challenges of life and the impact these can have on mental health. Today, nearly three decades later, that mission remains at the heart of everything we do, and it is with immense pride that we announce our shortlisting for the Hull BID Awards: Most Stylish / Welcoming Premises.
Our nomination recognises something far deeper than aesthetics alone. It reflects a belief we hold firmly: the spaces where care takes place matter. They influence how people feel, how safe they are, how open they can be, and ultimately, how transformative their therapeutic experience becomes.
A Space Purpose‑Built for the People of Hull
Too often, mental health professionals and those accessing support find themselves in rooms shaped around other purposes; re‑purposed meeting rooms, borrowed offices, multipurpose spaces that do not always reflect the emotional weight and complexity of the work being done within them.
At Focus, we wanted to challenge this.
Our vision for The Counting House was clear from the beginning: create an environment where user‑centred design drives every decision. A place where people feel welcomed, understood, and emotionally safe the moment they arrive.
Comfort is not a luxury in therapy, it is a therapeutic tool. The ability to relax, connect with a clinician, and feel “held” by a space plays a profound role in the journey toward healing. Every colour palette, fabric choice, layout, and texture across our new clinical rooms has been carefully selected to support this outcome. The result is a setting that is both professional and warm, accessible and uplifting, and designed for everyone who walks through our doors.
Supporting the People Who Support Our Community
Focus would be nothing without the exceptional clinicians who choose to work with us. Their passion, expertise and dedication inspire us every day, and we believe inspirational people deserve to work in inspirational spaces.
That belief led to the creation of the Focus Wellbeing Floor: a private area designed to give our teams the same sense of safety and replenishment that they give to others. Whether relaxing on a sofa, catching up on work at our breakfast bar, or taking a reflective moment on our terrace with (what we believe to be!) the best view in Hull, our people now have the freedom and flexibility to work in ways that support both their wellbeing and their practice.
A Collaboration Worth Celebrating: Chameleon Business Interiors
We extend our sincere thanks to Chameleon Business Interiors, whose expertise brought our vision to life. Their creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to human‑centred design were instrumental in shaping The Counting House into a space we are incredibly proud of.
Their work reflects not just interior design, but an understanding of the emotional and professional realities of mental healthcare, and we are grateful for the care and attention they devoted to this project.
Looking Ahead: A Space for Generations
Being shortlisted for the Hull BID Awards is a moment of celebration for all of us at Focus. It honours the years of planning, collaboration and passion invested in creating a building that truly serves the city we love.
But more importantly, it represents the beginning of a new chapter; one where this space will support thousands of conversations, challenges, breakthroughs, and acts of courage for generations to come.
We look forward to attending the awards ceremony on 27th February, and regardless of the outcome, we remain immensely proud of what we have created and the impact it will continue to make across Hull.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey.
And thank you, Hull. We built this for you.
