Bolton: Self, Westhoughton plans to expand but needs support

Nicky Gallon officially opened Self in August last year and it has continued to be the talk of the town, offering much more than just quality food and coffee.

Unlike your typical coffee shop, it offers a wide range of yoga classes, meditation, and Qigong, as well as workshops and talks.

• ALSO READ: Bolton's Self cafe needs single men to step forward

Nicky now wants to extend the cafe into a larger space, using offices in the same building.

She said: “It would mean everything to be able to do more talks in person, with chaired events, and tackle quite hard-hitting subjects such as fertility and domestic abuse.

• ALSO READ: Self opens in Westhoughton

Nicky Gallon, Self, Westhoughton (Image: Public)

“I have gone through IVF treatment myself and been quite open about it and it can be quite lonely if people don’t feel they can talk about it.

“The classes and talks help people find time for themselves and gives them confidence and helps their fears go away.”

Much of her inspiration comes from wanting to tackle taboo subjects either based on her own experiences or people she has met.

She said: “I think it would be amazing to hold bigger classes.

“So many people need the space and already use it for classes.

“In South Manchester I think there are similar places, but there is nothing here that offers that space where you can have a nice coffee but feel like there is also help too.”

• ALSO READ: Westhoughton Self organises well-being sessions for women

Nicky became a qualified movement healing therapist and has previously taught meditation in her last business.

She added: “I built up a really beautiful group of people who have benefitted massively and healed even myself.”

She has since set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to help her reach her target of £2,000.

She added: “I put all my money into Self, so I just need some help so that more and more people can come.

“When we held the menopause talk with the GPs we got 50 people in, and we could have got 100 if we had a bigger space.

“This would be life changing.”

To help Nicky reach her target visit www.gofundme.com/f/self-safe-space.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.