Life isn't easy, and for some, it can become too much.

Events such as family breakdown, redundancy, or simply the pressure of day-to-day living can tip people over the edge, leading them to suffer mental health problems such as depression, psychosis, phobias or anxiety.

“People can be leading relatively normal lives and then be struck down and find they are unable to cope,” says Clive Newitt, marketing officer at The Cellar Project, a charity and social enterprise which, since its conception in the mid-1980s, has helped hundreds of people suffering from mental health problems to return to work and regain an ordinary life.

The recession has led to more people being helped, and the project now has more than 120 people on its books at any one time.

“It is down to society, its fast pace, and – at present – the state of the economy,” says Clive. “If, for instance, you lose your job, it can impact upon your health. Sometimes it doesn’t need a reason – you just wake up and wonder ‘what is the meaning of life?’ You can fall through the cracks.”

From humble beginnings in the cellar of a Victorian house – from which it gets its name – the project has expanded hugely. Now housed in a former school in Farfield Road, Shipley, it offers people the chance to learn skills including woodwork and joinery, catering, horticulture and hospitality. They can also do voluntary work and progress to further education or training.

In the year up to March 2012, it helped 36 people with serious mental health problems back into employment. A further 25 people took up voluntary work, 11 accessed mainstream college courses, and 70 took in-house literacy and numeracy courses.

Ninety per cent of clients are men, most aged between 30 and 55 years.

Stuart Cunningham has been attending for a year after being referred by the Job Centre and his GP. “It has helped me to learn new skills, meet some great people and have a more positive outlook,” he says.

James King joined two months ago after suffering severe depression. “It has given me a boost, helped me get back to day-to-day life and feel more positive about the future. Hopefully, soon, I will be able to get back to part or full-time work.”

An employment programme, including courses and placements, helps people to explore the opportunities they may have if they return to paid employment.

“Everyone is assessed and asked what they like doing and what would help them,” adds Clive. “We help people to develop abilities and skills to enable them to move on. We help them to regain their confidence, and be able to get up in the morning and have meaning to their lives.”

The project was spawned in the mid-1980s when a social worker at a local hospital realised there was little opportunity or training to help people with long-term mental health problems return to work. To address this, three workshops were created in a house used for patients recently discharged from hospital.

Children’s play furniture and dressing-up clothing created in the workshops was sold to raise funds. Such innovation continues and today the workshop produces garden furniture including picnic tables and benches.

Referrals come from sources including GPs, community psychiatric nurses or hospital psychiatrists. Once they have a place, regular meetings and reviews are carried out with case managers.

The project, which is independent, generates one-third of its own funding, with the remainder from Bradford Council, and NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds.

A cafe – being relaunched on October 9 as The Old School Cafe – is partially staffed by clients, and sells a range of meals and snacks plus food grown by clients at the project’s horticulture site in Keighley, “We sell good-value hot meals, puddings, cakes and other food,” says Clive. A shop selling organic produce grown by the clients also helps to raise income.

“The Cellar Project is of inestimable value,” says chief executive Marilyn Beech. “It is unique as we still retain a skill shop base. We also take a number of different approaches to make sure we meet everyone's needs. Last year we helped a number of people back to into paid work despite the recession.”

“One man thought he was too old to work in IT but now has a qualification. And once people gain confidence many want to go to college.”

The project works in partnership with Shipley College, whose tutors come to teach. “It keeps the familiar setting where people feel safe,” says Marilyn. “The project is a real success.”

Visit thecellarproject.co.uk. The Old School Cafe is open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday.