Leading mental health group weighs in to the debacle to make its point

A UK charity has jumped on the notorious Willy Wonka experience to draw attention to the government's handling of mental health in England and Wales.

The event, which took place in Glasgow and organised by former charity chief Billy Coull, went viral after parents paid £35 per ticket for an experience based on the Roald Dahl classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instead of a day of "pure imagination and wonder," however, the event was described as "disastrous" with videos showing an empty warehouse space filled with a few decorations.

Mental Health charity Mind made a TikTok post which featured a colourful picture similar to the Willy Wonka experience advert with the words “the mental health support the government keeps promising”.

It then compared this to a second image of the actual event showing the sparse interior and the caption “the reality”.

Kirsten Armstrong, head of brand, content & digital engagement at Mind, said: “We’re delighted that Mind's most recent TikTok following the disastrous – but hilarious - Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow, has gone down so well.”

She added: “Like the families at the Willy Wonka Experience, people with mental health problems have been delivered something very different to what they were promised.

"The current UK government has failed to deliver on several core manifesto commitments, including reforming the Mental Health Act and delivering a cross-government plan for mental health.”