Blog

Reverse Mentoring with Finn Dobson

Pronouns: They/Them/Their Some of you may recall my recent shout out for people to be mentored by SMT or to offer reverse mentoring to SMT especially in the areas we felt less knowledgeable, such as Judaism and Trans and Non-binary identities. I am delighted to say that Finn Dobson, who is a peer support worker within Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service, answered the call. Finn told me they had really started

2020-05-17T09:52:10+01:0017th May 2020|Blog|

Dying to be heard by Your Space

11th-17th May 2020 marks Dying Matters Awareness Week.  This week is run by Dying Matters, and their tagline is “let’s talk about it”.  This is reflected in this year’s theme, which is “dying to be heard” – encouraging us to talk more about our plans for our death and our thoughts about dying, as well as providing us all with helpful tips for having these conversations. Here at Your

2020-05-15T14:42:02+01:0015th May 2020|Blog|

Ramadhan Mubarak!

Ramadhan Mubarak! Your Space Leeds would like to wish you a blessed and productive Ramadhan. Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar for 29/30 days depending on the moon  Muslim’s spend the daylight hours in complete fast abstaining from all food and drink. Ramadhan is a time to purify the soul, focus ones attention to Allah (God) practice self-discipline and sacrifice a time for reflection. Ramadhan (Sawm)

2020-04-28T11:21:03+01:0026th April 2020|Blog|

Supporting the elderly Sikh and BAME community across Leeds during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Last week (06/04), before Vaisakhi and the Easter bank holidays, Touchstone’s very small (but very vital) Sikh Elders Service did some brilliant work supporting the frail and elderly Sikh and BAME people across Leeds. 25 calls were made, including video calls, to offer 1:1 support and comfort to service users. The team supported people with health and wellbeing, understanding of government advice, accessing food (including shopping and distributing food parcels),

2020-04-20T16:44:36+01:0017th April 2020|Blog|

Self-care and social distancing from Leeds Recovery College

Useful online Leeds Recovery College initiatives in their latest newsletter which will be going out weekly. Looking to highlight different themes each week and working with some of their facilitators. Follow the link to read the newsletter - https://bit.ly/2QVgo6g Leeds Recovery College are also providing online resources, follow the link to explore - https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/recovery-wellbeing/ Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

2020-04-17T11:44:22+01:0030th March 2020|Blog|

The Well-Bean Crisis Cafe – Hope in a crisis blog: January 2020

(Written by Matthew Hall – LSLCS Crisis Support Worker at WBC) New Years’ Resolutions… sometimes the New Year can bring a sense of pressure. The days are shorter and dark, the weather can be cold and wet – and the world can feel a more lonely and scary place. If you are struggling with your mental health in these conditions, then this could increase your feeling of desperation and

2024-10-08T11:16:12+01:0017th January 2020|Blog, Crisis support|

The Well-Bean Crisis Cafe – Hope in a crisis blog: December 2019 Mental Health Support over Christmas and New Year

(Written by Matthew Hall – LSLCS Crisis Support Worker at WBC) With the UK building up to a general election before the festive period, with things feeling as insecure and confusing in this pre/post (stuck in the middle (!) of a Brexit world) - it may not be surprising if all of this can feel too much. I work as a Counsellor and Crisis Worker across Leeds, and hear

2024-10-08T11:17:06+01:0012th December 2019|Blog, Crisis support|

National HIV Testing Week blog 2019

November 16-24th is national HIV Testing Week and Touchstone held a testing session with our partners Skyline on 20th November for our BAME service users and staff.  Our CEO, Alison Lowe and Operations Director, Arfan Hanif led the way in showing commitment to being tested and the video of their test is here and on all this on our social media platforms. https://youtu.be/MiGc9-bICEk HIV Testing Week seeks to promote

2019-12-17T16:55:24+00:0020th November 2019|Blog, Community, Partnership|

Alcohol Awareness Week Blog

Alcohol and Me Some people like to enjoy a glass of wine, beer or gin and tonic after a busy day at work, on a night out or for a special occasion. Drinking can be an escape to help forget the issues you may be facing in your life or it can be used to simply unwind and relax. The Chief Medical Officer suggests that you stay within the recommended

2020-04-20T16:36:18+01:0015th November 2019|Blog|

Dwell Time Issue 1

Dwell Time Issue 1 Dwell Time arose from tragic death by suicide of one of our close friends in 2017. He was a passionate advocate of arts being a tool to discuss mental health and bequest us the task of raising awareness of mental health through our work as artists and curators. Art, poetry and sharing personal experiences have the power to communicate, educate and reduce the isolation, marginalisation and

2019-12-17T17:07:24+00:007th November 2019|Blog, Poetry|