In celebration of LGBT History Month, Touchstone is profiling a different LGBT celebrity each week in the month of February. The chosen celebrity this week is Laverne Cox: twin; actress, television producer and LGBT advocate. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Laverne was bullied constantly as a child and describes how she attempted suicide when, aged 11, she realised she was attracted to boys but knew this would be seen as sinful
Victoria Louise "Vicky" Beeching (born 17 July 1979) is an English musician and religious commentator. She is best known for her work in the American contemporary worship music genre, and has been described as "arguably the most influential Christian of her generation" due to of her Twitter following and appearances on BBC's Thought for the Day. Vicky Beeching is an avid blogger, writing on many difficult Christian issues such as
In celebration of LGBT History Month, Touchstone is profiling a different LGBT celebrity each week in the month of February. This week, we have chosen the scientist Alan Turing, recently voted the most “iconic” global figure of the 20th century in a BBC 2 viewers’ poll. Alan Mathison Turing OBE FRS (23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher and theoretical biologist.
Drew Barrymore Drew Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an actress, producer, writer, and director. As a child actress, she became well-known for her performance in E.T.. Since then she starred in many films and, along with Nancy Juvonen, has started her own production company, Flower Films. In 2003 in and interview with Contact Music she acknowledged that she is and always has been bi. Debra Kolodny Debra Kolodny
THE WELL-BEAN CRISIS CAFÉ – HOPE IN A CRISIS BLOG: FEBRUARY 2019 - THE WELL-BEAN CRISIS CAFÉ IS NOW OPEN TWO EXTRA NIGHTS @ TOUCHSTONE HOUSE IN BEESTON (Written by Matthew Hall – Crisis Support Worker at WBC) The Well-Bean Café (WBC) is now open a further two nights in the south of Leeds at Touchstone House, Beeston on Tuesday and Wednesdays. Since November 2016, we have been open at
Tinnitus Awareness Week 2019 begins on 6th Feb and is being promoted by the British Tinnitus Association. Tinnitus is the perception of noises in the ear and or head which have no external source. Those living with the condition may experience a ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or other noise. The sensation can be continuous or intermittent and it can vary in volume. It is not a disease or illness and
As many of my colleagues at Touchstone will be aware, I am a hugger! Hugging is a way of being human with people; showing empathy, or just sharing a moment of joy. I feel hugging keeps me connected with the people around me but it also allows me to show my emotions and vulnerability – which I think is essential in a mental health and wellbeing charity. I hug when
The 3rd Monday in January is said to be the most depressing day of the year due to the weather, financial pressures and debts accumulated over the holiday season and low motivation levels. Blue Monday was first publicized by Sky Travel in 2005. You can find out more about how it was calculated and the companies who have publicized it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date) Whether Blue Monday is more PR
Christmas and the New Year Period can be a polarising period of time. For many people this is a time for celebration and enjoyment with friends and family. For many though, this may not be the case. Many services that people rely on shut down over the Christmas period, and it can be a period that can feel very lonely and isolating for many people. With very cold weather and
This month I was fortunate to be offered training with the Black Health Agency’s BHA Skyline Team, who provide a HIV support service in Leeds. BHA was originally set up 28 years ago as a response to the lack of information and services available to Black communities in Manchester around HIV services and they have developed expertise in wider sexual and physical health issues across the North of England. In