In this blog, one of our Touchstone Service User Consultants shares what his role at Touchstone means to him... I’m speaking from the heart in talking about what it means to me to be a Service User (SU) consultant at Touchstone. As having lived experience of Mental Health (MH) and having been through the system with services since I was a kid, I want to influence positive change and
We are very pleased to share that Touchstone has secured the number 4 spot in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list. We are also their number 1 employer in the Third Sector, Health and Social Care industry, and in the Yorkshire and Humber area. In addition to these rankings, we have won a Gold Award and one of our brilliant colleagues has received a special “Changemaker” award. These prestigious recognitions
Being You Leeds, via their funders in the Public Mental Health team in Leeds City Council, has been awarded the Faculty of Public Health’s Sarah Stewart Brown Award for Public Mental Health for 2024. Being You Leeds were recognised for their citywide work to develop the service. This award aims to encourage and promote leadership and innovation in public mental health in the UK among members of the public
Touchstone are delighted to announce that our Community Rehabilitation Enhanced Support Team (CREST) have been awarded a National Positive Practice in Mental Health Award! They were recognized for their coproduction work in Rehabilitation and Recovery services. The team proudly work in partnership with NHS colleagues. Coproduction is a vital value at Touchstone – without it, no service can truly be responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.
This past year has been one of growth and change for Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service's (LMWS) Inclusion Team. Our latest Health Inequality Impact 2023-24 (see below) lays out key highlights from this year. Read on for an intro to the report from LMWS Strategic Equalities Lead, Nick Burdett. This year, the LMWS team welcomed several new staff members. We have a new leader for equality, a Peer Support Coordinator,
March is Endometriosis Action Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness and acting for those with the disease. This year, the theme is 'Could it be Endometriosis?'. Below, a member of our LMWS Team has put together some information on the impacts of endometriosis with links to information and support. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth in the UK, but many people still
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates and remembers key LGBTQ+ figures, movements and events from history. To mark this important month at Touchstone, our brilliant LGBTQ+ Staff Network have organized a range of events for a mix of staff and the public to celebrate LGBTQ+ history and reflect on continued struggles for LGBTQ+ rights. Read on to find out what we’ve been up to, as well as the public events happening
On February 1st, Touchstone brought together our Safe Space and Well-Bean Crisis Cafes across West Yorkshire with one new name and updated look: Here For You, an out-of-hours service, offering face-to-face support for any of us who are feeling down or struggling to cope with our thoughts. Since first opening for 2 nights a week from Lincoln Green Community Centre in 2016, the Well-Bean Crisis Café service has grown
The period of planning, expecting, or caring for a new baby is often seen as one of happiness and excitement. In reality, many people can experience a range of mental health issues during this time, from anxiety and depression to PTSD and psychosis. On Parent Mental Health Day, our LMWS team have written the below blog to raise awareness of mental health challenges often experienced during the perinatal period
We know that Blue Monday is a controversial date. But we know that January, and Winter, can be a particularly hard time for many. So today, we've put together a video of our lovely colleagues sharing some of the inspirational quote and ideas that get them through the darker days. Watch our video below for inspiration - we hope it brightens up your Monday just a little...