On the 20th of November each year, people gather around the world to mourn the transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who we have lost this year. We also recognise on this day the violence that so often circulates not just around the death of our trans siblings, but so often our lives as well. Transphobic hate crimes, institutional failings, and discrimination can culminate in transgender people facing higher rates
A was convicted of a domestic violence offence and ordered to carry out unpaid work and Rehabilitation Requirement Days as part of his Community Order. English was not his first language and the Community Rehabilitation Company referred him to Touchstone’s specialist Shafa service. Touchstone’s caseworker Ijaz Khan could speak his language and was of the same community. This enabled A to relax and open-up about his experiences with the Criminal
THE WELL-BEAN CRISIS CAFÉ – HOPE IN A CRISIS LEEDS BLOG: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020: MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS SUPPORT IN LEEDS DURING TIER 3 RESTRICTIONS (Written by Matthew Hall – LSLCS Crisis Support Worker at WBC) News has emerged earlier this week that West Yorkshire is due to go into a Tier 3 Covid Restrictions from 1 am on Monday 2/11. This of course places further significant limitations on peoples lives
A Dream We call for freedom But She isn’t present today We scream loud like banshees But freedom didn’t live on our streets Painted like a dreamer on crack Addicted to optimism. But this Isn’t A dream And there is no rehab for nightmares When they follow you everywhere. Imprisoned Racists stealthily haunts us Like a cancerous tumour That takes your breath away Like Taeniasis Feeding Every breath you take
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzLe5a8iTkc&t=6s
Black History Month has sparked some great conversations about racism and white privilege during October. Some people have moved from conversation to action. Touchstone set up it’s own anti-racism library for staff as part of our BLM commitments, if you would like to support Danni’s campaign to set one up for people to borrow from in Leeds, here is the fundraising page - https://gf.me/u/y2av3x
For the last few months as part of the Black Lives Matter movement we have been having a lot of conversations, discussions and meetings about what this means to us as individuals and practitioners. Nicole Connor, Touchstone staff: “A few years ago I started my own journey of understanding and reflection on racism and white privilege. In the last few months amidst the murder of George Floyd and the resurgence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdum5Gzmu98 Simone’s mum, Mabel Stephenson guides us through a cooking tutorial of Ackee and Saltfish, one of that national dishes of Jamaica. Since the pandemic Mabel has been using her love of cooking Caribbean food to bring something new to her local community and once a month does a ‘Cook up’ for neighbours on a nearby residential street. This monthly event has bought these neighbours closer together and has given
Dyslexia Week is an annual event to raise awareness of dyslexia. Please follow the link below to read an article by Tony Lawson who works for the Ask 4 Advocacy service. Dyslexia - Notes and powerpoints
To celebrate BHM, Leeds Mind and Touchstone staff met to talk about their own experiences of being Black, the impact of BLM and their hopes for a better world – and the music is brilliant too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hacRa_WmCUk&feature=youtu.be