Steph Lewis from the Community Development Service explains how and why a Winter Wellbeing project has turned into a service that's offered all year round. In January 2017 ELHFA and CDS services jointly started the Winter Wellbeing Project which was based on the very successful Winter Wellbeing Café run during the winter of 2016. The Winter Wellbeing Project recognised that many people living in some of the most disadvantaged areas
Anxiously waiting, preparing in your mind, for someone to offer a word that is kind. Battle, in your mind, rages and you begin to close its doors, your sweat begins to build and starts running from the pores. You want that moment when you can take a step, without spending hours in a state of prep. Heightened heartbeat, pulse getting faster, you're anxiously preparing for yet another disaster. Constant anxiety
Watch the keynote presentations from WY-FI's 2017 learning event, discussing how the project encourages and embodies system change.
What was your situation and background before you became involved with volunteering? I was working as the Exams Officer at a high school in Leeds when I became poorly during 2013. My condition deteriorated and I was admitted to hospital and finally diagnosed in December 2013 with Neuro-sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a rare anti-immune disease which is managed with steroids and other medication. Unfortunately I had to sell my house and
A guest blog from Bill Graham of New Wortley Community Centre - originally published on Power to Change. "Discussions must be in-depth, inclusive and sometimes difficult to make things improve." Bill Graham New Wortley Community Centre We have all sat in meetings where we think just by having the right people round the table a solution or a plan will be formed – then walked away disappointed as the conversation
Stephanie Lewis from Touchstone's Community Development Service talks about how her mother's dementia impacted on the whole family. I first became aware of Dementia when I studied for counselling back in 2000-2008 however, my first personal experience of this was when my mother was diagnosed in 2005. My father passed away in 1998 and they had been married for nearly 50 years so clearly, they were very close as a
Geraldine, from Touchstone's IAPT team, talks about the role of a Dementia Champion. My name is Geraldine and I am one of the Dementia Champions with Touchstone. I work in the Touchstone IAPT service where we meet people with common problems with mood and mental health such as anxiety and depression and offer a range of treatments including classes, online treatment and face to face therapies. The symptoms we work
Juana Kwok from Touchstone Support Centre talks about being there for a neighbour who's husband is developing dementia. “I’ve seen you around the garden trimming your beautiful flowers.” “I tried not to disturb you.” “Ooh, please do.” “How are you?” “Yes, I am fine, thank you.” “How’s Joe…” “He’s not so good, he’s getting worse, he tends to be more forgetful, he wore his winter clothes on a warm day,
Amina Ditta from the Peer-Led Brokerage Service and Kirklees Advocacy Service talks about sharing knowledge and support when dementia affects a friend's family. After attending an event which delivered the Dementia Awareness session it became very clear to me how this disease carries many misconceptions. I pursued this further by becoming a Dementia Champion. Around the time of this training, my friend Kelly learnt that her mum was presenting “strange
Joe Shortland from Touchstone's Community Support Team discusses the impact of dementia on his family. In 2013 my partner’s father, John, was diagnosed with both Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and sadly he passed away last month from the illness. The last several years had been a very difficult time for all the family to see such an able bodied, intelligent, and kind hearted man, and whose memory and physical health