Blog

My dad's diagnosis – Dementia Awareness Week #DementiaAwarenessWeek

My dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2007 following a stroke when he had a fall at home.  This fall was preventable as dad had just had a knee replacement so his house should have been assessed by social care and then he might have had a handrail fitted on the stairs but information on your rights to access services is just one of the things families struggle with

2020-04-17T10:28:15+01:0015th May 2017|Blog, Dementia, Dementia Awareness Week, Families|

Thanks from a Housing Service client – #MHAW17

First of all, let me say a big thank you to Touchstone for a job well done. I have been a restless women for the past years, and moving into your property was the best thing to me, and ever since I have been in this property, I was at peace all through out. I am happy to recommend you to any family or friends. The support workers Paul and

2017-05-12T10:00:01+01:0012th May 2017|Blog|

Introducing Better in Kirklees new Peer Champion – #MHAW17

“Meeting up with you was the first thing I did to get out and about...” “In the past, other groups made me feel like I was a patient. You made me feel like I was worthy of doing something!” A bit of background… Patricia is a former secondary school teacher and head of year. She has a massive range of skills and experience after teaching Art & Design Technology, Art, Textiles, Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health Education. She has been successful

2020-04-17T10:28:13+01:0012th May 2017|Blog, Mental Health Awareness Week|

Feedback from CST clients – #MHAW17

When we asked people who use the Community Support Team (CST) service how they felt about the support they'd received, here are some of their responses “Very happy about it. It's given me back a life. It has helped to understand myself. If it wasn’t for Touchstone I think I would have gone back, its given me back my get up and go” “Champion! I’ve got a lot from the service,

2017-05-11T11:18:41+01:0011th May 2017|Blog, Mental Health Awareness Week|

"The future looks much brighter" – a Peer-Led Brokerage Service client's story – #MHAW17

The following is a testimony from an individual using Touchstone’s Peer Led Brokerage Service. This person has a diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder, anxiety and suspicious personality which has resulted in being sectioned and detained numerous occasions for long periods of time since 2000. The state of her accommodation was highlighted as one of her Psychosocial stresses and relapse indicators. The referral to Touchstone asked us to help source carpets for

2017-05-10T09:00:44+01:0010th May 2017|Blog, Mental Health Awareness Week, Peer Support|

"It was the right time to get help" – an IAPT client's story #MHAW17

I have been having problems with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, it was at a point where it was getting close to me not being able to go to work. I mentioned it to my doctor and he mentioned you can refer to the IAPT service. I had already attended some sessions of another type of therapy called 'Guided Self Help' in a different service.

2017-05-09T09:00:22+01:009th May 2017|Blog, CBT|

Black and minority ethnic communities have less access to treatment for common mental health problems

For Mental Health Awareness Week on 8th to 14th May, John Halsall from the Community Development Service has written the third in a series of data blogs. This one looks at the findings from a national survey of mental health. Do take a few minutes to find out what the survey uncovered. In September 2016, NHS Digital published a national survey of mental health problems and treatment, the Adult Psychiatric

2020-04-17T10:28:07+01:008th May 2017|Blog, Data and Statistics, Diversity, Research|

Demystifying Business Development @ Touchstone

Business Development can seem like a slippery concept, with many people interpreting what it means in many different ways. Not only this, but it’s a term that refers to quite different things, depending on the context and sector in which it’s being used .At  Touchstone it refers to a wide ranging of activities, conversations and thoughts ranging from strategic to the practical. One of the things the Business Development team

2020-04-17T10:27:19+01:0019th April 2017|Blog, Coproduction, Diversity, Events, Training|

'A Strong Social Conscience' – Best in Class

Arfan Hanif, Quality and Performance Director, on the importance of social conscience in our work and outlook. You may already know that Touchstone came 8th overall (including a Special Award for 'Developing Potential) in the 2017 'Best Companies - 100 Best Not-For-Profit organisations to work for' list. An incredible achievement considering our humble beginnings 35 years ago. Whilst things like' leadership', 'personal growth' and 'my team' are headlined by the

2020-04-17T10:27:00+01:0027th March 2017|Blog, Equality and Diversity|

The Art of Collaboration

Touchstone Operations Director Arfan Hanif reflects on the value of collaboration and how to do it well. Increasingly everything we do at Touchstone is done in collaboration, whether between colleagues in the same office or with those who work for a number of our diverse partner organisations. If I did a quick count I could easily name over 50 partners we work with. In fact we are very good at

2020-04-17T10:27:00+01:0017th March 2017|Blog, Partnership|