Blog

"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|

Positive Care Programme – making a difference

The Positive Care Programme first ran in 2004 – providing support and learning for people with long term health conditions. The Programme introduces people to activities and therapies that can become part of their daily toolkit for living life and managing their condition. Since the programme is aimed specifically at people who would not normally be able to afford the therapies and group activities on offer, it depends on external

2020-04-17T10:26:50+01:0028th February 2017|Blog, Data and Statistics, Partnership|

A Journey in Coproduction (Part 1)

Touchstone Business Development Team A Journey in Coproduction (Part 1) Working Together for Equality Resource Pack A few weeks ago I attended ‘News For You’ – Touchstone’s Service User Forum. A room filled with around 20 service users, each an expert in their own right, it was wonderful, and a privilege to see how the group runs. They rotate the chair/minute taker each month, and run through the

2020-04-17T10:26:25+01:0023rd February 2017|Blog, Coproduction, News, Partnership, Volunteering|

Nicola Adams – boxing champion

As part of LGBT History Month, Touchstone is profiling a famous LGBT person a week on our website . This week, we are celebrating the boxer, Leeds loiner and bisexual woman, Nicola Adams.   Nicola Adams, MBE (born 26 October 1982) is a British boxer and the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title. The Gold Medal winner at the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, as of 2015

2020-04-17T10:26:23+01:0022nd February 2017|Blog, LGBT History Month|

LGBT History Month – Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning is a Trans woman and a former United States Army soldier. Born Bradley Edward Manning on December 17 1987, Chelsea was convicted by court-martial on July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act, after disclosing nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeak’s founder Julian Assange. In August 2013, Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment and was dishonourably discharged

2020-04-17T10:26:00+01:0010th February 2017|Blog, Equality and Diversity, LGBT History Month, LGBT*|

Mental Health within BAME and LGBT communities

To celebrate LGBT History Month, but also to acknowledge the impact of bullying and discrimination on people from LGBT communities, Touchstone chief executive Alison Lowe has written a blog on this issue. This article also appears in 2017's LGBT History Month magazine. Mental health amongst minority communities is a political as well as an ethical issue. Evidence shows that marginalised groups such as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people,

2020-04-17T10:25:57+01:003rd February 2017|Blog, Equality and Diversity, LGBT History Month, LGBT*, Research|