The WY-FI project started its work on 1st June 2014. During its first year of operation, it has: Been in contact with 142 people Half of those people are now receiving full support from the programme Trained 21 Peer Mentors Touchstone is just one of the partners within the project. Particular achievements by our staff have been: BME Engagement Worker successfully overturned a welfare payment sanction. Multi-agency release plan put
Touchstone's Kirklees services are now part of the Kirklees Dementia Action Alliance. This means that we are making definite commitments as to how to make our services more appropriate and accessible for people living with dementia. Our action plan is published on the Dementia Action website. Current actions (August 2015) are: Improve our understanding of Dementia We will ensure all of our staff have received appropriate Dementia Awareness training. We
Leeds BME Dementia Workers Forum invites you to Making Chapeltown a Dementia Friendly Community 9:30 to 11:30 on Wednesday 22nd July at the Reginald Centre, 263 Chapeltown Road. To book your place, or for further information, please contact: Ripaljeet Kaur on 0113 219 2727 or email office@tuchstonesupport.org.uk.
Touchstone is delivering a structured education programme to people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and those already living with the condition. The course is written by an NHS diabetic dietician and nutritionist (Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust) and has been specifically adapted for South Asian Punjabi and Urdu speaking communities. It will incorporate healthy eating and meal adaptations for the South Asian diet. The course is named: SADEE SMILE
The Community Development Service at Touchstone are promoting a project to increase understanding and awareness of mental health within Muslim communities. Stephanie Lewis gave this interview on community radio station Fever FM to help people understand how to talk about mental health and who to ask for help and support. Touchstone are recruiting volunteer coordinators to talk about mental health to groups within their communities. If you're interested in volunteering
The Kirklees Advocacy Service have now published their annual report for 2014-2015. You can see highlights, including some fantastic feedback from service users, below, or you can download the complete report. 2014-2015 has been a busy and exciting year for Touchstone in Kirklees. Whilst we have continued to deliver the community mental health advocacy service that we began back in April 2011, we have also now integrated the new Independent
Many thanks to Dinah Beckett and Judy Beckett, who completed this evaluation of Touchstone's Dementia support work with South Asian families. Dementia Support Project final evaluation report
The people who care for people with disabilities, long term health conditions or mental health issues often need some support themselves. Carers Week was established to highlight both the support that's available and what else might be needed. Some of the events happening in Leeds for this year's Carers Week are listed below. Tuesday 9th June - Carers Leeds Information Morning at Sainsburys in Headingley Arndale centre. 10am to 1pm. Thursday 11th
Thank you to all Touchstone Volunteers and everyone who volunteers! Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. Touchstone volunteers are an amazing group of people who are passionate friendly, engaged and dedicated in supporting Touchstone, and we thank them this week and beyond for their contributions. Volunteer Role: Group Facilitator at Touchstone Support Centre What is your volunteer role
Those of us who work in the voluntary sector or in government-funded services, are often painfully aware of the effects of ongoing budget cuts. We see the effect they have in the lives of the people who use our services and also the effect they have on the level of service we're able to offer. Tom Riordan, Chief Executive at Leeds City Council, has the unenviable task of overseeing how