U Choose Projects Bringing Communities Together
25 new projects, groups and activities to bring people together are getting off the ground in local communities across Leeds, as part of the ‘U Choose’ project being delivered by Migrant Access Project Plus (MAP+). The projects are all being led by local residents, who presented their ideas at a series of three voting events the end of November and beginning of December at St Lukes Church in Beeston Hill,
Community Based Mental Health Service
In Leeds the current local authority funded mental health services have been the same for a long time. The commissioner for all of these services has asked them to work together more closely to improve the way we support people who need help with their mental health. Touchstone is delighted and excited to be leading a new partnership. Existing mental health services commissioned by Leeds City Council delivered by Touchstone,
International Volunteers Day: 5th December
The Touchstone Volunteers Project is very open, diverse and service user (SU) friendly. Not only do our SU benefit from the contributions of volunteers, but some also take on the role themselves. Volunteers have the opportunity to volunteer in a number of roles across Touchstone and with partner organisations. Some of our volunteers are befrienders for SU's. This has resulted in SU's reporting an increase in attending social activities, a
Guides to life in Leeds for migrants and asylum seekers
Where do you go if you move to Leeds from another country, and need support with housing, money, finding work or your health? If you’ve fled your home country, who can support your first steps as a refugee? Two new websites have been launched in Leeds to help answer these questions, and more, for people making a new life here: The Transition Guide is designed to be a simple guide
Touchstone Honoured at UK’s Largest Diversity Awards
Touchstone - a Yorkshire based mental health and wellbeing charity - is celebrating winning the National Diversity Awards in the Diverse Company category at a star-studded night at the breathtaking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. The awards were held on 14th September and saw individuals and organisations from across the UK crowned the best in British diversity. A record 24,584 people nominated this year alone with an astonishing 124 nominees being recognised
Courses in Beeston and Cottingley for new and expectant parents
Best Start Peer Support Project If you are pregnant or a carer of an under 2 yr old and live in South or East Leeds, why not get involved? Improve your self-esteem, learn new skills and help others in your community. What can we offer? The Best Start Peer Support Programme is offering a free course to help people manage better when pregnant or if they are a parents/carer for a
Annual Service User Survey 2018 results
‘Amazing….would recommend to everyone’ The above comment from one of our service users as part of Touchstone’s Annual Service User Survey exercise pretty much sums up what the overwhelming majority of service users think of Touchstone. The following headline information reinforces this view: Overall 96% of service user respondents indicated that Touchstone is an excellent to good organisation. Quality of support/service – 92% of respondents indicated they received an excellent
Touchstone shortlisted for Investors in People Awards 2018
Yorkshire based wellbeing charity Touchstone has been named as a leader in people management practice globally, having been shortlisted in the Excellence in Leadership and Management category of the Investors in People Awards 2018. Alison Lowe, Touchstone's chief executive, said: "I am delighted our philosophy of distributed leadership has been recognised by this award nomination. Everyone is a leader at Touchstone and this acknowledgement from IiP proves this to be the
Migrant Stories Inspire Student Performances at Iconic Abbey
A group of Leeds migrants met with theatrical students from the city to enjoy a unique musical treat in one of Yorkshire’s iconic settings. Volunteers who are working with Touchstone’s Migrant Access Project Plus (MAP+) teamed up with students from the Level 3 Musical Theatre course at Leeds City College for a picnic and performance at Bolton Abbey. The students, as part of a project funded by Sport England, performed