Complex Needs

Employment success – a story of a second chance through ETE support

Second chances don’t come along very often, especially if you are stigmatised by an offending history. Sometimes you need to believe in yourself before you can expect an employer to believe in you. Touchstone’s West Yorkshire Finding Independence (WYFI) project had been working with people who experience multiple and complex needs, including those who have been through the justice system, to gain the skills and the self-belief to get back

2020-09-15T14:10:34+01:0015th September 2020|Blog, Case Study, Complex Needs|

Wellbeing and Befriending scheme

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

2017-06-27T08:00:08+01:0027th June 2017|Blog, Community, Complex Needs, Friendship|

Beacon Begins

Beacon is a consortium of 3 local organisations that has been commissioned by Leeds City Council to provide a new city wide Housing Related Support (HRS) accommodation service. Leeds Housing Concern, Touchstone and Foundation are working together to provide a new Housing Related Support accommodation service in Leeds from July 2017. The service will aim to promote wellbeing and independence for those with complex needs, including mental health needs. Named

2020-04-17T10:27:04+01:0029th March 2017|Complex Needs, Homelessness, Housing, News|

From Short Changed to System Change – WY-FI Annual Learning Event 2017

Photo by Jason McHuff. Some Rights Reserved. The WY-FI Project supports people with multiple needs across West Yorkshire. At their annual learning event this year, they will share their learning from year 3 of the WY-FI Project in relation to: effective beneficiary engagement the impact of integrated multi-agency work, and the benefits of co-production Touchstone's own Alison Lowe and Jennie McCreight will both be part of the programme

2020-04-17T10:26:44+01:003rd March 2017|Complex Needs, Events, News|

Peer Mentor Training

WY-FI runs regular Peer Mentor Training, to encourage people to pass on the benefit of their experience to others who may be struggling with similar circumstances. Using their own knowledge and lived experience of local services and recovery options, WY-FI Peer Mentors support and build up mentoring relationships. Because they’ve been through similar situations to the people they’re working with, they demonstrate that recovery is possible, and therefore can give

2020-04-17T10:24:41+01:0016th December 2016|Blog, Complex Needs, Feedback, Partnership, Volunteering|

Client feedback from PEP social prescribing service

The Patient Empowerment Project is a social prescribing service commissioned by the West Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group and delivered in partnership between BARCA Leeds, Better Leeds Communities, Mind and Touchstone. The project supports people to take control of their health and wellbeing. Participants are referred by their doctor and are supported to access groups, services and resources in their local community to help them achieve a better life. Following a one

2020-04-17T10:18:25+01:0015th August 2016|Blog, Complex Needs, Feedback, Partnership, Social Prescribing|