Blog

Touchstone’s BME Dementia Service Wins Alzheimer Europe’s Anti-Stigma Award

In October 2023, Touchstone’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Dementia Service received Alzheimer Europe’s Anti-Stigma Award. The award recognises an “outstanding initiative aimed at combating stigma and promoting a positive image of dementia and people living with dementia”. The team also presented their work during the Networking Dinner of the 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference in Helsinki. Ripaljeet Kaur, the service’s manager, says: “We are so honoured to be recognised

2023-11-03T15:41:38+00:003rd November 2023|Blog, Dementia|

Black History Month: Profiles of Great Black Britons

This Black History Month, we have put together profiles on some Black British people with histories of campaigning for social justice and equity in mental health support for Black communities. Read on to find out more about Olive Morris, Dr. Aggrey Burke, and local icon Gertrude Paul... Olive Morris (1952-79): Racial Justice Activist and Feminist Olive Morris made a huge impact in the national

2023-10-30T12:27:49+00:0020th October 2023|Black History Month, Blog|

World Mental Health Day: Touchstone’s Mental Health Support Services

If you are struggling with your mental health, there are a lot of places and people that can help. This World Mental Health Day, we are sharing info about the support Touchstone's mental health services offer and how you can access them. Take a look below to find out more about our Crisis Services, Group Support, Community-Based Support, Clinical Support, and Co-production and Peer Support: Crisis Services Touchstone offers

2023-11-13T15:57:30+00:0010th October 2023|Blog, World Mental Health Day|

BME Dementia Service Shortlisted for Anti-Stigma Award 2023!

Our brilliant BME Dementia Service are really pleased to announce that our initiative has been shortlisted as one of three finalists and, as such, we will be presenting our initiative at the Alzheimer Europe Conference in Helsinki, Finland. The 2023 award call focused on projects, campaigns, films/videos or publications/books, which aim to address the stigma attached to dementia. In particular, it focused on initiatives and campaigns addressing the stigma

2023-09-12T13:28:09+01:0012th September 2023|Blog, Dementia, World Alzheimer's Month|

World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

Each year, on the 10th September, communities and organisations across the world unite to raise awareness and spread messages of hope on World Suicide Prevention Day. This year, our Touchstone colleague, Susan, has put together the following information to help raise awareness of suicide, its impacts and how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.   Please note: this blog contains references to personal experiences

2023-09-08T10:28:26+01:008th September 2023|Blog, World Suicide Prevention Day|

World Alzheimer’s Month blog: BME Dementia Service

September is World Alzheimer's month. To mark this month, and continue to raise awareness around Alzheimer's, dementia, and memory loss in BME communities, a member of our BME Dementia Service has put together a short blog around their experiences with the group. During the pandemic, in September 2020, I read an online article about a café group in Leeds for South Asian elders who had Dementia. Noting the name

2023-09-05T14:03:51+01:005th September 2023|Blog, Dementia, World Alzheimer's Month|

Launch of Being You Leeds

On Friday 7th July, third sector organisations will launch Being You Leeds, a new partnership to support people in Leeds to connect with others and stay well for longer. Being You Leeds will support Leeds residents, aged 16+, through three key ways: Running fun and welcoming wellbeing groups and activities, 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends, with activities chosen by group members. Providing training and awareness-raising sessions

2023-07-07T09:52:52+01:007th July 2023|Blog, Mental Health|

Eid ul-Adha

As we approach the festive season, one of our Touchstone staff members, Shuria, takes a moment to shed light on the significance of Eid ul-Adha, which is an important religious observance for Muslims worldwide. Eid ul-Adha, translated as the "Festival of Sacrifice," is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It follows the completion of the annual Holy

2023-06-26T16:17:34+01:0026th June 2023|Blog, Faith and religion|

Insight Report: The Cost of Living Crisis in Leeds

In a newly released report, Mentally Healthy Leeds, a Touchstone service, have undertaken research into the effects of the Cost of Living Crisis on the mental health of people in Leeds. Read on to find out more… This research looks at the effects of the ‘Cost of Living’ crisis on the mental health of people in Leeds, as well as trying to understand what forms of support were effective

2023-06-23T10:25:34+01:0023rd June 2023|Blog, Cost of Living, Data and Statistics, Mental Health|

Happy Pride Month

Throughout June, Touchstone will be celebrating Pride Month. Our programme of events for staff contains a mix of fun, celebratory activities, alongside educational events aimed at raising awareness of how far we still have to go in ensuring everyone with LGBTQ+ identities can feel safe, valued, and respected in society. Our first event of the month has been to paint our bench at Touchstone House in the colours of

2023-06-13T11:15:48+01:0013th June 2023|Blog, LGBT*, Pride|