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Tree of Life Centre – Spirit Story – Tea and Tai Chi
At noon on Thurs 22nd September, the morning Craft Group had just finished. Earlier there’d been a Tai Chi session. Soon they’ll be holding a discussion event on health and wellbeing.
The Tree of Life Centre provides many vital services in Wythenshawe. These include health and wellbeing sessions, advice and friendship groups, a community café and opportunities for local people to train, gain qualifications and experience through volunteering.
Disabled Living – Spirit Story – Sparkling Disco Ball
“Trevor (in the photograph below) has been attending the sensory rooms for two years now, he loves relaxing on the water bed and just chilling out. We have seen lots of benefits from using these rooms."
George House Trust Spirit Story - Everybody Valued, Everybody Equal
Last night (Wednesday 21st September), George House Trust (GHT) held its Annual General Meeting. It has a unique governance structure, one that fully involves the people who use GHT services and the volunteers. It is part of what makes the culture of GHT, a culture where everyone is valued, everyone is equal.
Manchester Settlement Spirit Story - Invaluable Support
Angie has been working as a support housing manager at Manchester Settlement for the last 13 years. She and her team support people living in two projects, one for care leavers and looked after children and the other for single homeless people with support needs.
Manchester Deaf Centre Spirit Story - “I feel like I belong to a community”
The DAVE (Deaf, Actively, Volunteering, Experience) project helps 35 young people (aged 16-25), with a wide range of hearing defects, to manage the transition from education to whatever they want to do next.
Young Adult Support Project (YASP) / Manchester Mind Spirit Story - leaflets don't care about people
The Help Through Crisis Drop-in offers free advice and support for 15-25 year olds and ran from 2pm-4pm on Wednesday 21st September. This is a project in partnership with Young People’s Support Foundation and Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People. It was staffed by a volunteer advisor but recently they have been able to add two paid workers as well. They’ve seen three people today but this service is only just starting so people are still finding out what times the service is open (2pm-4pm Wednesday and Friday).
The Proud Trust Freshers Week Spirit Story - "It’s a safe space where you can be yourself and not feel judged”
Chris and Max are two volunteers at The Proud Trust who are busy in the Sydney Street Café right now as part of Freshers Week. At 3pm today, around 25 students were in the café finding out more about The Proud Trust and how they can get involved.
Chris said that “A lot of students are new to the city and can feel very isolated. These sessions are an introduction to The Proud Trust and it’s a great place to meet other LGBT young people. It’s really important to them and to me as a volunteer as it’s a safe space where you can be yourself and not feel judged”
Together Dementia Support Spirit Story - People living with dementia making a difference in Manchester
“I don’t believe I’ve just done that!” Teresa told the group yesterday.
That was how she had felt as she left a lecture hall of nursing students at Manchester Metropolitan University. It had been Teresa’s first speaking engagement and she was still on a high, having spoken so clearly and passionately about what people like her need – from the public in general but from health professionals in particular.
Northmoor Community Association Spirit Story - reducing isolation and increasing health in Longsight
At lunchtime on Wednesday 21st September, the Northmoor Community Café served hot meals to 25 local people. They offer meals for £1 on Wednesdays so that people can eat nutritious food. This has the wider benefit of people getting together to make new friends and meet up with existing ones, which could help to reduce loneliness and isolation. They can also find out about what is going on at the centre and in the community. Today, there was also a volunteer helping out and Macmillan were at the centre giving out information.