TESTIMONIALS AND SUPPORT
ORGANISATIONS
This support came from an organisation, that we work with locally:
"The Space to Breathe resources are invaluable. They provide our clients with the opportunity to build emotional and psychological resilience, it also provides practical strategies to help pad out their kitbag in readiness for the hard work of counselling. It's reassuring to be able to offer something so useful whilst people are waiting for counselling to start. "
We also worked with B:friend to provide wellbeing support to their volunteers who befriend older neighbours.
'The Space to Breathe Wellbeing Sessions have been such a valuable space for me, helping me to recharge, get to know myself better, and feel supported and recognised for the work I do. I have taken away key messages from the sessions and integrated them into my daily life to help me make better decisions, for instance going for the healthier option at lunch time, or putting my phone on airplane mode an hour before I go to bed. I know I can call on Space to Breathe if I'm struggling or need some space to talk about my mental health. I would recommend them to anybody.'
We work with Voluntary Action Sheffield who wrote:
“Space to Breathe’s adaptive and flexible approach to its mental health services means they are able to provide holistic and person-centred care that goes above and beyond. Likewise, Space to Breathe works in partnership with a number of voluntary & community sector organisations and statutory services, creating extra capacity and strengthening the overall capabilities of the health & care sector still dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. This partnership approach also connects people to appropriate wider support to overcome other health inequalities they may be facing. We feel that Space to Breathe provides vital provision for people.”
individuals
We received this commendation from a Community Mental Health nurse in Sheffield:
I am a community mental health nurse working in the South Recovery mental health team and have referred a number of service users to Space to Breathe. The service users who have been referred are socially isolated and have varying support needs. They all speak very positively of the support they receive and look forward to the visits from their buddy. The visits vary depending on the service user needs. For example, one service user who has a number of physical and mental health needs receives support in the home to organise correspondence, arrange any appointments ect. They also benefit greatly on having someone to talk to about their difficulties.
The communication from Space to Breathe is excellent and I am kept updated on the support provided. I believe this is a vital service, in particular when resources are so stretched within the community mental health teams. I can only say very positive things about Space to Breathe and recommend it to all.
After one of our courses, K wrote:
You're a real tonic and thoroughly enjoyed myself, and meeting others.
Even though I practice mindfulness, I had to later question whether it was more dissociation and daydreaming than intentional mindfulness. I now think more the latter.
When you asked us about the time we felt most alive, you may remember me saying that it was the night I was admitted to hospital. We must allow for the spiritual, not just the bio/pscho/social model, and this is what I hope to promote within mental health care.
I will definitely promote your course and may I take this opportunity to thank you again, for my free place.
Rosie wrote:
I really thought it was brilliant on Tuesday – so insightful and pitched at just the right place with words, music and inspiring questions. You have such a gift with words and in how to construct spaces that feel nourishing and holding – online and in person.
Despite the increased profile and publicity of mental health, there are still many people who have to live with their condition in a hidden way - either because of stigma and shame or because of barriers that stop them. In 2022, Space to Breathe want to do more to break these barriers and provide greater support to people struggling with their mental health. Read on.