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  How ‘Everyone In’ turned my life around

  by Phil@CWC, over 4 years ago
  

  When a teenage James Howell from Ellesmere Port started ‘mixing with the wrong crowd,’ his life headed in the wrong direction - to a life of drugs and homelessness.

  Now, aged 42 and twenty five years of ups and downs later, the ‘Everyone In’ scheme to accommodate all those who didn’t have a roof during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped rescue James from falling into a downward spiral.

  He is finally in a place where he can come to terms with the choices he has made and the path his life has taken.

  Here, he talks frankly about his struggles... Continue reading

  When a teenage James Howell from Ellesmere Port started ‘mixing with the wrong crowd,’ his life headed in the wrong direction - to a life of drugs and homelessness.

  Now, aged 42 and twenty five years of ups and downs later, the ‘Everyone In’ scheme to accommodate all those who didn’t have a roof during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped rescue James from falling into a downward spiral.

  He is finally in a place where he can come to terms with the choices he has made and the path his life has taken.

  Here, he talks frankly about his struggles with addiction and how the support he has received from the Council and forfutures has given him the stability from which to build a better life…

  
  

  Half way through high school I started knocking round with the wrong crowd.

  That was out of the frying pan into the fire for me. I was 14 and instead of making decisions about what I want to do to better my life I was just thinking I’d rather be with my mates and skive school.

  I didn’t realise I was doing the wrong thing. We should have been in school learning, to my eternal regret.

  From there I got into smoking pot. Not only smoking pot but I had to be the one who smoked the most.

  I started knocking around with people who were smoking heroin and that was when things got serious.

  It took a while for my habit to kick in and probably took a year at first, sort of flirting with it.

  The first couple of times it made me sick. You’d think if you had something that made you sick, why would you go back to it the second time but there is a strange draw that calls you back. I was about 18.

  I started doing it once a week and, before I know it, I’m doing it nearly every day.

  It went downhill. I never got into using needles, thank god. Smoking it was bad enough.

  After a while I thought I have got a problem. I need to go into treatment, and I went into methadone treatment. It worked the first time and I stayed off it for a few years.

  But I messed up again, I think I fell out with a girlfriend. It doesn’t matter what the excuse was. From then on, I have been on and off.

  I was living with and looking after my nan. She was living in a Council house. She got terminally ill, so when she died I had nowhere to go to. We had to give the house back to the council and, from then on, I have been sofa surfing for about five years.

  Last year I was sofa surfing with a mate. Me and him fell out so I left and I was on the streets. This was November 2020.

  A mate put me up for a night. The Council are the next best thing when you are in that situation, so I rang the Council and they said we have got a place for you at a hotel as part of the ‘Everyone In’ scheme.

  I then moved to the Mulberry Centre in Chester in December. I was in the Mulberry Centre for about three months and I moved in here in February. My situation is 100% better now. A total turn around.

  At the Mulberry, at least I had a roof over my head but I didn’t know what was coming next. It wasn’t until they said: ‘would you share?’ I said I would, yes, as long as it was with somebody I know is alright.

  Two days later they come to me and my friend and said they have got us a place in Ellesmere Port, you’re downstairs and you’re upstairs.

  I have been hoping for my own home for ages and it means a lot. I felt like weeping I was that happy.

  It gets you down when you have got nowhere and you are properly on your own. I have been in some situations, rough with drugs and things like that and it doesn’t get much worse, not having anywhere, knowing your family can’t help you because they haven’t got the room. I was desperate.

  I have been doing alright recently, staying off the drugs. My last four or five samples have been clean, apart from methadone. I am doing good really.

  I don’t have any phone numbers (of drug dealers) and it doesn’t bother me when I have got money. It doesn’t come into my head, scoring, because that can be a big one for people, I believe.

  I’m through all that so I’d like to think the mental side I am through with. All I have got to do is shake off the last bit of the methadone, detox that and go from there.

  I have got my guitar and my music. I really wish I had got into it when I was younger and used the hours I have spent wasted on drugs, on guitar. I would have been a lot better than I am now, let’s put it that way. It is a valid way of using your time. It does no harm, it doesn’t cost much. Thinking of getting an electric one soon.

  It has been ace since I have been here, just been a couple of little jobs needed doing but nothing major. I have not had one thing to moan about. I have to pay my council tax but my rent gets paid by the job centre.

  I have had excellent support. They keep me on my toes like the other day when they sent me that thing about how to clean the cooker with the bicarb and vinegar. She said it just gives you something to do this afternoon James.

  Little touches like that. It is to keep me happy and them happy and do the right thing. I don’t want to be sitting here moping around all day. I would rather get up and do something. If you get a bit of exercise done, you sleep at night.

  I will get up and go on pointless walks up to Whitby Park and just to get some fresh air and get out and use up some energy. You get a natural high, you get endorphins. If you do things like exercise you feel great after, people get addicted to exercise because of the endorphins, it becomes almost like a drug. Exercise is doing good for your body.

  I have offered doing a bit of voluntary work. Considering that I’m not going to be stopping here for too long, I would rather wait until I get my own place and then get a job.

  Ideally, get off the methadone and get back into work, they are my main plans. I have worked in the past, I have done all sorts.

  People need to want to help themselves. Some people are that far gone that they find it easier to sit around in Chester, cadging money off people than trying to fix their lives.

  A lot of these homeless people , 90% of them, have probably got addiction problems so it is difficult. It should be done on a case by case thing, the ones in difficult situations will need more work than others who need support weekly.

  If it hadn’t been for Everyone In, we would have had loads of people knocking around and homeless in the Port or Chester.

  Some of these people have been on the streets that long, they are that used to being given stuff they forget that they have got to start laying money out themselves.

  They can be a bit funny and resentful about it but they have got to learn that you pay your way in this world and you are lucky to get something for nothing when you do.

  Look at some countries in this world who get nothing. Some people don’t know they’re born.
• Share The work of the UK Armed Forces during the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 on Facebook Share The work of the UK Armed Forces during the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 on Twitter Share The work of the UK Armed Forces during the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 on Linkedin Email The work of the UK Armed Forces during the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 link

  The work of the UK Armed Forces during the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021

  almost 5 years ago
  

  Major Neil Bowdler, is an army reservist with Cheshire West and Chester Council. His normal day to day role is as a front line manager for the Council’s Street Care service, but for the past 8 months Neil has been seconded to the COVID-19 response team. He is currently the Operational Delivery Lead Manager for the service.

  Neil has been in uniform one way or another since the age of 14 when he joined the army cadets. After enlisting in the Army Reserves he has been a peacekeeper with the United Nations, helped to deliver the Olympics Games and in... Continue reading

  Major Neil Bowdler, is an army reservist with Cheshire West and Chester Council. His normal day to day role is as a front line manager for the Council’s Street Care service, but for the past 8 months Neil has been seconded to the COVID-19 response team. He is currently the Operational Delivery Lead Manager for the service.

  Neil has been in uniform one way or another since the age of 14 when he joined the army cadets. After enlisting in the Army Reserves he has been a peacekeeper with the United Nations, helped to deliver the Olympics Games and in 2020 he was mobilised to his army role for 6 weeks to help support national efforts to deal with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

  Neil is keen to emphasise this response was a monumental team effort by all members of the regular and reserve armed forces : Regular and Reserve members of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force from across the UK came together to support the nation through the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19, not just in this country, but also overseas in Commonwealth countries. From contributing to the highest level Government and scientific decision-making to swabbing tonsils in test centres (and everywhere in between), the military has been present at every level of the response the pandemic, with thousands of military professionals deployed to work alongside joining the NHS and local authorities each day.

  Neil says, “A huge strength of the military response is resourcefulness and an ability to react rapidly to an -evolving situation. The combined military response to the Coronavirus pandemic took place alongside the usual ongoing peacetime commitments. Armed Forces personnel still had to maintain a response to national and international incidents such as floods, fires and national disasters which didn’t stop just because there was a pandemic going on.

  This year has really shown the incredible resilience of our Armed Forces. Their response to the pandemic has been nothing short of remarkable.”

  Neil skills and experience in logistics are invaluable to both his work with the Council and his military duties. Both organisations have been able to benefit from his experience of complex operations, especially over the last 15 months.

  Whilst mobilised alongside his regular colleagues, Neil worked as part of a small team in Northwest Headquarters in Preston. The Logistics team were responsible for the ordering and distribution of everything from vehicles to precious PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to getting people accommodated in hotels that were officially closed!

  From early during the first lockdown military personnel were mobilised to set up and operate mobile testing units nationwide as well as setting up Nightingale hospitals around the country, which have provided additional care capacity for Coronavirus patients.

  Military planners have been deployed to assist the Vaccine Task Force while a further 200 personnel have been working on the logistics of the Vaccine Deployment Programme.

  Armed Forces medics and personnel delivered many of the first tests and vaccinations and are still supporting local authorities, the NHS and other partners to deliver the enhanced response support announced last week for areas such as Cheshire West and Chester which have seen a dramatic increase in levels of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

  Staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, have been working to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and also support testing capabilities.

  Hundreds of military personnel supported ambulance services across the country with more than 100 specially trained to drive oxygen tankers.

  Joint Helicopter Command, an aircraft force comprising all three services, was put on standby to be used to reach "isolated communities that may not be able to obtain urgent medical care", according to the MOD.

  Neil says, “Many members of the Armed Services had to make some big sacrifices: many were about to go on leave that had to be cancelled for, potentially, six months. It was all a concerted effort on the part of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force regulars, reservists and medics and I’m not always sure the public actually realises that.”

  The public support and recognition of the works of our Armed Services community is a great morale boost for them and their families. Let’s all take the time to say ‘thank you’ to them this week.

  (sources: Armed Forces Day website, forces.net, GOV.uk)
• Share To burst or not to burst - that is the question! on Facebook Share To burst or not to burst - that is the question! on Twitter Share To burst or not to burst - that is the question! on Linkedin Email To burst or not to burst - that is the question! link

  To burst or not to burst - that is the question!

  by Stephcwc, almost 5 years ago

  The Catholic High School Chester was one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Headteacher, Cathryn McKeagney, explains some of the changes they’ve made in their school over the last year and how they hope to continue some of these practices in the future.

  This time last year, bubbles were blown up all over the press when discussing how the world, especially schools, in particular, could reopen. Year groups bubbles, social bubbles, rule of six bubbles- you name it. The word grew legs faster... Continue reading

  The Catholic High School Chester was one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Headteacher, Cathryn McKeagney, explains some of the changes they’ve made in their school over the last year and how they hope to continue some of these practices in the future.

  This time last year, bubbles were blown up all over the press when discussing how the world, especially schools, in particular, could reopen. Year groups bubbles, social bubbles, rule of six bubbles- you name it. The word grew legs faster than fairy liquid could produce them. So, the bubble kingdom grew at The Catholic High School.

  Every year group were in their own cocoon with their own food zone, their own outdoor space and their own SLT member on hand to welcome and dismiss them. Students remained in their bubbles whilst staff energetically moved across our huge site. Trainers on people- step count could reach 20,000 in one day. My staff could take on Tokyo with their training schedule.

  As Head, where do you place yourself? Year 13 were covered: I needed to be in Year 11 bubble. They had a job to do and I bribed them with toast every break during those dark Winter days when outside was warmer then inside.

  Only once did two students stray out of their bubble world. Covid rules broken. Sanctions given. Can days be fraught? Absolutely. Do teachers miss their own rooms? Desperately. Are students jealous of others on the Astro bubble? Certainly.

  However, we have learnt so much from the 186 days in our bubble world. It’s essential we find the toy in the cereal package- and, as good teachers, see what we can learn from Covid.

  Sixth Form Freedom. Our Year 12 and Year 13 students in their own building was revolutionary. They could have a tuck shop, a snooker table and table football without younger students’ hands yearning to play. They had their own space and chips twice a week in their own kitchen. Suddenly it was beginning to feel like they were growing up.

  Loss of bells. Due to our staff having to walk across 33 acres of school, the bell seemed like a tool of punishment as they rushed from room to room. We stopped it and it became apparent that 12.05 was slightly off by seconds on people’s watches. The claustrophobic corridor has become a thing of the past: bells have been summoned to Room 101 and be silenced forever.

  Lunchtime. Previously our lunches lasted a lifetime and as every good school leader knows, the longer it lasts, the more you dice with anarchy. With Covid, we had to think fast and smart. Food zones in all areas where students could grab a food bag. We soon expanded to a variety of hot meals getting served in all different areas of the school. Lunch was cut down to 25 minutes and every child was fed. What did we learn- more tills, very expensive commodity by the way, in different areas meant students were fed and the dreaded last ten minutes didn’t happen.

  Virtual Meetings. I defy anyone in any walk of life to condemn remote meetings. We have done Governors and Trustee meeting remote since April 2020 and attendance has improved by 50% and no dog-eared sandwiches left at the end of a vey long night. People are at home with a cup of tea and conversations are productive and slick because nobody wants to unmute for feedback fear. Parents Evenings are now thriving through the power of Firefly. Parents can take a minute from working and log on, no fuss, no threatening visit to a school hall where memories may be stirred up.

  Covid has brought trauma, sadness and sheer confusion for everyone but we must learn to take something from this slice of history and I am not sure whether we want to burst our bubble too much.
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  Supporting children's emotional wellbeing

  by Stephcwc, almost 5 years ago

  The Council’s Child and Educational Psychology Service has worked closely with teachers and professionals working with children and young people, providing resources and training to help support children’s mental health and wellbeing during this challenging year. Here they tell us about some of the work they’ve been doing and some guidance and tips to help families and children as restrictions begin to lift.
  
  
  Our children and young people have had a difficult time this year. Their education and social lives have been disrupted by school closure, lockdowns and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have significantly affected their... Continue reading

  The Council’s Child and Educational Psychology Service has worked closely with teachers and professionals working with children and young people, providing resources and training to help support children’s mental health and wellbeing during this challenging year. Here they tell us about some of the work they’ve been doing and some guidance and tips to help families and children as restrictions begin to lift.
  
  
  Our children and young people have had a difficult time this year. Their education and social lives have been disrupted by school closure, lockdowns and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have significantly affected their emotional wellbeing.

  The Child and Educational Psychology Service has supported teachers and professionals working with children and young people in a variety of ways so that they can promote children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing during this challenging time. This has included:

  • Providing a Mental Health resource pack to schools at the start of the first lockdown
  • Providing information to support the planned return to school in June 2020
  • Contributing to the development of a Recovery Model, which teachers and professionals working with children can use to support their work, to ensure this has a psychological evidence base
  • Creating training packages for all staff within the Council’s Children’s Services via webinars to embed an approach called PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) and Motivational Interviewing as part of the Recovery Model
  • Delivering the Wellbeing for Education Return (WER) training and supervision for Emotional Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinators on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) so that they can promote staff wellbeing and children and young people’s wellbeing as schools re-opened. This focused on helping staff support each other, recognise and respond when children and young people show signs of distress associated with bereavement and loss, low mood and anxiety, and stress.

  We recognise this has been a traumatic experience for children and young people and their families. We recommend that schools continue to provide nurturing support using the models and resources introduced in the WER training and Recovery Model. This includes our approach to Psychological First Aid: Recognise, Respond and Link, using the Whole School Approach to Wellbeing and Mental Health and Five Rs: Relationships, Recognition, Reflection, Regulation and Resilience.

  It is important that we are kind to each other and recognise we are all coping in our own ways. Following the Five Ways to Wellbeing might help all of us cope with the transition to ‘everyday’ life as we come out of lockdown. These include connecting with other people, being active, learning new skills, giving to others and paying attention to the present moment.

  We believe strong relationships are important for recovery. We recommend Dan Hughes PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) as an approach to connect with and support children and young people who show signs of stress, not coping and/or trauma. In addition, schools, parents and carers could refer to Promoting Psychological Recovery and Wellbeing for Children and Young People page on the UK Trauma Council website. This recommends six principles to support psychological recovery by helping children to:

  • Feel safe - by giving children and young people more attention, being more available for them and letting know it is okay to be upset.
  • Feel calm - by using soothing activities like sharing stories, craft, yoga, listening to music. We know that repetitive activities are soothing so being active, jumping on a trampoline, running are all helpful. Accepting and validating children’s feelings.
  • Feel socially supported and connected - by reconnecting with family and friends children and young people might have interacted with virtually. Planning ways to be together again doing activities children and young people enjoy or new activities they have discovered.
  • Feel in control - by giving choices when it is appropriate; playing games and doing activities that children and young people have chosen or planned.
  • Feel hopeful about the future - by talking about and planning for activities children and young people can look forward to
  • Make meaning of what has happened - by talking about the pandemic in a factual, optimistic and balanced way. Helping children to share their thoughts, hopes and fears. Letting them know it is okay to feel how they feel.

  
  
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  Blacon High School video - It's Time to Act

  by Stephcwc, almost 5 years ago

  Blacon High School in Chester is one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Headteacher, Rachel Hudson, shares her experience of school life during the last year, how they will use the information from the report to support pupils throughout the recovery phase and how they’re looking forward to better times.

  
  
  

  Blacon High School in Chester is one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Headteacher, Rachel Hudson, shares her experience of school life during the last year, how they will use the information from the report to support pupils throughout the recovery phase and how they’re looking forward to better times.

  
  
  
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  Supporting pupils' wellbeing throughout the pandemic and recovery

  by Stephcwc, almost 5 years ago
  

  St. Nicholas Catholic High School in Northwich is one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Mrs Pardoe, Associate Assistant Headteacher at the school, explains how they supported pupils’ wellbeing over the last year.

  Teachers have had a long-established history of supporting students spiritual, social and emotional needs. We can all bring to mind a student where we have supported students and ensured their basic needs were met. From guaranteeing they are properly dressed in the morning, being a listening ear when they... Continue reading

  St. Nicholas Catholic High School in Northwich is one of 21 local schools that contributed to a new report, It’s Time To Act: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools. Mrs Pardoe, Associate Assistant Headteacher at the school, explains how they supported pupils’ wellbeing over the last year.

  Teachers have had a long-established history of supporting students spiritual, social and emotional needs. We can all bring to mind a student where we have supported students and ensured their basic needs were met. From guaranteeing they are properly dressed in the morning, being a listening ear when they have fallen out with friends to offering support when they experience trauma. But what does a teacher do when a global pandemic hits, the world comes to a stop and the busy school buildings turn into empty corridors with learning being facilitated through a 16” screen? How do students respond when the adult who they see on a daily basis is now only available through a screen and they are thrown into extended family time and periods of isolation? How did schools adapt and respond to the changes and ensure that students wellbeing was still a priority?

  Whilst the full impact of Covid-19 is still unknown, initial studies show that parental and family stressors, impact of school closure and exacerbated vulnerabilities for children and young people did have a significant impact on wellbeing. As a school we realised we needed to respond immediately to the increased vulnerabilities of our young people whilst also looking to the future and looking at how we help our students recover their wellbeing on their return to school.

  In addition to increased 1-2-1 support for our most vulnerable students, we invited key cohorts of students into school whilst also identifying students who may be struggling at home and invited them into school to maintain an element of routine and structure to their lives.

  As well as our remote lessons, we maintained our form time each morning where form tutors could offer support and guidance to students to support their wellbeing. We provided students with resources such wellbeing booklets, carried out student voice, recorded videos and assemblies and other resources to support wellbeing at home.

  One of biggest wellbeing initiatives, was giving students a chance to make their wellbeing a priority for a day. We cancelled our normal lessons and instead ran a ‘Make Your Mark-Mission Day’ students were invited to take part in four missions throughout the day and with over 100 activities to choose from allowed them to do things that made them happy, express themselves, practice self-care and celebrate the diversity in our school community. The response to this day was incredible, we saw examples of original art, droned-filmed bike rides, baking, dancing and much more!

  On our return to school we spent time familiarising students to all the new changes and making sure they were comfortable with the additional Covid-19 measures like testing and face masks, in form time we did dedicated sessions on wellbeing and in July, at our next mission day, we will be including a dedicated session on wellbeing which focuses on recovery after the pandemic.

  One of my favourite quotes from Brene Brown, an academic from America, in her work in professional development for teachers seminar ‘Daring Classrooms’, is: ‘Teachers are the guardians of spaces that allow students to breathe and be curious and explore the world and be who they are without suffocation, students deserve one place where they can rumble with vulnerability and their hearts can exhale.’

  Whether virtual or physical, teachers across the country have done an amazing job creating those spaces for our students to support their wellbeing.
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  Art, anxiety and me…

  by Phil@CWC, almost 5 years ago
  

  When artist Joe Richardson returned to his Cheshire roots to exhibit his work at the Winsford Cine-Window, it became an exploration into his family history and mental health.

  Through his work, he has found international acclaim and has undertaken residencies in New York and Beijing.

  His Cine-Window installation, Hang on a Minute urges passers-by to take a few minutes out of their day and consider the gesture and motions of his work.

  Here the artist talks frankly about his own struggles with anxiety and how his art is helping him to manage his condition and can even support the creative... Continue reading

  When artist Joe Richardson returned to his Cheshire roots to exhibit his work at the Winsford Cine-Window, it became an exploration into his family history and mental health.

  Through his work, he has found international acclaim and has undertaken residencies in New York and Beijing.

  His Cine-Window installation, Hang on a Minute urges passers-by to take a few minutes out of their day and consider the gesture and motions of his work.

  Here the artist talks frankly about his own struggles with anxiety and how his art is helping him to manage his condition and can even support the creative process…

  Art, anxiety and me…

  The opportunity to exhibit at Cine-Window Winsford offered me the space to reflect on my family history, not only on their creative practices of blacksmithing and horology, but also the experiences of anxiety I uncovered in my research.

  Whilst visiting Winsford to film ‘Maddock’ ( https://vimeo.com/528976230 ) and having conversations with my relatives to learn more of their creative talents, I began to uncover stories of my anxious ancestors. This led me to consider how they used their creativity to cope with anxiety and reflect upon my own experiences of managing my mental health through creative and physical activity.

  I have experienced a mild but very real form of anxiety my entire life. In my early years this manifested as a fear of going to school, more recently I catastrophise the most ordinary situations such as ‘when will I eat?’ or ‘how will I fit all these tasks into one day?’. These feelings often arise when I’m in the process of making artworks.

  I regularly feel frozen in a state where my muscles become tense, my mind is racing and I struggle in making the simplest of decisions. It is as if I have been suspended in time, my body remains still, yet, there is ample energy in the form of adrenaline running through my veins, akin to the static tension present in my balloon and anvil work (Include image); the gas pulling the balloon upward and the counteracting weight of the anvil and gravity pulling it back to Earth.

  I often feel the need to use this energy to perform some form of physical activity in an intense burst that can take the form of a five kilometre run, sculpting material or producing a passage of writing. My body often feels tired and exhausted after these moments, but softer and no longer tense. My mind focussed on what I have just been working on, be it covering ground, making a form, or trying to put into words what I’m feeling.

  I find it valuable to remain still after these periods of intensity. This time helps me to digest what has just happened, what I have achieved, where I would like to progress to and most importantly how I feel in both my head and my body. I realise now that this approach has a lot of crossover with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

  For a long time, I resisted the idea of speaking to someone about my daily anxieties and managing them. When I finally made the decision to make a call to my local counselling authority, it made a huge difference to my life. Speaking with a counsellor helped me to gain perspective on my patterns of anxiety. By breaking down and analysing the situations in which I feel anxious I am able to examine the root cause or trigger of my anxieties and the subsequent events.

  This helps me to spot trends and put coping mechanisms into place. This process is very similar to how I evaluate my art practice, deconstructing the nuts and bolts of what makes up the work and evaluating how I can make changes to help improve and develop my ideas and attitudes to managing potential problems.

  I think creativity is a fantastic outlet for managing my anxiety as it provides me with a focus and often the opportunity to perform meditative acts such as repeating a gesture whilst simultaneously giving voice to thoughts and feelings that might be difficult to articulate otherwise. Combined with my routine of regular exercise, breathing exercises, seeking professional help, or, simply hanging upside down in moments of high tension, this has helped to help me feel grounded and to build a daily and ongoing practice of managing my mental health.

  I hope that this exhibition will add a small contribution to the ongoing national conversation of the need for increased resources to help people access support in managing their mental health.

  For local mental health support: https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Search?CategoryId=3822&UDG=True&OrderBy=Relevance&InfoPageIndex=1&SM=ServiceSearch&SME=True&ServicePageIndex=1

  To access culture activities from your home: http://westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/culture-from-your-home/

  ‘Hang on a Minute’ will run throughout April and May at Cinewindow, Winsford. The exhibition has been made possible with support from the DCMS Cultural Recovery Fund awarded as part of Cheshire West & Chester Council, Cultural Services.

  Joe Richardson has previously undertaken residencies in New York City, Beijing, China and Stokkøya, Norway. He is a recipient of both the Red Mansion Art Prize and the Cass Art Prize.

  In 2020 and 2019, he received commissions from Universal Music Group to create a collection of video works which are on permanent display at their London Headquarters. Richardson is a Central Saint Martins, MA Fine Art Graduate (2018).

  Find more information about Joe visit his website: https://www.joerichardson.net/ and Instagram: joepdrichardson.

  Cine Window Winsford also has a Community Window which is a free exhibition space for local artists, photographers, crafters and makers to showcase their work and nurture and inspire film making in Winsford. If you would like to exhibit your work there in the future, contact cinewindowwinsford@gmail.com for more information.

  You can find out more on Instagram and Facebook @cinewindowwinsford
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  MY CHESHIRE - Take part in an online exhibition celebrating the area where we live and work

  by Richard Hall, almost 5 years ago

  What does Cheshire mean to you? Is there a place in the County that inspires you, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a local park or a little nook or cranny? The Cheshire West and Chester Museums are calling for photographs for a new rolling online exhibition celebrating the Borough.
  
  The Museums are looking for a photo of a place that means something to you, a partner or family members, with a short piece of writing about it. It could be a description of where the photo was taken, a poem, a few lines about why you chose it, anything... Continue reading

  What does Cheshire mean to you? Is there a place in the County that inspires you, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a local park or a little nook or cranny? The Cheshire West and Chester Museums are calling for photographs for a new rolling online exhibition celebrating the Borough.
  
  The Museums are looking for a photo of a place that means something to you, a partner or family members, with a short piece of writing about it. It could be a description of where the photo was taken, a poem, a few lines about why you chose it, anything at all.

  
  

  To help inspire you Kate Harland, Museums and Heritage Manager has written a short poem to accompany her image of Waverton Gorse.
  
  'Once upon a spinning wheel, many spindles ago, the world stopped turning for a year or so.
  The girl took to wandering and loved to explore the green lanes and byways close to her door.
  She savoured the old names of woodlands she crossed, the spinney, the rough, the garth and the moss.
  In covert, common, waste and gorse, she built strongholds of calm on forested floors.'

  Kate Harland
  
  To submit a contribution to the My Cheshire online exhibition:

  • All photographs to be taken in landscape.
  • Locations featured to be named and have public access.
  • Images to be taken keeping to National social distancing guidelines.
  • No people to appear in any images.
  • Images, (min 1MB, max 3MB) and written reflections, (max 60 words), to be submitted via email to: socialmediawestcheshiremuseums@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

  My Cheshire, is a joint project between Cheshire West Libraries and West Cheshire Museums and can be viewed at: westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/my-cheshire/

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What does Cheshire mean to you? Is there a place in the County that inspires you, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a local park or a little nook or cranny? The Cheshire West and Chester Museums are calling for photographs for a new rolling online exhibition celebrating the Borough being launched on Friday 26 February.

  The Museums are looking for a photo of a place that means something to you, a partner or family members, with a short piece of writing about it. It could be a description of where the photo was taken, a poem, a few lines about why you chose it, anything at all. To help inspire you Kate Harland, Museums and Heritage Manager has written a short poem to accompany her image of Weverton Gorse.

  Once upon a spinning wheel, many spindles ago, the world stopped turning for a year or so.
  The girl took to wandering and loved to explore the green lanes and byways close to her door.
  She savoured the old names of woodlands she crossed, the spinney, the rough, the garth and the moss.
  In covert, common, waste and gorse, she built strongholds of calm on forested floors.
  Kate Harland

  To submit a contribution to the My Cheshire online exhibition:

  • All photographs to be taken in landscape.
  • Locations featured to be named and have public access.
  • Images to be taken keeping to National social distancing guidelines.
  • No people to appear in any images.
  • Images, (min 1MB, max 3MB) and written reflections, (max 60 words), to be submitted via email to: socialmediawestcheshiremuseums@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

  My Cheshire, is a joint project between Cheshire West Libraries and West Cheshire Museums and can be viewed from Friday 26 February at: westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/my-Cheshire/

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What does Cheshire mean to you? Is there a place in the County that inspires you, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a local park or a little nook or cranny? The Cheshire West and Chester Museums are calling for photographs for a new rolling online exhibition celebrating the Borough being launched on Friday 26 February.

  The Museums are looking for a photo of a place that means something to you, a partner or family members, with a short piece of writing about it. It could be a description of where the photo was taken, a poem, a few lines about why you chose it, anything at all. To help inspire you Kate Harland, Museums and Heritage Manager has written a short poem to accompany her image of Weverton Gorse.

  Once upon a spinning wheel, many spindles ago, the world stopped turning for a year or so.
  The girl took to wandering and loved to explore the green lanes and byways close to her door.
  She savoured the old names of woodlands she crossed, the spinney, the rough, the garth and the moss.
  In covert, common, waste and gorse, she built strongholds of calm on forested floors.
  Kate Harland

  To submit a contribution to the My Cheshire online exhibition:

  • All photographs to be taken in landscape.
  • Locations featured to be named and have public access.
  • Images to be taken keeping to National social distancing guidelines.
  • No people to appear in any images.
  • Images, (min 1MB, max 3MB) and written reflections, (max 60 words), to be submitted via email to: socialmediawestcheshiremuseums@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

  My Cheshire, is a joint project between Cheshire West Libraries and West Cheshire Museums and can be viewed from Friday 26 February at: westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/my-Cheshire/

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
• Share Be Kind to Your Mind on Facebook Share Be Kind to Your Mind on Twitter Share Be Kind to Your Mind on Linkedin Email Be Kind to Your Mind link

  Be Kind to Your Mind

  about 5 years ago
  

  Being Kind to Your Mind has never been so important. In these challenging and unusual times, it’s understandable if you are experiencing a sense of stress or anxiety, maybe eating more, struggling to sleep, drinking excess alcohol or lacking motivation.

  The pandemic has affected everyone, but it is thought that some groups such as young people, people who have been furloughed and key workers, as well as those who are vulnerable and isolated, may be particularly struggling with poor mental health.

  The ‘Let’s keep talking’ campaign encourages people who may be struggling to have a chat with someone they trust... Continue reading

  Being Kind to Your Mind has never been so important. In these challenging and unusual times, it’s understandable if you are experiencing a sense of stress or anxiety, maybe eating more, struggling to sleep, drinking excess alcohol or lacking motivation.

  The pandemic has affected everyone, but it is thought that some groups such as young people, people who have been furloughed and key workers, as well as those who are vulnerable and isolated, may be particularly struggling with poor mental health.

  The ‘Let’s keep talking’ campaign encourages people who may be struggling to have a chat with someone they trust. As well as this, the campaign asks those who may know someone who is vulnerable or isolated to reach out to them. For those who do not have someone to speak to or who need extra support, the campaign includes signposting to key organisations that can help. The campaign links to the ‘Kind to Your Mind’ campaign website which offers signposting to local services and various mental wellbeing resources including podcasts, information and free online CBT counselling.

  For information on organisations and services that can help if you are struggling with your mental health, visit the Kind to Your Mind website www.kindtoyourmind.org
• Share Deliver Dial Differently on Facebook Share Deliver Dial Differently on Twitter Share Deliver Dial Differently on Linkedin Email Deliver Dial Differently link

  Deliver Dial Differently

  by Dial West Cheshire, about 5 years ago

  Dial West Cheshire improves the lives of disabled people. We created a short video which shows how during the coronavirus pandemic we adapted to Deliver Dial Differently. Our work contributes to people experiencing less poverty, reduced loneliness and isolation, and improved health and mental wellbeing. Our charity is playing our part as the community in Cheshire West and Chester pulls together during this difficult time. The roll out of the COVID vaccine indicates 2021 will be a brighter year. Dial West Cheshire will continue to play our part to build back better for a more disability inclusive and equal... Continue reading

  Dial West Cheshire improves the lives of disabled people. We created a short video which shows how during the coronavirus pandemic we adapted to Deliver Dial Differently. Our work contributes to people experiencing less poverty, reduced loneliness and isolation, and improved health and mental wellbeing. Our charity is playing our part as the community in Cheshire West and Chester pulls together during this difficult time. The roll out of the COVID vaccine indicates 2021 will be a brighter year. Dial West Cheshire will continue to play our part to build back better for a more disability inclusive and equal society in west Cheshire. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh9ulnA6pWs