We got a chance to catch up with Emma Tompkins from Yarm Wellness. This weeks spotlight is in Emma’s words as she tells us all about the charity.
Yarm Wellness is a new charity in the market town of Yarm. In December 2020, we became aware of an under-used, run-down, council owned building in the centre of Yarm. Conscious of serious and growing social isolation in the area, we decided to muster support to renovate the building for the benefit of the local community. Feedback from local community groups, churches, GPs and businesses confirmed that those most in need of support locally were new mums and pensioners, feeling isolated and struggling with poor mental health in the aftermath of COVID 19.
2900 volunteer hours later and with £240,000 secured from a combination of amazing local businesses and our town council, Yarm Wellness was born in April 2022.
We now have a busy timetable of events at the centre. A number of slots are available for providers of wellness classes to hire the hall and at other times we give back to the community with wide ranging events including a dementia café, a cancer support group, a pensioner’s lunch, a men’s mental health group, veteran’s breakfast, menopause Café and children’s playgroup. A number of our visitors are referred to us by GP Social Prescribers but most are members of the public in need of some community support and engagement.
Securing a grant from The National Lottery Awards for All scheme came at the right time. This grant covers all the core costs for our centre for a year which makes a huge difference to our organisation. Knowing that our running costs are taken care of allows our volunteers to concentrate on what they are so good at – delivering support, advice and friendship to our community in a warm and welcoming environment.
We have recently established a cancer support group for cancer patients, their carers and loved ones. The session proved instantly popular and led to our Chairman being invited to talk to doctors in our area about our holistic approach and the urgent need for more cancer support in our community. As a result, we are now able to provide yoga specifically designed for cancer patients which is making a huge difference to their mental and emotional wellbeing. Having been made aware of the significant demand for additional support in this area, our local doctors surgery has now committed to employing a cancer social prescriber. This post will alleviate the need of many vulnerable cancer patients in our community and we are enormously proud to have played a part in this.
We have recently established a cancer support group for cancer patients, their carers and loved ones. The session proved instantly popular and led to our Chairman being invited to talk to doctors in our area about our holistic approach and the urgent need for more cancer support in our community. As a result, we are now able to provide yoga specifically designed for cancer patients which is making a huge difference to their mental and emotional wellbeing. Having been made aware of the significant demand for additional support in this area, our local doctors surgery has now committed to employing a cancer social prescriber. This post will alleviate the need of many vulnerable cancer patients in our community and we are enormously proud to have played a part in this.
Stay in touch with Yarm Wellness:
Website: www.yarmwellness.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YarmWellness
Instagram: wellnessyarm
Twitter: @WellnessYarm
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