Social inclusion is about making sure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or ability, has the same opportunities and at Birchwood we are helping to level the playing field for all.

Our Inclusion Project is an award-winning innovative initiative that promotes a healthy, social, and active lifestyle for young people and adults with the emphasis for participants to ultimately feel part of their local community.  By encouraging personal growth, helping to build resilience and independence, Birchwood are empowering people to be able to lead fulfilling lives within our communities.    

Some of the classes and schemes we run:

·         Inclusion Cafés: our ‘pop-up’ social enterprise provides a supportive base, a hot meal and access to our shops within a welcoming space for those socially isolated to reconnect within their community.

·         Wellness Classes: Our Mind and Body classes offer a range of exercises for beginners, seniors or those looking to boost their fitness.  These low impact workout classes are great option for everyone, no matter their ability level.

·         Education and Training sessions: linking with local education providers to support people back into work and education.

·         Befriending Scheme: local community volunteers are paired with those individuals socially isolated, encouraging friendship and confidence whilst offering emotional support.

·         Skills-based workshops: such as cookery, budgeting, money management, computing, and IT etc

·         Art, Reading and Music groups: encouraging self-development and resilience through creative participation.

·         Community events: committed to supporting local events and initiatives to help breakdown stigma and build positive links with the wider community.

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·         Veteran’s Hub: Our hub provides social activity, ‘walk-in’ or virtual peer support and mentoring, advice on welfare, benefits, pensions, and medal advice as well as support for carers.

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The project is wide ranging delivering daily pop-up community cafes and shops serving surplus food, a befriending service, bereavement group, volunteering through to digital-exclusion and wellness/ peer-led classes including yoga, cooking and meditation. 

If you or you know someone who would benefit from accessing or joining any of the classes, please contact our Social Inclusion Team on 01695 728391 for more information or complete our online referral form by clicking here.

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Need Help Now

Do you feel your life is at risk right now

Please note our website is NOT monitored 24/7 and we can't provide help and support outside of our business hours.  If you feel suicidal, or you have seriously harmed yourself and need urgent medical help. Please:

• Call 999 for an ambulance
• Go straight to A&E, if you can
• Or call your local home treatment team if you have their number

If you can't do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.

Mental health emergencies are serious. You're not wasting anyone's time.

Don’t want to call 999

If you need urgent advice but can keep yourself safe for a short while:

• Contact NHS 111

• contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. 
• contact a local urgent mental health helpline. This service is currently only available in England.

Need someone to talk to NOW

Whatever you're going through, there are people right now you can talk to. You can:

• call Samaritanson 116 123 (UK-wide)
• text SHOUTto 85258 (UK-wide)
• call A.L.L.on 0800 132 737 (Wales only)
• or contact the Liberty Centre on 01695 50600

The above FREE services are for anyone who is struggling, they are non- judgemental, it's anonymous and they are always open.

Disclaimer

Birchwood has taken all possible steps to ensure that the information provided on this directory is helpful, accurate and up to date. However, the information given on this website is not comprehensive and there may be inadvertent errors for which we apologise. There are links within the directory that take you to external websites which are not managed by the Birchwood and therefore we have no control of their content or changes in their services such as opening times.