Businesses helping people

A former Wigan teacher has taken a leap of faith into new territory to help people heal and express themselves through therapeutic art. Sarah Manouchehri, 31, from Standish, left her job as a secondary school art teacher earlier this year to set up True Colours Expressive Art.After taking part in a workshop in Kendal and realising the benefits first hand Sarah said: “I went through the therapeutic process over four weekends and began to find ways of using art playfully to support well-being and self-expression empowering.“I have suffered with anxiety for many years. I have found medication, CBT, counselling, meditation and exercise all useful to some degree but through artistic expression I was able to access and release unconscious thoughts and feelings and make sense of my internal world in a way that talking alone could not.”Sarah, who lives with her husband Sam in Poolstock, hopes her workshops can help people who are struggling in a similar way and has already … [Read more...] about Former Wigan teacher’s mission to help people through art

PUBLISHED: 09:10 25 June 2019 | UPDATED: 09:16 25 June 2019 Clarissa Place Jurassic Paddle Sport owner Guy Russell has opened a surf shop, pictured with Jenny Kim and Maddie Todd outside the shop in Libra Court. Picture: Clarissa Place Archant Water sport lovers are bringing their passion for the sea to the mainland by opening a surf shop. Jurassic Paddle Sport owner Guy Russell has opened a surf shop, pictured with Jenny Kim and Maddie Todd outside the shop in Libra Court. Picture: Clarissa PlaceGuy Russell, of Jurassic Paddle Sports has opened So Little Time, in Libra Court. The shop shares its name with Mr Russell's clothing brand, which he has designed with his friend Matt Evans to create a range of organic clothing. Items are made from a range of materials including 100 per cent cotton, lien, eucalyptus and beech tree pulp and recycled polyester and plastic bottles. Mr Russell, who has run Jurassic Paddle Sports for seven years, said: "It's almost … [Read more...] about Surfs up! New shop to help people ride the waves

A dozen members of the Trinity Church congregation will be leaving Falkirk at the end of May to help transform lives in Tanzania. Their trip will seem them build the first of two houses in a sustainable village on the shores of Lake Victoria.It will eventually have 40 homes constructed for widows and children from the surrounding islands and shores.The expedition will give the team an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.Team members, along with the congregation, have already smashed their fundraising target weeks before their journey begins.They are working with the Vine Trust, a Scottish charity which started in Bo’ness and works with partner organisations based in Tanzania & Peru, building family homes and orphanages and providing primary medical care through medical ships.The Vine Trust is now starting its largest construction project to date called the Kazunzu Village of Hope, in a remote area on the shores of … [Read more...] about Falkirk’s Trinity Church team helping people in Tanzania

Businesses, schools and groups in Leicestershire, including Melton, have helped raise £100,000 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People by taking part in its ‘Where’s it Bin?’ scheme. In August 2015, the hospice, which cares for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses launched its ‘Where’s It Bin?’ campaign. During that time, around 84 organisations from Leicestershire have taken part, some more than once.Those who took part from Melton were Kettleby Foods (part of Samworth Brothers) and Naturescape Farm, Langar.‘Where’s it Bin?’ sees Rainbows drop three branded wheelie bins - Barry, Bertie and Betty - to businesses, organisations, schools and clubs for one week. People are encouraged to fill them with bags of unwanted saleable goods for the Rainbows charity shops. At the end of the week, Rainbows collect the bins and all the donations.Almost 10,500 bags from across the East Midlands have been donated … [Read more...] about Melton businesses help raise £100k for Rainbows through Where’s It Bin? Scheme

Yorkshire-based firm Study Links supports a nationwide network of ‘homestay heroes’ to welcome international students into their houses and their families. Laura Drysdale reports. You would certainly be forgiven for feeling somewhat daunted by the prospect of travelling thousands of miles from your home and family to study in a foreign country, not least if its culture and language is less than familiar. But that is the reality for hundreds of people each year. It may have been nearly two decades ago but Yorkshire-born Ailie Fan remembers her experience clearly. She was just 11 when she made the long journey to China for a summer school programme. Like many, she went to live with strangers, lodging with a local family, who offered her an authentic experience and a home away from home. “It was absolutely amazing,” the 29-year-old says. “Whenever people ask me about the best things in my life, that’s one of them. I feel like I still remember every … [Read more...] about Staying with a stranger: This Yorkshire business helps to give international students a home away from home