March, 2024 - The Cellar Trust

Posted on March 21, 2024 by The Cellar Trust

Safe Spaces wins 3rd Sector Care Award for collaboration

The Cellar Trust and Mind in Bradford are delighted Safe Spaces crisis service has been recognised at the 3rd Sector Care Awards today winning the Collaboration (Integration) Award for our partnership.

This award recognises ways of working in partnership with other organisations or services, achieving outcomes that would otherwise not have been achieved.

A huge well done to our hardworking Safe Spaces staff, volunteers and partners who deserve this fantastic recognition for making a positive difference to people’s lives across the District.

3rd Sector Care Awards announced: “[Safe Spaces] is the perfect example of collaboration and integration – working with nine other organisations to provide ‘all age’ support.”

Posted on March 21, 2024 by The Cellar Trust

Wharfe Valley Pathways Closing in Ilkley

It is with regret we are announcing the closure of Wharfe Valley Pathways. Due to changes to the funding structure, we are no longer able to sustainably deliver this project.

Since 2021 Wharfe Valley Pathways has provided accessible and non-judgmental support for people in Ilkley and the surrounding area who have experienced challenges to their health and wellbeing. This has included support around mental health, benefits and housing, access to foodbanks, substance use, domestic abuse, health and wellness, as well as referrals to other organisations.

We would like to take this opportunity to thanks to NHS Integrated Care Board, Wharfedale Community Health Partnership, Christchurch Ilkley, Primary Care Network, Social Prescribers, Carers’ Resource and residents of Ilkley and surrounding areas.

Since July 2023:

164 unique people have attended the group sessions
83 individuals have received support through 1:1 appointments
151 people have attended drop ins

“Since I started coming I’ve felt really comfortable and the group has not been judgmental. It’s helped me manage my anxiety, it’s just like having the tool kit.

I am listening and learning from other people and they’re able to relate to what’s happening for me. I feel included and my confidence has improved.”

Wharfe Valley Pathways Attendee

Wharfe Valley Pathways is a partnership project delivered by Keighley Healthy Living’s Mental Health Connect programme with supporting charities Project 6 and The Cellar Trust. The project will continue to offer one-to-one appointments until its final day of delivery 28th March 2024.

Mental Health Connect are delighted to continue to offer group support sessions at Christchurch in Ilkley on Thursdays 10 am to 12 pm from 4^th April 2024, under the new name ‘Wharfedale Wellness Together.’

Wharfedale Wellness Together will be open to anyone in need of support, feeling low or isolated on a drop-in basis. For updates about the new service please visit Keighley Healthy Living on Facebook.

To make a referral for one-to-one support with Mental Health Connect, please visit: www.mentalhealthconnect.org.uk or email mentalhealthconnect@khl.org.uk

Posted on March 8, 2024 by The Cellar Trust

International Women’s Day – Kim Shutler

International Women’s Day

Written by Kim Shutler, CEO

On International Women’s Day, especially with the theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’, I wanted to tell you a bit of a story about my Mum and how she has inspired me!

My Mum is ethnically Chinese. She grew up in Malaysia as 1 of 7 children and was educated in a Catholic convent. Quite remarkably, until she was 5, she was brought up as a boy (because her parents wanted a boy not a girl!) My Mum has told me her dream as a child was to have a whole orange to herself as they were too poor to afford this.

Her other siblings were funded to go to University (all medics) but as one of the youngest she knew there was no money left for her education. She left, age 18, with £40 in her pocket and headed to the UK to train to be a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Download a PDF copy of the Blog here

A karate black belt and instructor my teensy little Mum is a total powerhouse. She met my Dad (who is from what was at the time the biggest Council Estate in Europe – Wythenshawe) learning to scuba dive in the freezing cold Irish Sea. They braved the racism of being a (rare) mixed-race couple in the 70s… racism she still faces today. They lived in Thailand, then Indonesia, where I was born, before moving back to Manchester in the mid-80s.

My Mum rejoined NHS nursing… moving from theatre nursing to being a Practice Nurse whilst also helping set up Stroke Association groups and the Chinese Information Centre and General Practice to ensure culturally competent health services for Chinese people. Both are still in operation today. Later she trained to be an NLP Master Practitioner and was an NHS nurse till she retired.

My Mum turned 70 last year and has Parkinson’s which is hard. But this is her doing yoga in Sydney (where my sister lives) and actually her and my Dad put me to shame with how active they are.

I am acutely aware that I have lived a very privileged life and whilst I have had my own experiences of prejudice as a result of being mixed-race, the bravery and resilience of my Mum has meant I could have the life and the opportunities I have had.

I have had (and still have) many women in my life who have mentored and supported me, and I am grateful for every one of them, but none more so than my Mum who laid my path and set the bar high.

Kim has been the CEO since November 2014. She is passionate about the role of charities and was recently appointed as the VCSE representative on the West Yorkshire Partnership Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Senior Responsible Officer for the Harnessing the Power of Communities programme. She is also a member of the NHS England Adult Mental Health Steering Group.

Kim was awarded an MBE for Services to Mental Health in 2022.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.