Touchstone

Our passion is to secure the rights and entitlements of the people we work with and for. We aim to make the cities we work in more culturally competent and better able to meet the needs of those vulnerable people who live there. We are also acutely aware of our perceived position of strength as a major provider of mostly BME services and we want to share our resources, knowledge and position of influence with smaller, grass roots organisations. Touchstone was born out of an identified need for friendship and community in South Leeds in 1982. A Social Worker, Sylvia Landells, and CPN, John Clare, saw that large numbers of vulnerable people were left isolated and distressed out of hours and at weekends, so they set up a “weekend club” which was to grow into Touchstone. More than 30 years later, we provide mental health and wellbeing services to over 10,000 people a year, whilst also working across communities to grow their confidence and capacity to demand the services and positive experiences they are entitled to. Touchstone provides a range of innovative services that improve health and wellbeing. Touchstone is strongly committed to equality, independence and choice. Touchstone’s services are shaped by the needs of service users. Touchstone staff are committed, resourceful and knowledgeable. They reflect the multi-cultural community in which Touchstone operates.