Adept Living Foundation - ALF

20/04/2026

Emma is running another Performance Anxiety workshop that is funded by Launceston Town Council on Weds 29th April at Keep Audio Co. 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

If you fancy coming along you can book a FREE ticket via the link below. Spaces are limited.

A previous attendee said: 'Emma's workshop has been hugely useful. As a group we discussed the impact that anxiety has on our performances. Emma created a welcoming atmosphere where we felt able to share. Emma gave us a number of strategies to practice and implement. They are all manageable and practical and things I will try. I'm sure they will make a big difference to my next performance (just 2 weeks away now)! Anxiety can be such a blight on playing music, and realising that there are things I can do to fix it is amazing! I am actually looking forward to performing again!'

Own the Stage: Beat Performance Anxiety

You know the feeling… tight shoulders, clammy hands, that shaky breath just before you begin. The voice in your head whispers, “What if I mess this up?”
For some, it’s a passing flicker. For others, it’s enough to hold you back completely.

This workshop is here to help you break through that barrier, so that you can ‘perform’ with confidence.

Performance anxiety looks different for everyone. In this relaxed, supportive group, you’ll explore what shows up for you when the pressure’s on and learn practical ways to handle it.

Sound familiar?
• “Am I actually good enough?”
• “What will people think?”
• “What if it all goes wrong?”

You’re not the only one. Through open, informal conversation, we’ll gently unpack where these thoughts come from, and what to do with them.
In this session, we will:
• Understand what performance anxiety is and why it affects us
• Learn simple, effective calming techniques rooted in psychology
• Share experiences and insights in a supportive group setting
• Shift your mindset towards confidence and self-compassion

Who is it for?

• Musicians, Poets, Artists
• Public Speakers
• Interview candidates
• Anyone who needs to speak or perform in some way in front of others
Everyone is welcome. (Under 18s should be accompanied by an adult.)

The session is led by Emma Jaynes of ALF CIC, a mental health professional. Emma has worked in public and voluntary sector mental health services as a consultant trainer, peer mentor and therapeutic coach for over 15 years. She is also a singer and multi-instrumentalist and runs music events across Cornwall and Devon .

Own the Stage: Beat Performance Anxiety You know the feeling… tight shoulders, clammy hands, that shaky breath just before you begin. The voice in your head whispers, “What if I mess this up?”For some, it’s a passing flicker. For others, it’s enough to hold you back completely. This worksh...

05/04/2026

Just under 2 weeks until we host Merry Hell in both The Poly Falmouth (Fri 17th April) and Launceston Town Hall (Sat 18th April) !Here’s a taste of what’s to come ! 🤗🎶🎼🎻 💃🏼

These are seated concerts though there will be space for a bit of dancing in the town hall! There are bars open at both events too!

We are pleased to announce that Seamus McKenna will be providing support in Falmouth and very grateful to the Countrymen for doing the sound in Launceston!

So excited for this gig!

It is a great help to us if we have an idea of numbers in advance of concerts!! You can get t1ckets for both gigs via https://wreckersmusic.org/events

You can email : [email protected] to reserve your spot for the Launceston concert.

08/03/2026

Emma, ALF’s CEO, will be running this ‘Conquer Performance Anxiety for musicians’ workshop on Saturday the 21st of March from 4pm at The Orchard Centre in the lead up to Spring Sounds which is on the 11th of April!

Please see the post below for more information and details about how to book your place!

CONQUER PERFORMANCE ANXIETY FOR MUSICIANS WORKSHOP

Explore what anxiety is, what happens to you when those nerves kick in, and what to do about it.

Saturday 21st March, 4.00 - 5.30pm
📍The Orchard Centre, Launceston, Cornwall

Open to all instrumentalists and singers of all levels, ages and genres.

Find out more and book your tickets here

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/makestuffhappencic/2074685

26/11/2025

Emma is running a Journaling for Well-being workshop in Callington this Saturday 29th November at the Prim-RAF theatre.
For more information and tickets please follow this link in the comments !

19/11/2025

Emma is running a journaling for well-being workshop in Callington on Saturday the 29th of November in Callington at the Prim-Raf theatre from 2pm to 4pm.
Sponsored by Make Stuff Happen CIC.

This warm, supportive, and interactive writing workshop will help you shape your thoughts and actions through journalling to create positive outcomes in your life.

Join Emma Jaynes at this interactive workshop which covers:

• What do we mean by journalling?
• Why journalling is a helpful tool for handling life’s stresses
• How writing can guide your thoughts and actions toward positive change
• Harnessing the power of imagination in your journalling
• How to start or improve your journalling practice

Learn about the benefits of journalling, take part in activities, join a relaxed group discussion and ask questions. Importantly, gain practical tools, ideas, and tips to take home with you.

Journalling for Wellbeing – Prim-Raf Theatre, Sat 29 Nov 2025 - Journalling for Wellbeing Workshop This warm, supportive, and interactive writing workshop will help you shape your thoughts and actions through journalling to create positive outcomes in your life. Join Emma Jaynes at this interactiv...

21/03/2025

I will be running a short session on Tuesday the 25th of March at North Petherwin football club from 2pm, aimed at those who face chronic pain - including Fibromyalgia and other conditions under the ‘Central Sensitisation Syndrome’ umbrella - by sharing both information and some tips that might help with coping with these conditions, including the related emotional challenges that these conditions can cause in those who experience chronic pain, on a day to day basis.
This session is open to players, their families, and the wider community.

13/12/2024

I’ve just received the new ‘Drop the Disorder’ book this week (the green one) and I’m already about half way through. It’s excellent and inspiring!
A Disorder for Everyone (AD4E) is an organisation that challenges the culture of psychiatric diagnosis, with the aim to educate people about the false assumption that diagnoses are evidence based.

It is not even controversial to say this anymore, but the false notion that psychiatric disorders are science based and caused by chemical imbalances is so engrained in the popular psyche, that it is difficult to make a truly informed choice about treatments and pathways through recovery.

In peer support training, we encourage people to use non medicalised, non pathologising language to talk about theirs, and others, emotional distress, instead, choosing to describe what we actually experience or feel. When we model different ways of talking about emotional distress, we start to shift the culture.

Highly recommend these books and one of my colleagues at Imroc has written a chapter ! You can visit the website https://www.adisorder4everyone.com/drop-the-disorder-fb-group
There also a Facebook group where we can openly discuss these issues.

12/12/2024

***Non Executive Director (NED/Trustee) positions***

ALFCIC has reached a turning point and has ambitious plans for growth and development in 2025.

It is three years since one of our co-founders and CEO, Emma, moved from Bedfordshire back to Cornwall, and a lot has been achieved since then. This means that we are now in a position where we need to grow and develop, and increase our Non-Executive board.

We have some specific areas that we would like to cover. These include people who have experience or expertise in the following areas:

- Music (the music industry in general including radio)
- Psychology/ emotional wellbeing fields including counselling, psychotherapy/counselling, peer support, complementary medicine (with experience of working with emotional health)
- Marketing - especially digital and social media marketing
- Peers - People who have lived experience of overcoming life challenge, including emotional/mental distress, trauma/'PTSD' related challenges including Central Sensitisation Syndromes eg Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME, and Chronic Pain

The minimum time commitment is to attend 4 quarterly board meetings, including the AGM. You will act as a sounding board for our CEO, offering support, guidance, and help with decision making and governance. You will also keep the CEO accountable to ALF's vision, mission, and aims, ensuring that she is able to carry out her duties and deliver ALF's projects, effectively.

There are four roles available in total. If you would like more information about ALF, and the roles, please email: [email protected] for a full role description.
If you would like an informal chat, please call Emma on : 07791 520388.
NB: NED roles are voluntary.