Whether someone has been neglected or abused, trafficked, attempted su***de or stigmatised because of HIV. Our specially designed centre in Clerkenwell, London boasts five floors of state of the art care and wellbeing facilities, including therapy rooms, a chef’s kitchen, a seminar room, a games room and sound studio, and an Ofsted-approved children’s centre. Body & Soul members have access to a f
ull range of services that reflects our whole-person approach. These include one-to-one as well as group therapeutic support, health and wellbeing seminars, legal support and advocacy, psycho-education, employment programmes and complementary therapies (e.g. Our programmes are monitored through internal evaluation as well as independent audits. We focus on five key areas: physical health; mental health; psychosocial health; practical support; and the productivity of our members. Our approach is evidence based. It is informed by a substantial body of research showing that the stress associated with adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, violence and dysfunction can have life-long consequences for health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, “such stress can lead to serious problems such as alcoholism, depression, eating disorders, unsafe s*x, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases”. Complex issues require comprehensive responses, but with the right intervention at the right time, the Body & Soul model builds hope and resilience. Our approach is grounded in responsive, expert programming with the aim of maximising pathways for achievement and continuous learning in an environment of aspiration. Emma Colyer MBE, director of Body & Soul, says: “In many ways, Body & Soul has changed and grown massively over the past 20 years, but the work we do is still underpinned by three fundamental values: bravery, love and wisdom. Everything we do follows from these, and they will continue as the bedrock of the work we do into the future.”
