Let’s tell you a bit about us, and what we do...
Based in Somerset, we are a newly founded CIC (Community Interest Company). This means that we are not-for-profit.
Our mission is simple; to facilitate positive mental wellbeing through offering practical and physical activities.
Initially, we will be offering sessions for individuals and groups within a wood workshop environment. Ever heard of the phrase ‘having your hands full’? What about ‘having your mind full’, because that’s what it often feels like when you’re struggling with your mental health. Just like with our physical health, we try to help the issue before it gets worse. Think about your shoe rubbing your heel and it starting to hurt. You do something about it before it becomes a big old blister!
What we are going to do is offer a service to help empty out full minds! However, we know that it is really hard to talk about what’s going on in your head. So, by literally making people’s hands full, we will help to empty busy minds!
Our work initially will involved a range of wood projects in the workshop for people to engage with. Longer term, we will become a hub that offers a range of outdoor/practical activities which can be tailored to individual and group needs.
Fair enough! But who are you? What do you know about it all!
Good question! Both Joe and Olly have experienced mental health issues throughout their lives... anxiety, depression, hopelessness (and general feelings of ‘eugh, what’s the point?’). That’s where our passion lies in trying to help others.
When Joe and Olly began talking, it soon became clear that many of the tricks that had worked for one of us in the past when we were feeling pretty low, actually worked for the other person too! Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about some magic wand that when waved pops the dark cloud above your head. We’re talking about (re)finding something to make a sparkle come back to your eyes. For us, being outside, specifically doing things that make you happy, finding a practical project that can help you temporarily escape....
It’s simple, we want to help other people who are currently going through something we know quite a bit about! The way we will do this, is by using the skills that we currently have- but in a proactive way. With Joe being a well experienced carpenter/joiner, and Olly an academic in the field of health and social care, our skills and knowledge work hand-in-hand.
What are you going to do?
Initially, we will be offering bespoke workshop sessions in Taunton for individuals/groups of people. There will be two distinct services that we provide which promote positive mental wellbeing.
Group activities: Workshop sessions will be facilitated by Joe and Olly for groups of individuals. The aim of these is not only to learn new woodworking skills in a safe environment, but to foster a supportive, communicative and therapeutic atmosphere. Sessions will be run for specific groups of people and tailored accordingly. We will do this by taking significant care and time to consult with group organisers to ensure we meet the needs of your organisation, but more importantly, the needs of the individuals attending. We can design bespoke packages from as little as a 2 hour session, to a weekly session to be run indefinitely. With Joe’s expertise, woodwork projects can be as big or little as required and scaling things up or down is always an option.
These sessions are great for any groups of people (young or old) who would like to learn new skills with people who share life experiences . This might be mental health, disability, terminal illness, bereavement, carers etc. Alternatively, these sessions are also great for pupil referral units/behaviour management, with an option to include end of project evaluation.
Making Memories: These sessions will be directed towards people living with a terminal illness and stems from Olly’s doctoral research. Attendees will have an opportunity to create a legacy which can be treasured by family, friends, or loved ones. Depending on individual preference and need, we will facilitate sessions for people to create a physical legacy (woodcraft, art work, etc.) and/or a video legacy (memories, messages etc). The legacies can be co-created with a child/young person, or if preferred, created alone with Joe and Olly facilitating. We will carry out an initial consultation with individual’s and design a bespoke package which fits with their unique legacy wishes and needs. This will be carried out over two or three, two-hour sessions.
So, what’s next?
Well, feel free to contact us to find out more about either of our services! We can guide you through what we can offer, how it might look and answer any other questions you may have.
Thanks for taking the time to read about us,
Joe & Olly
