working for the community
a Community Interest Company
In Touch founders were inspired by people we met in the refugee ‘Jungle’ of Calais in 2010. The migrants stuck there had taken incredible risks to seek safety in the UK, and their journeys were not over yet. We realised we needed to be there for people when they arrived in this country, to help them recover and cope with life in the UK.
We began in 2012 by volunteering massage for PAFRAS, a pioneering charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers. We also volunteered for OPAL, who support older people to remain independent. Seeing the benefit of what we were doing, we registered as a Community Interest Company in 2013 and ran projects with Touchstone, Hamara Women’s Centre, Behno and Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
In 2017 we worked with the social prescribing agency Connect Well to provide a range of holistic therapies for people on low income in LS7 and LS8. We set up a treatment room at St Martin’s Medical Practice and began to enter the medical world - until Covid-19 interrupted it all.
Following the pandemic, we are building our way back up again to serve the community once more.
In 2023 we have been awarded £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to run the Personal Empowerment Project (PEP), and £5,000 from the local HATCH fund to provide free complementary therapies in the local area!
The aim of PEP is to help people out of pain and into a place of health. We believe that knowledge is power, and by helping people understand their bodies, we will empower them to maintain their own good health. With plenty of guidance and support. By providing group exercise classes for local adults and asylum seekers, we will build bridges across communities and promote support, friendship and togetherness. We will also be providing a number of free massage therapy sessions for asylum seekers and older people over the year.
Our free complementary therapies service is available to people living in Chapeltown and Harehills who are being affected by the cost of living crisis. From Septmber 2023 to March 2024 we will deliver 100 free treatments to people who can benefit for our service.
We began in 2012 by volunteering massage for PAFRAS, a pioneering charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers. We also volunteered for OPAL, who support older people to remain independent. Seeing the benefit of what we were doing, we registered as a Community Interest Company in 2013 and ran projects with Touchstone, Hamara Women’s Centre, Behno and Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
In 2017 we worked with the social prescribing agency Connect Well to provide a range of holistic therapies for people on low income in LS7 and LS8. We set up a treatment room at St Martin’s Medical Practice and began to enter the medical world - until Covid-19 interrupted it all.
Following the pandemic, we are building our way back up again to serve the community once more.
In 2023 we have been awarded £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to run the Personal Empowerment Project (PEP), and £5,000 from the local HATCH fund to provide free complementary therapies in the local area!
The aim of PEP is to help people out of pain and into a place of health. We believe that knowledge is power, and by helping people understand their bodies, we will empower them to maintain their own good health. With plenty of guidance and support. By providing group exercise classes for local adults and asylum seekers, we will build bridges across communities and promote support, friendship and togetherness. We will also be providing a number of free massage therapy sessions for asylum seekers and older people over the year.
Our free complementary therapies service is available to people living in Chapeltown and Harehills who are being affected by the cost of living crisis. From Septmber 2023 to March 2024 we will deliver 100 free treatments to people who can benefit for our service.
partners and supporters
Hats off to You!
