Community Investment Work
Working with a wide range of community groups I have helped to build capacity and resilience amongst hard to reach members of society. I deliver a wide range of workshops that stand alone or work as an effective programme aimed at improving an individual’s emotional resilience and overall well being. Attendees leave with a range of positive and practical strategies to improve their daily lives and live in a more positive way. Additionally they can also be supported into further training, volunteering, education or work.I often work with groups holding a common identity, i.e. older people, people with mental health challenges, long term unemployed and new parent’s with anxiety and depression.
The workshops take the style of group life coaching sessions where we have theory, discussion, story telling and the trouble shooting of individual problems in the moment. Subject areas covered include: thinking traps, tuning and changing our mind chatter, taking more control over our negative thoughts, visualisations to help resilience, increasing motivation, building more self worth and adapting to change.
Community Leaders say…
“Our older people are facing a range of challenges in later life and this work provides a focused and accessible intervention for them. I have seen how much they benefit from attending and how much they appear to be more resilient, positive and able to handle life with greater strength.” – Neighbourhood Care Group Co-ordinator
“Debra has the ability to build relationships with people almost effortlessly, and this is due to her friendly approach and calm demeanour, as well as a great sense of humour. Debra has worked closely with both parents and staff at school in a supportive capacity, and draws on a wide skillset to help people feel both empowered and positive.” – Family Support Worker
Attendees Say…
‘I found the course enlightening, it made me appreciate how a more confident approach to life can reap positive benefits’
‘I am more confident and my self-esteem has improved. I feel I am more positive with my outlook’
‘I have become a lot more sociable and able to speak to people of all different backgrounds’
‘I really liked your manner/style – you had a lovely way of handling a group’
‘Good pointers from Debra about how to change attitudes and solve problems’
‘Many aspects of daily living have been thoroughly dealt with and made me think about my attitude about my future life’
Achieving Outcomes
A recent programme aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness in a community of older people found:
68% found that simply attending the group had really helped them.
51% said they now think differently about their life and situation since attending.
41% found the workshops reduced their feelings of social isolation significantly.
Community Groups I have worked with include: Chorlton Good Neighbours, Assist Neighbourhood Care Group, Whalley Range Family Forum, Job Centre Plus, Odd Fellows Friendly Society, Old Moat Community Minded, Can’t Danc, Can. Care Network Blackburn, The L.I.F.E Foundation, LGBT Foundation, Domestic Abuse Helpline, Richmond Fellowship and Target Wellbeing.
Brighter Days 