LUWSC offers support through its weekly Support Groups where the members themselves define the activities and topics covered in a 12 weekly rolling programme. Link Up currently runs 5 different support groups: New You, New You2, Chance for Change, Branching Out and Time for Me (a group for women under 30 with a crèche facility).
Try Something New is, as the name implies, a group which offers members the chance to ‘try something new’. The ideas for this group come from the members themselves and the courses generally take place in 4-6 wk blocks. Past themes explored have included Aromatherapy and Hand Massage, Coping with Stress – ‘is yer heid nipping ye ?’ and ‘Food and Mood’.
All the programmes here at LUWSC offer women the opportunity to try new things, gain confidence in a supportive setting, meet other women so reducing a sense of isolation and develop positive coping strategies for ‘moving forward’.
Anybody interested in joining a group and meeting other women can give us a call and we will arrange an informal referral appointment which will allow us to discuss your needs and refer you into the right group for you.
Our group programmes are drawn up together with the members in the group – some examples of the sessions include: candle making, yoga and relaxation, discussion and information sessions as well as outings to local parks and gardens.
LUWSC has a bright, friendly crèche facility and we can provide women access to pre-school childcare for some of the services we offer including access to our Counselling Service.
The crèche is open on a Thursday and offers mothers of young children the opportunity to gain some support in a group setting, try a range of different activities and enjoy a couple of hours to focus exclusively on their support needs.
This is a well established writing group which is facilitated by the published author and poet Dorothy Baird. Many members have discovered the power of the written word through this group and the therapeutic role that writing has to play.
This group runs on a Monday morning and is open to all existing members of the Centre.
Link Up Women’s Support Centre aims to run a varied programme of workshops which focus on all aspects of emotional and physical wellbeing. From
* the active – zumba classes and trips to Meadowbank Leisure Centre
* the creative – pottery, textiles and ceramic workshops
* the educational- healthy eating, rest and relaxation techniques, welfare benefit workshops
You will find more information about current and forthcoming workshops by looking on our News Page.
Since re-locating to St Margaret’s House in 2015, LUWSC has taken part in in the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. Members have worked with artists to produce collaborative works. In 2015, we worked with Fiona Hemnes to produce a beautiful piece: ‘A Bird does not Sing because it has an Answer, it Sings because it has a Song’.
This year we are working with Member Lorna Fogden on an exceptional quilt which will be unveiled at our October AGM.
All our members have contributed to these works.
LUWSC recognises the important role that complementary therapies can play in supporting emotional wellbeing and the Centre aims to teach women simple relaxation and meditation techniques and basic massage treatments.
This can then be incorporated into daily life and become an important strategy in maintaining a sense of wellbeing. Yoga and aromatherapy workshops are also regularly run and LUWSC is lucky enough to have committed volunteers currently offering both Shiatsu massage and Reiki healing.
