Your Five Ways to Winter Wellbeing:
A special feature from Health in Mind
It is important that we take care of our wellbeing, especially during the Winter months. Here are some ideas for winter wellbeing activities:
Connect: writing a card for someone can help you feel connected.
Good relationships are important for mental wellbeing. It is important that we make time to connect with the people who matter to us. By looking after these relationships, we feel happier and more secure, giving a better sense of purpose. Ways to connect with others include:
- Set up a group chat with friends or to plan winter activities
- Write a card to someone you have not spoken to in a while
- Make a playlist for someone in your life and chat about it together
- Reduce your screen time when you are with other people. Put the phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and have a chat
Get active: getting outdoors can improve your mood.
You should try to do something active every day, even if it is cold and dark outside. A walk every day can give your body a boost, lift your mood and make everyday activities easier. Other ways to keep active this winter include:
- Doing stretches or gentle movement that works for you
- If you can, getting outside every day – even for just 5 minutes
- Going for a walk in your local area
Take notice: taking up a mindful hobby can improve your wellbeing.
We can improve our mental wellbeing by paying attention to the present moment – to our own thoughts and feelings and to the world around us. This is sometimes called mindfulness. Here are just a few ways you can pay attention to the present moment this winter:
- Take notice of the seasons changing and how it impacts the things around you
- Buy an amaryllis bulb and watch it grow over the winter months
- Take up a mindful indoor hobby like journaling or knitting
Keep learning: learning new things, like trying a new recipe,
can help our mental wellbeing.
Learning new things is useful. It can also improve our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. This could mean studying for a new qualification or learning a new recipe in the kitchen.
- Try out a new winter recipe
- Listen to a podcast or audiobook about a topic you do not know about
- Try a new DIY project you have been wanting to do
- Ask questions and learn from the people around you
Give: shopping locally supports small business in your local community.
From small acts of kindness to volunteering, giving can give you a sense of purpose, community and connection. Ways you can give back this winter include the following:
- Trying to shop locally so you can help small businesses
- Donating or volunteer your time to a cause in your community
- Raising awareness of causes on social media by sharing posts about issues that are important to you
The above feature was adapted from Coorie In, a special winter publication from Health in Mind. You can read and download the full version here.
Health in Mind are one of the partners of the In Care Survivors Alliance. They are a charity that promote positive mental health and wellbeing in Scotland. Find out more about their work and the services they offer at health-in-mind.org.uk
The winter period can be a difficult time. If you’re finding things hard, you can contact one of the following services:
The Samaritans
The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like. You can talk in your own way about whatever’s going on. They have a helpline, email service, letter service and a self-help app.
Helpline open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Freephone 116123.
www.samaritans.org
Breathing Space
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and webchat service. It is for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Open 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday, and 6pm to 6am Friday to Sunday.
Freephone 0800 83 85 87
breathingspace.scot
Shout
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258
giveusashout.org
Between July and September 2022, we looked into how the increased cost of living affects the people we work with.
We also looked at how it affects our service. We did this by asking our Support Coordination team to complete a survey, and by looking at how people use hardship payments. These payments are unexpected costs to do with people’s basic needs. We also looked at the places people live in Scotland to see if the survivors we work with also live in areas that may be more affected by the cost of living crisis.
What did we find?
The cost of living is negatively affecting survivors’ mental health
Support Coordinators have noticed that people are feeling more stressed, worried and experience more negative thoughts as a result of the cost of living crisis. People are particularly concerned about their finances and their housing.
94% of survey respondents said they have heard survivors expressing concern about their finances ‘often’ or ‘very often’.
62% of respondents have heard concerns about people’s housing ‘often’ or ‘very often’.
The cost of living impacts the work of Future Pathways
87.5% of respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the cost of living crisis is affecting the kind of support that Future Pathways provides.
The amount of money we spend on hardship payments has not increased. However, there has been a rise in the number of people accessing hardship payments over the last 9 months. We are having more discussions with people about budgeting and linking people to services like food banks and money management support.
Support Coordinators notice that survivors feel less able to focus on personal outcomes or longer term needs because they are under immediate financial pressure.
75% of respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the cost of living crisis is affecting the outcomes that we support people with. The increase in cost of materials also affects the cost of the services that Future Pathways commissions.
The people we work with live are more likely to live in deprived areas
74% of people registered with Future Pathways who live in Scotland, live in the most deprived areas of Scotland. This indicates that the cost of living crisis may disproportionately affect the people we work with.
The crisis presents significant barriers to many survivors, many of whom are already affected by existing inequalities.
We recognise that Future Pathways has a part to play in supporting people. We are not a crisis service, but we are adjusting our support in response to the current circumstances. We do this by developing partnerships with organisations such as Home Energy Scotland, and many others to help people access the information, advice, and support that they need.
We would also note that, even in times of financial crisis, it is still important that people are supported in achieving their individual goals.
Support Coordinator Reflection:
One of our support coordinators describes the impact of the cost of living
”Many survivors I work with share their anxiety about how the cost-of-living will affect them this winter as the cold weather impacts people’s energy bills. People share that because their budget is absorbed by utility bills, there is little or nothing left over for “extras.” More people are sharing that they have started using food banks to eat.
It feels as though the Support Coordinator role is shifting in response to this crisis. For example, I have noticed that I am making more referrals to local money advice services, and I often research local food banks for people to access. I also find that people’s financial situation comes up earlier in the conversation and sometimes feeds into the conversations we have about outcomes.
Some people are finding it difficult to reflect on their medium to longer term goals because they are in “survival mode” and feeling worried about meeting their basic needs. This is particularly impacting on people who are already financially struggling or who manage chronic stress in their lives.
As a Support Coordinator, I think this situation may be particularly affecting people who we are not able to reach as easily, such as those who are homeless. It is also possible that people may stay in unsafe environments because they may not feel financially able to move.”
Further information:
The above feature on the cost of living is developed from research from our Quarterly Report. You can see highlights from our Q2 report and access the full report here.
If you’re seeking information on organisations and resources that can help with the cost of living crisis, view the Cost of Living resource.
Creativity can be a great way to boost your mood, relax, focus or feel confident.
We have a dedicated online Arts and Craft Winter Showcase featuring fantastic pieces from the people we support.
Check out their wonderful creations below. For groups of images, click on each one to view it at a larger size.
Chris’ drawings
“I’ve been drawing since I was a child and I find drawing therapeutic. I do drawings for people to do something nice and make them smile.”
Alanis’ creations
“I have been creating for the last 6-7 months. It keeps me occupied and it is good for the brain.”
William’s photography
“Photography gives me a sense of purpose which helps me structure my spare time in a way that brings me a lot of enjoyment as well as providing a focus which is particularly important since I have retired from work.”
David’s paintings
“With over 30 years’ experience, my speciality is the painting of portraits although my work covers a variety of subjects including landscapes, animals, pets and still life. I work predominantly in oils and acrylics, but also create graphite portraits and drawings. I aim to make my landscapes colourful and realistic, reflecting my point of view and feeling for my surroundings.”
Wickerman’s candles, soaps and wax melts
“I love my craft as it keeps me grounded on a day to day basis.”
Derek’s portraits
“These pictures are done with paint on canvas. They were a lockdown project with the canvases provided by Future Pathways. During Covid lockdown I was really not able to go outside at all and art really helped me through that period. The pictures are now on display in Candleriggs gallery, Main Street, Alloa. Elton is my hero with Freddie and Debbie having played a part in my life as well.”
Fiona’s artwork
“The painting is inspired by Japanese Art and the mosaic is inspired by Egyptian art. I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember and try and empower other women, through art, and implement self-development.”
Eileen’s artwork
”Although it’s been a while since I have done any artwork, I particularly get creative when my mental wellbeing is down or I’m feeling overwhelmed. It calms me and gives me a distraction. I can express my feelings outward into my art in an expressive way. I’m not by any means Van Gogh, but having the confidence to share it with others is a big thing. I have learned along the way to accept it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s mine.”
Lauchlan’s paintings
”I was in and out of care homes from early childhood, which probably put me on a wayward path in my teenage years and adulthood. I started painting in 1997 at the age of 47 I was incarcerated in a Chinese prison from 1991 until December 2003 for possession of cannabis resin. Teaching myself to paint was a great escape from the harsh reality of prison life in a communist country. I loved painting landscapes wandering into the fantasy world over mountains and feeling sand through my toes on white sand beaches. I eventually started doing Still Life and abstract. I appreciate the opportunity that Future Pathways give to its clients to share their art.”
If you’d like your own work to be featured on our website, email us at engagement@future-pathways.co.uk
The Moira Anderson Foundation (MAF) serves Scotland from its base in North Lanarkshire. The organisation provides safety and support for adults and children affected by childhood sexual abuse. MAF was one of the first organisations to work with Future Pathways since we began in 2016.
The Foundation offers individual care and support to survivors and their families. It seeks to reduce the impact of trauma in their lives. The Foundation builds trust with survivors. It offers a range of therapeutic services in a safe and caring environment.
The Foundation has a range of different services, including:
Counselling and therapies
These can include talking therapy, youth counselling, art therapy and creative play.
Training and workshops
Their ‘Safe Hands’ training helps to promote personal safety strategies for everyone. The Foundation also does presentations in schools and other places to raise awareness.
Positive Steps
This is a dedicated programme to support adult clients with long-term health problems.
Glasgow Satellite Service (GSS)
This provides support for people in the Glasgow area at different locations, like GP services.
You can find out more about the work of the Moira Anderson Foundation at: www.moiraanderson.org
Visit our Delivery Partners page to see the full list of who we work with.
Our latest Quarterly Report is now available to view. It covers our work from July to September 2022. It shows what we’ve learnt, and includes key stats and feedback from those who access Future Pathways.
This quarter:
- We supported 225 people to access support.
- We worked with 62 delivery partners.
- 101 People started working with a Support Coordinator.
- We reduced our waitlist this quarter. No-one has waited for support for more than 6 months.
- People noted that the cost of living crisis is affecting their mental health.
- People told us that working with Future Pathways gave them choice and control. It also helped with managing their mental health.
What support did people seek in Q2?
How we are responding to feedback
Improving our service
Our full report features further infographics, feedback and a breakdown of our financial spend. Read the full report.
Our Registration Line closes at 4pm on Wednesday 21st December 2022.
It will re-open again at 10am on Wednesday 4th January 2023.
Until we close for the Winter break, you can register in the following ways:
Phone us on Freephone 0808 164 2005. Our lines are open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Email us at registration@future-pathways.co.uk If you email, please include a phone number so we can contact you to complete the registration process.
The winter period can be a difficult time. If you’re finding things hard, you can contact one of the following services:
The Samaritans
The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like. You can talk in your own way about whatever’s going on. They have a helpline, email service, letter service and a self-help app.
Helpline open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Freephone 116123.
www.samaritans.org
Breathing Space
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and webchat service. It is for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Open 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday, and 6pm to 6am Friday to Sunday.
Freephone 0800 83 85 87
breathingspace.scot
Shout
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258
giveusashout.org
Birthlink currently work with Future Pathways to provide a service to individuals who have registered with us. Birthlink help people who are looking for support to access care records, learn more about their family histories, and/or make contact with family members.
Adults who have been in care can have similar needs to people who were adopted, perhaps with issues of identity or looking for more information about their origins and extended family.
Birthlink are able to provide the following support services:
Records
Birthlink can help to try and locate care files and support individuals with the reading and understanding of these records.
Roots
Birthlink have skilled searchers who can search public records to compile family trees.
Re-connect
Birthlink can act as a go-between in making contact with family members.
Cathy’s story shows how Birthlink can support people:
(Names have been changed)
Future Pathways referred Cathy to Birthlink
Future Pathways referred Cathy to Birthlink for support with accessing her care records. Cathy lives with a degenerative health condition and is currently receiving palliative care. She wanted to understand her past in care better, and she hoped that accessing her records would enable her to apply for an advance Redress payment.
Birthlink contact Cathy to give her more information
Her Support Coordinator contacted Birthlink directly to make the referral. Birthlink then contacted Cathy to discuss her record search request and to let her know that it could take some time to find the information she was looking for. Cathy’s Support Coordinator then spoke with Birthlink to explain the context of Cathy’s request since the Advance Payment Scheme was coming to an end in only two weeks. The Support Coordinator felt that Birthlink understood Cathy’s needs immediately: they expedited the process of seeking Cathy’s care records as much as possible while keeping both Cathy and her Support Coordinator aware of their progress.
Birthlink gave Cathy proof of her care status
Less than 48 hours later, Birthlink provided Cathy with proof of her care status. These records were provided to the advance Redress payment scheme and Cathy was awarded an advance payment of £10,000.
Birthlink will continue to support Cathy
This has opened up new opportunities for Cathy, who has decided to use some of this money to book a trip to London, a city she has always wanted to visit but never been able to. Cathy is working with her Support Coordinator to plan this trip around her health and mobility needs. Birthlink have followed up with Cathy to see if she needs any further support after receiving her care records and they continue to seek further care records for Cathy to help her learn more about her past in care.
To find out more about Birthlink, visit: birthlink.org.uk
To find out more about support from Future Pathways, see How We Help.
Rikki first got in touch with Future Pathways over two years ago, at the time he was in a dark place, he described feeling ‘at the end of his tether’ and he wasn’t looking after himself. Since then Rikki’s life has changed. Through conversations with his Support Coordinator Rikki discovered what was important to him and how he wanted to work with Future Pathways.
He worked towards some different outcomes, one of which was about valuing himself and feeling able to prioritise his own physical and mental wellbeing by reigniting his love of travel and exploration through, first, a short break and then a “trip of a lifetime”. Since then Rikki has travelled all over the UK and to Europe. His confidence has grown immensely. He eventually felt able to do something he’d always dreamed of a trip to South America to attend the cultural and spiritual festival Tribal Gathering. However Rikki was left stranded in Panama as the global pandemic COVID-19 struck. Here Ricky tells us about how Future Pathways was able to make sure he was supported in unforeseen and challenging circumstances.
Working towards goals and a trusted relationship
Travelling and meeting new people was identified to help Rikki progress the outcome of valuing himself and placing a priority on his own wellbeing. With Future Pathways’ help, Rikki had been gradually starting to travel again over the last year, something that he used to take great pleasure in as part of his career as a food supplier for KLM.
The beginning of this year was hard for Rikki after his mother passed away. He got back in touch with Future Pathways because he recognised he needed some support to manage how he was feeling.
My support coordinator really was there for me in that time
Rikki and his support coordinator recognised the importance of prioritising his wellbeing at this difficult time, and they talked about different options that could help him feel better. He decided he would travel within the UK to attend a Reiki retreat. He connected with the people he met there and left feeling more confident.
After this retreat, some encouragement from his support coordinator and a friend, and using his own funds, he travelled to Panama in South America for Tribal Gathering, a festival that brings indigenous cultures to people from across the world, connecting people to the earth and to each other. He arrived at the festival on the 29th of February, he was initially due to stay there for three weeks and travel back home in late March.
Feeling connected, at peace and truly himself
Ricky had an incredible time at the festival. There was indigenous music, workshops, and community spirit.
“It was so humbling there was a lot of love and feelings between everyone. I felt like a proud Grandfather, like this is the sort of world I want to stay in. I met people from many different places. I was able to use all the languages I’ve learned in my life at the festival.”
He also tapped into his own creativity and felt able to be truly himself; “my camping area had my Scottish flag and butchers’ apron, everyone knew where to find me!”. Rikki described feeling at peace, that he let go temporarily of some of his pain in both a spiritual and physical sense.
Unexpected challenges
Around the same time Rikki was supposed to leave the festival, he started to hear people talk about the global pandemic, COVID-19. The festival continued despite the news, but it was eventually closed as Panama entered a state of emergency.
Things became stressful when Rikki was evacuated from the festival when it was closed due to the pandemic. Rikki lost some of his belongings at this point. He then discovered that this flight back to the UK had been cancelled, as had most outgoing flights from Panama.
Rikki had made friends with the festival organisers and other people from the UK at the festival, so he didn’t feel alone. He managed to remain calm because he’d been staying in a peaceful place; “where could you go if your flight has been cancelled apart from where you are?”
Rikki and his friends from the UK were given a place to stay while Panama remained in lockdown and Rikki could not get home. At this point he contacted Future Pathways for some support.
Future Pathways was flexible and adaptable in a time of crisis
Rikki ended up being in stuck in Panama for over two months, returning home on May 11th, his original flight home was on March 20th.
Access to essentials
Support coordinators offered a trusted ear. When he was feeling stressed about his situation, they helped him to navigate complications. For example, when he was worried about not being able to afford the essentials for his prolonged stay, like food and accommodation, Future Pathways stepped in.
”Knowing I could go back to my cabin and that I had paid upfront for two weeks because [support coordinator] had helped me to pay for it, that was the thing… it put my mind at ease.”
Rikki had only brought enough medication for his initial three-week trip and after over a week without his medication, he noticed some of his symptoms returning. Rikki knew his prescription, so his support coordinator contacted his GP to discuss what equivalent medication Rikki should seek out in Panama, he was then able to source what he needed at a local pharmacy.
Coordinated support to help with mental health
Future Pathways also contacted Rikki’s NHS Psychologist who then called him remotely on a few occasions, this was really beneficial. “I was in a lot of pain and was questioning my sanity, I started dissecting my trauma, yes I’m feeling all the love, but I wanted to come back home. “
Rikki made the best of the time he was stuck in Panama. He helped to invigorate the hotel grounds and cared for a horse that needed to be groomed and fed. He made lifelong friends and found a sense of community. He was able to remain calm because Future Pathways support was there behind him.
“The experience has made the world feel that bit smaller”
Getting home
“Future Pathways felt like the Thunder Birds, coming to save me.”
Rikki managed to get a seat on the first humanitarian flight out of Panama. He had established contact with the British Embassy in Panama, and his support coordinator helped them understand that Rikki should be prioritised because of his health needs.
“It was learning for me, not to be hard on myself because it was out of my control. I shouldn’t give myself such a hard time, I have to live for now, not tomorrow, it’s liberating to think like that.”
Future Pathways was able to provide Rikki with essential support in what was an extremely stressful situation. By listening to his concerns, tuning into what he needed and providing calm and constructive support, Rikki was able to manage and make the best of his circumstances.
“I know [Future Pathways] must have bent over backwards for the help they gave me, the trust is there, Future Pathways listen to me, you take your time to listen.”
During lockdown, you have been sharing your thoughts about the pandemic with Future Pathways. Vicky has asked us to share her poem about it with you:
The world is fighting a war – you could say, it is world war three. But this battle has no exploding bombs, soldiers firing guns, grenades being thrown, or missiles being fired into the air. The enemy is silent, deadly, and invisible, we all have to take care.
There are no air raid sirens, warning us that danger is near. But with every day that passes, the death toll continues growing, and that fills us all with fear.
This war is not a conflict between different countries, it’s a fight to save people’s lives from a deadly virus named Covid-19. The best defence is to stay in your house and keep your hands clean.
We have thousands of troops from medical teams, emergency services, food suppliers, distributors, politicians and volunteers.
They are fighting round the clock to keep us safe and well, how long this will last, only time will tell.
In these times of uncertainty there is one thing for sure – we will have hard and sad times, highs and lows. But we must stand together, take the good with the bad, play the game, fight the fight, and one day soon, everything will be alright.