RESTORE

RESTART offers: 

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- Monthly group mental health sessions with a trained MIND therapist

- Dog therapy once every three months

- Film Club in the Winter and Book Club in the Summer

- a trauma informed approach in all we do. 

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Monthly mental health group sessions

Once a month, at St Columba's (where our Drop In centre is), a trained therapist from Mind runs a group session. The agenda is co-created with the guests who attend, and can be as deep or as light as the group wishes, focusing on things like techniques to manage emotions, relax, get in touch with the present moment and the body, or boost mood, and topics like our personal values, how to live by them, how to deal with past traumas or negative experiences, and how to build healthy relatonships plus much more - anything mental health!

Guests who are part of any of our services can ask staff if they can join these sessions and we take referrals from partner organisations. Get in touch if you would like to take part or if you are an organisation looking to set up a referral pathway. This service is managed by our Senior Caseworker and Mental Health Coordinator, Paula:  paula@restartlives.org.

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Dog therapy

Once every three months, at St Columba's, we offer a group dog therapy session, with up to ten dogs, but room for 20 guests, to chill and stroke an animal, get energised and play with a livelier dog, learn more about having a dog, or even get over an animal phobia. These sessions allow guests to come together in an informal setting, where chatting and sharing about themselves isn't required, but non verbal socialising and just being present in a group setting is facilitated. Guests can also get to know staff a little more at these sessions and consider joining other formal support programmes. Guests who are part of any of our services can ask staff if they can join these sessions and we take referrals from partner organisations. This service is managed by our Senior Programmes Executive, Tess: tess@restartlives.org.

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Film Club and Book Club

In the Winter months, RESTART runs a Film Club every two weeks at St Columba's. Films are chosen by the guests on the day. The group sometimes take trips, such as cinema trips, depending on what members want to do.  Hot and cold drinks and snacks are provided at each session. These sessions offer guests a warm and welcoming space to take shelter in from the Winter weather, a chance to relax in a dark room, experience culture (watch a film) and get together in a group without needing to chat too much or share anything about themselves. Guests can take the opportunity to get to know staff and enrol in other services too.

In the Summer, RESTART switches to offering a Book Club every two weeks. Through partnerships with libraries, publishers and book shops, the charity has a large range of books to give away. Guests don't have to read the same book, but can choose whatever takes their fancy and sit together to read and then chat as much or as little as they like about what they've chosen. Snacks and drinks are provided.  These sessions are run by Programmes Executive, Tess: tess@restartlives.org.