Our volunteer, Mark O’Shaughnessy, has been spending time in the community visiting funded groups to see first-hand the impact of donor support. On this occasion, Mark visited Positive Life Workshops CIC (PL) in St Helens.

Positive Life’s principal aim is to improve mental health in the local community and support the drive to reduce suicide rates. There is an underlying theme to all of their work: building resilience, and in doing so, helping people develop the skills to improve their mental health and overall wellbeing. They often work with individuals struggling with physical and mental health issues, many of whom are also living in poverty. Located next to Bright Start Homes, Positive Life engages with vulnerable residents, including those recovering from addiction, who often take part in their successful Virtual Reality (VR) programme.

Positive Life runs a range of creative, alternative and innovative activities, including weekly ladies’ groups, meditation, crafts for wellbeing, and community-based sessions. During school holidays, they deliver family sessions through the HAF programme, strongly believing in the benefit of parents being present, often gaining as much from the experience as their children.

Their VR programme has been particularly impactful. Participants often face mental health challenges and disabilities, and the sessions have proven transformative—one young person, initially reluctant to attend, was so inspired that he committed to returning, even if it meant travelling a long distance.