"I was subject to a 'section 21 no fault eviction' during the height of the Pandemic. I was then homeless for two years and was offered a hand massage by one of our volunteers in a drop-in centre. When a stranger reached out with her hands, made human contact with me, with no agenda, I was lifted.

My spirit, my soul, my heart felt warm again. That twenty minutes of gentle touch and kindness gave me hope, switched a light back on and was stronger than anti-depressants could ever be’. I have been a volunteer with A Touch of Gentleness ever since"

MB

"Thank you so much for sending your volunteers along. Everybody loved them! It went so much better than I could have even envisaged. Everyone was so receptive to it and got such a lot out of it. I can't thank you all enough. And I hope you realise ​(and are told regularly!) what an amazing thing you are doing."

Sarah Wilson CEO Veterans' Growth

"Initially when I began to massage an elderly lady's hands she sat rocking with her eyes fixed to the floor.

As I sat in front of her and conintued to gently massage her, her eyes lifted to meet mine. It was as if a veil was lifting from her eyes as she whispered, oh so quietly, 'Am I still alive? Yes, I replied with a big smile 'you are very much alive and your eyes are still so sparkly.

Oh good she replied, I do want to be alive only sometimes I do just wonder.... but this, well this is just wonderful and it makes me feel alive'.

HP

"I really enjoyed this experience. It has restored my faith in humanity.... Thank you."

Sara

"Saving lives without realising it"

Client at the Beacon shopping centre

"Helen and her volunteers from a touch of gentleness have been such a welcome addition to the other alternative therapies that we offer. Clients have reported the benefits of the treatments, these include less hand pain, less anxiety, better mood and better sleep and just having a lovely person to chat to while the treatment takes place with Helen and her volunteers."

AB, Project Manager East Sussex Recovery Alliance

"That was better than chocolate"

R

"Gentleness is an energy and to understand its transformative wisdom, power and subtleties it needs to be experienced, and that is where A Touch Of Gentleness comes in. The volunteers travelled to all the floors to ensure every resident experienced the power of touch to ignite the energy of gentleness across Beechwood Grove."

Activities Co-ordinator

"The hand massage is more relaxing than I thought and I like the way you are listening to me, I can tell you are listening for real without judgement. I feel much lighter now."

A Gentleman at the Beacon

"Thank you, I can feel your touch of Gentleness is helping heal my physical and emotional wounds."

A Ukranian refugee

"The first patient I gave A Touch of Gentleness too  was quite sick...we did not know if he would survive ...that day he was withdrawn and didn't seem  to want to communicate much. We felt maybe his condition was deteriorating 😞."It was my first shift back from days off.

I  asked him whether he woukd like a hand massage not expecting to receive an answer to that either ..but to my surprise his eyes suddenly slightly opened up and  he made such an effort to move his head to say yes!"

"The nurse looking after him and  i looked at each other so pleasantly surprised and, I can honestly tell you, at that moment,  we both had to contain our tears as he  tried hard to make himself understood...the best response we had had from him all day ...I was so chuffed! ...I loved that shift." "He is still with us, and fighting ..and smiles when he sees me."

A nurse on critical care.

'Thank you so much.  I feel as if the tension has lifted from my body, and less stressed. mental health is better too.  Absolutley amazing work.  Please keep doing what you are doing'. 

K

'It made me feel human and safe at a time when I was scared and uncertain'.

ICU patient

'Absolutely fabulous and calmed down my blood pressure'. 

SL

"Wow, I wasn't expecting to say all that! I don't know where it all came from but I am glad it did and that it got heard.  Thank you so much. I feel completely different now."

B

"My first massage with A Touch Of Gentleness volunteer was so lovely and just what I needed. Going through an awful amount of stress, Iiving on my own, in a rural area, I was feeling very low, isolated and had lower back pain...During my massage, and a friendly talk, I instantly felt relaxed and at ease,  my lower back pain had disappeared!

I am so grateful, with the positive and supportive impact it had, I have decided to go on a training course myself! Thank you again 🙏🏻💚"

Melissa

"We have found the support a touch of gentleness to be amazing for the clients we look after. When Laura is here she will spend time getting to know clients individually giving them 1/1 therapeutic and emotional support which is really lovely to see." 

Manager of Milton Grange Care Home

"I feel calmer after that"

AB

"Across the Gateways of our hearts we wrote 'No Thoroughfare'. Tho love came by and cried 'I am everywhere'. So it was here today."  Many thanks.

Pansy a visitor at the Beacon 

"I had one of the most magical and deeply relaxing experiences of my life. Receiving the hand massage felt like my whole body was pampered, loved and protected; so much so that I would have liked to remain in that ecstatic experience forever!

That same night, I slept deeply and very well for the first time in what it felt like an eternity. Having a hand massage from one of the "A touch of Gentleness" volunteers is the best present I had ever received in my life and The One I would like to receive from now on 💜"

SC at the Choir with No Name

"My hands feel as light as a feather, I had no idea I was carrying so much tension"

CS

"My hands don't hurt any more, the arthritis was making them stiff and now they feel so supple"

DG

 We had such a beautiful afternoon spreading A Touch of Gentleness to our hospital staff on Valentine's day, From porters to consultants, even our chaplain.  We gave our last massage to one of our consultant surgeons. She praised all the staff in critical care for looking after her patients so well and introducing hand massages to our patients there.

She spoke at length about how we are getting sicker patients coming to hospital nowadays and how these basic actions of compassion, therapeutic touch, a hand massage...are the actual things that keep patients strong when many would have lost their will to get through.  

One of the Critical Care Nurses who so generously gave up their day off to offer hand massages to the Drs and staff at Hastings Conquest Hospital on Valentines Day.

"You (the team from A Touch of Gentleness) had such a profound impact on our members, everybody LOVED it. We hope to do more in the future.”

Charlie Higgins - The Choir with No Name - Brighton

"What Helen and her team provide through A touch of gentleness is unique, calm & welcoming –They are really giving back to the local community and to those in need of a basic human connection. I noticed through a simple act of kindness what it has done to uplift those visiting the centre - each month we look forward to having the team from A Touch of Gentleness visit us here at The Beacon, Eastbourne because of the difference it makes to those visiting Eastbourne"

Hend Moussa - Community Manager, The Beacon

"I really needed someone to hold my hand - it's been so long"

RG

"I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for yesterday for your flexibility, patience and calm approach. It seemed to be just what people wanted and if I am honest I did wonder if thinking of those attending if they would participate but it was great to see a queue!  Plus  I have had some fab feedback. Thank you."

N. Wickham. Specialist Advisor – Tenant Involvement. Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils

"Haven't received such gentle touch for what feels an eternity.  It was wonderful.  It felt like coming home, coming back to a place of rest and peace within myself.  Just wonderful. Thank you."

HO