The Unity Holistic Lifeline project
A programme to provide FREE therapeutic support to those with learning differences or physical disabilities and those at high risk from, or affected by, Covid-19, together with key workers, including NHS workers.
Introducing our Holistic Lifeline project
The Unity Holistic Lifeline is a project we’re running for a limited time in our community, with National Lottery funding that enables us to provide, free of charge:
- therapeutic support to those with learning differences, physical disabilities or mental health challenges
- therapeutic support to those at high risk from, or affected by, Covid-19
- physical, emotional and mental support for key workers, including NHS workers
We’re offering a great variety of services, from classes to talking therapies, art and music therapies, psychotherapy and more, all currently online, via Zoom. We also offer a very limited number of support groups that meet weekly in the Unity Centre. When lockdown restrictions allow and we feel it’s safe, we’ll also be offering massage therapies and floatation sessions at the Centre, with many taking place when the Centre is otherwise closed to the public, in order to minimise contacts and protect the vulnerable.
Yoga therapy, psychotherapy, meditation and coaching can greatly help any of us feel connected, heard and understood even when we cannot be together in a room.
There are also opportunities for one-to-one services delivered not only at the Centre and online but in visits to people’s private gardens and open spaces, and to residential homes.
To find out more, contact our project team: unitygrantproject@gmail.com .
What’s on offer?
The support covers a wide range of therapeutic services associated with the Unity Centre, online and, subject to lockdown restrictions and general Covid safety, at the Unity Centre. For a full list of possible services, see the Holistic Lifeline FAQ.
Here’s a summary of the weekly timetable. Class details are in the detailed timetable to the right or below.
Mondays
–
9.45–
4.00–5.30pm Cared for Children’s Project (SCF FUNDED) (Live on Zoom with Amber Ward)
Wednesdays
9.30–11.00 (not 3 March) Wellbeing Wednesdays: a gentle movement, meditation and self-care support group (in person at the Unity Centre with Sevanti – places strictly limited! – last class 31 March)
Thursdays
9.30–11.00 (4 March only) Wellbeing Wednesdays: a gentle movement, meditation and self-care support group (in person at the Unity Centre with Sevanti – places strictly limited!)
2.30–3.30 & 4.00–5.00pm Art therapy for adults (live on Zoom with Eleanor Johnson-Bullock – last workshop 18 March)
Fridays
9.30–11.00 Unity Yoga (live on Zoom with Sevanti)
11.30–12.30pm Breath-work, movement and meditation to support us through these uncertain times (live on Zoom with Amber Ward – catch-up recordings available – last session 26 March)
1.00–1.45 Tai Chi / Qi Gong (live on Zoom with Alasdair Warmsley – last class 12 March)
By appointment
Music to Connect & Uplift! (with Keith Ellis) – one-to-one and small group by appointment
Use the button below to apply for a free place at any session or course.
Pre-recorded courses
Pre-teens Yoga Class, Partner Yoga and Yoga Nidra Course
A pre-recorded 5 week course led by Sevanti and including:
- 5 x 40 minute classes
- 2 x Yoga Nidra (20 minute relaxation journeys)
- 1 hour Unity Partner Yoga session
The course is most suitable for 9–13 year-olds.
Chakra Yoga
A pre-recorded 7 week course of 120 minute (2 hour) classes led by Sevanti.
A nourishing yoga/ visualisation/ yoga nidra journey through the chakras, with each session like a workshop in itself.
As well as the timetabled services, we offer calls and visits for one-to-one and one-to-two sessions . Please ask for details.
Our professional facilitators are available for phone, WhatsApp or Zoom communication and they’re happy to help walk you through the technicalities involved.
Contact our project team: unitygrantproject@gmail.com .
Massage and floatation therapies
We hope that in later February we will be able to resume some remedial/therapeutic massage and floatation therapies, offered free to holistic lifeline clients.
Massage
Thursday/Friday/Saturday, by appointment only
Therapeutic massage to relieve stress and anxiety as well as treating any musculoskeletal issues and/or physical discomfort.
Floatation Therapy
By appointment only
Floatation therapy is a deeply relaxing therapy. Floating in body temperature water, you feel completely weightless and supported by the high levels of magnesium (Epsom salts) in the water.
Floatation is proven to lower levels of stress hormones and stress-related chemicals and can aid in the recovery of PTSD, lower blood pressure and heart rate, relieve aches and pains, and help relieve insomnia: one hour of floating is said to have the restorative effects of five hours of sleep.
If you think these services may help you or someone you know, please contact our project team: unitygrantproject@gmail.com .
Classes and support groups
During lockdown, classes are offered live on Zoom. Support groups are offered in the Centre (as permitted by law) with strict controls on timing, numbers and distancing (please see our Unity safety code).
The list below offers greater detail about our holistic lifeline sessions, courses or support groups. If you can’t see the date you want in the list, select your required date in the calendar at the top of the list.
Who is it on offer to?
Our Holistic Lifeline project provides assistance to people of all ages with
- learning differences
- physical disabilities
- mental health challenges, including stroke, memory loss and dementia, as well as general stress, anxiety and depression
- long-term illnesses
- high risk from or vulnerable to Covid-19, including those who are Covid-shielding, those with Covid-related anxieties and those suffering ‘long Covid’
These can include over 65s in need, deprived families with children, marginalised adults home alone with learning differences (PMLD) and mobility challenges, teens struggling with mental health or behaviour difficulties, and those suffering with chronic anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue.
We’re particularly keen to help the most marginalised/vulnerable community members who are suffering specifically due to the challenges imposed by Covid-19.
And we’re offering physical, emotional and mental support for key workers, including NHS and carers.
Funding is also helping us to provide continuing support to our stroke club, neuro-yoga classes and cared for children.
Please note that acceptance onto any free service will be based on our eligibility criteria and on availability.
If you have any questions about eligibility, contact our project team: unitygrantproject@gmail.com
Our teachers and practitioners
Select any teacher’s or practitioner’s photo or name to see more about them and what they will be doing.
Steffi Bednarek
Keith Ellis
Eleanor Johnson-Bullock
Sevanti
Yoga classes
Floatation therapies
Support groups
Massage therapies
Our funding bodies
The Unity Centre is indebted to the National Lottery for funding the Unity Bespoke Holistic Lifeline Covid Project through an Emergency Covid-19 Grant.
We are also very grateful to the following for their grant funding that enables us to run our other community projects that are so important to us:
Sport England Emergency Covid-19 Fund
Sussex Community Foundation
Chalk Cliff Trust
And our Unity Centre members, as a percentage of membership subscriptions is used to support the centre’s community work.
The Unity Centre is a not-for-profit CIC.
Holistic Lifeline project FAQ
1. What is the project title, in full?
It is officially named the ‘Unity Bespoke Holistic Lifeline Covid Project’2. What is it, in a nutshell?
A six month programme to provide therapeutic support to those with learning differences, physical disabilities or mental health challenges, and those at high risk from, or affected by, Covid-19, together with physical, emotional and mental support for key workers, including NHS.
The support covers a wide range of services associated with the Unity Centre, as diverse as, for example, therapeutic yoga, breathing, art therapy, music, psychotherapy and floatation therapy, among many. There is a timetabled programme of services at the Centre (when it's closed to the public, to protect the vulnerable) and online, as well as opportunities for one-to-one services delivered not only at the Centre and online but in visits to people’s private gardens, open spaces and residential homes.3. How is it funded?
It's funded through a National Lottery ‘Emergency Covid-19 Grant’.4. How long does the project run?
The funding is for a 6 month project, with some areas starting on 12 October and the main body of services on 2 November 20205. Who does the project support?
Our Holistic Lifeline project provides assistance to people of all ages with
+ learning differences
+ physical disability
+ mental health challenges
+ long-term illnesses
+ high risk from or vulnerable to Covid-19, including those who are Covid-shielding, those with Covid-related anxieties and those suffering ‘long Covid’
These can include over 65s in need, deprived families with children, marginalised adults home alone with learning differences (PMLD) and mobility challenges, teens struggling with mental health/ behaviour difficulties, and those suffering with chronic anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue.
We’re particularly keen to help the most marginalised/vulnerable community members who are suffering specifically due to the challenges imposed by Covid-19.
And we’re offering physical, emotional and mental support for key workers.
Funding is also helping us to provide continuing support to our stroke club, neuro-yoga classes and cared for children.
Please note that acceptance onto any free service will be based on our eligibility criteria and on availability.
6. What services are potentially available?
Free or reduced-price services and classes including
a. Acupuncture
b. Art therapy
c. Breathing therapy
d. Dance therapy
e. Floatation therapy
f. Health and nutritional therapy advice
g. Martial arts (inc chair work)
h. Massage & bodywork and healing
i. Meditation
j. Movement therapy
k. Music – therapeutic music sessions
l. Pilates
m. Qi gong
n. Sauna – infrared sauna therapy
o. Tai chi
p. Talking Therapies including Psychotherapy
q. Yoga & mindfulness
r. Yoga – in-chair yoga
s. Yoga therapy for mental health
For classes and appointments, please see the latest timetable above7. Where are they on offer?
a. At the Unity Centre, when closed to the general public – one-to-ones, one-to-twos and small groups (capped at 6)
b. Online – one-to-one individual consultations and participation in live online classes
c. Home visits and residential home visits: people’s gardens, outside spaces or through windows – one-to-ones and one-to-twos8. Who can approach the project for services?
a. Link workers (social prescribers) from local GP practices are able to refer local patients to Unity, for free (grant based) or concessionary services, as we are a not-for-profit CIC (Community Interest Company)
b. Individuals and concerned family members and friends can also contact us for availability
c. In addition, we reach out to residential homes to offer our services, and other local community projects and charities, to link up and offer whatever we can to those in need.9. How can I apply?
To apply for one of our Holistic Lifeline services, on your own behalf or someone else's, or as a professional seeking to refer someone, please contact the project team: unitygrantproject@gmail.com10. Who are the practitioners and facilitators?
Steffi Bednarek
Keith Ellis
Michael Gale
Sevanti
Lex Titterington
Amber Ward
Alasdair Warmsley
Profiles of these practitioners and what they offer are listed separately.