Getting Back in Touch
On Tuesday 12 March, ‘A Touch of Gentleness’ will be celebrating two years of connecting with people through the art of a gentle hand massage. A gathering of trained volunteers will be offering relaxing hand massages to the public from 10.00am through to 4.00pm at the Gather space in the Beacon Shopping Centre, Eastbourne.
This is one of many locations where Helen Prosper, founder of ‘A Touch of Gentleness’, and her volunteers offer this service. Together, they create a healing bubble, a safe space for people to take a moment for themselves.
We are constantly reminded how feelings of loneliness and isolation are an increasing societal problem, a problem exacerbated by the recent pandemic. Millions of people are suffering alone and in silence, disconnected from other human beings.
As a counsellor and therapist, Helen has spent thirty years developing her techniques and training to bring human connection to the forefront. ‘A Touch of Gentleness’ provides a way to bring the healing power of touch – with all its emotional and physical benefits – safely back into our lives. She feels that offering this service freely to people in the local community helps to create a culture of gentleness and generosity.
All volunteers with the organisation receive thorough training which enables them to provide a soothing hand massage whilst listening with deep awareness. Connecting in this uncomplicated way, through our hands, is a sincere form of communication: we all remember how gentle touch makes us feel.
This sense of connection brought by this service is gaining momentum as the volunteers quietly work their magic all over Sussex. These healing hand massages are being rippled out to wellbeing hubs, care homes, hospices, drop-ins, community centres and shopping centres throughout East and West Sussex with new locations being added weekly.
Among those who benefit from this caring touch are ICU patients at the Conquest Hospital, following in-house training held for the nurses who work there. Over the past two years, volunteers have supported events run by Holding Space mental health support, the Kinship Group carer support, and the Cancer for Children Fund. Organisations including Hastings Direct insurance and the East Sussex Recovery Alliance have also recognised the importance of connection through ‘A Touch of Gentleness’.
Marty, one volunteer, was introduced to Helen’s techniques whilst visiting The Common Room community space on Cambridge Road, Hastings.
She says: “When I was offered a hand massage, I accepted with curiosity, not realising how disconnected I had become over the last few difficult years. The gentle touch of a kind person, with no agenda other than to give, brought me back, lifted me out of the doldrums and inspired me to become part of this wonderful family.”
Would you like to get involved? Do you know a person, a community group or an organisation who would benefit from training or organising a group workshop? If so, take a look at the website, atouchofgentleness.org, and get in touch! You can bring more joy, connection, and peace back to our communities.
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