Allchurches Trust and Kintsugi Hope
Exponential Growth for Mental Health and Wellbeing Charity Kintsugi Hope.
Between March 2020 when lockdown began and August 2021, Kintsugi Hope has seen a 645% increase in Churches and Christian Organisations partnering with them to provide safe and supportive spaces for those who are struggling with their mental health.
This enormous and amazing growth has also been coupled with 67% of adults believing that the pandemic will have long term negative effect on their mental health.
Kintsugi Hope’s vision is to see a world where mental and emotional health is understood and accepted, with safe and supportive spaces for everyone to grow and flourish. With the support of £83,514 funding from Allchurches Trust, Kintsugi Hope is partnering with churches and Charites to make this a reality so less people struggle alone. The organisations that partner with Kintsugi Hope, are trained and resourced to run Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups that look at 12 weeks of topics ranging from Anxiety, Perfectionism, Shame and Forgiveness. The Groups are written in learning styles and aim to be an inclusive space where there is no shame or judgement.
“The materials and resources covered have provided me with a metaphorical tool-box to refer to on difficult days.” — Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Participant.
“Understanding better that we all make mistakes and we’re not perfect and we shouldn’t expect to be perfect ourselves.” — Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Participant.
“Being part of a like-minded group of people who are open and willing to share the laughter, the tears and the love of being Christians.” — Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Participant.
Kintsugi Hope has partnered with 300 Organisations and trained over 1000 Group Leaders from all over the United Kingdom. These groups have been delivered different contexts within the community including churches, coffee shops and homes, as well as prisons and homeless shelters. We all experience mental health, no one is immune from struggling, whatever our life experience. By the end of the 12 weeks 100% of the participants would recommend attending a wellbeing group and reported an increase in their self-worth and confidence.
“The group leaders have been kind, caring, supportive and thoughtful towards me and each of the group as a whole.”- Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Participant.
“Being able to talk, share and listen to each other. It makes dealing with difficult situations easier and you can feel that you’re not alone.” — Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Participant
Kintsugi Hope is helping churches connect with their local community and a quarter of participants report not being members of the host church. We believe that this is a powerful way to reach a community and for the church to not be a museum for the perfect but a safe space for the broken.
“For me personally as a Christian in church leadership the Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups are a simple and practical way I can love my neighbour.” Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Leader
People can feel that they aren’t “fixed” enough to be able to facilitate a space for others or that they need to have it all together, however, when it comes to Kintsugi Hope, it is the contrary. Your brokenness makes you human, your flaws are to be celebrated, beauty can be found in brokenness. Kintsugi is a Japanese word meaning “broken joinery”. In Japan instead of casting away broken crockery or using superglue to hide the imperfection, they choose to celebrate it. They mix a gold powder into the glue and make a feature of the cracks.
“As the group leader I have been honest and open about my own struggles, you can’t expect other people to be open and honest if you don’t show your own vulnerability.” — Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group Leader
If you would like to get involved with Kintsugi Hope and be part of this amazing movement then visit the website: www.kintsugihope.com/groups
