SOFEA SESSIONS
SOFEA SESSIONS is a podcast focused on inspiring people through sharing lived experience of mental health and wellbeing. Delivered to you by SOFEA charity, SOFEA SESSIONS is a platform that empowers people to talk, to reduce stigma, help people relate to the episodes and feel less alone in their issues, in the hope that listeners and guest speakers can deepen the connections to themselves and their communities.
Episodes
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Trigger warning: This episode contains conversation about suicide, sexual and physical abuse, bullying, explicit language and traumatic themes. 18+ advised.
November is Men's Mental Health month ('Movember'), and to raise awareness, Stephen Norris bravely shares his story of how he overcame enormous amounts of trauma as a child; bullying, family breakdowns, a suicide attempt and being misplaced into a mental health facility. Despite all this, Stephen, now 63, is a successful Vistage Chair and CEO Mentor, wanting to share his story in the hope that it encourages people to ask for help when it feels like there is no way out.
If you are affected by anything you hear in this episode, these organisations offer mental health and wellbeing support:
Men's Minds Matter | Men's Mental Health & Suicide Charity
MANUP? | MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY
Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
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www.sofea.uk.com
email us at: wellbeing@sofea.uk.com
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Today's brand new episode is with Ben Tuppen, SOFEA's Getting Oxfordshire Online Programme Manager. Today also marks to beginning of Getting Online Week; a national campaign promoting nearly 50 events around the county - at libraries, NHS, community groups and more - all helping people to learn more about and build confidence using the internet.
If you a) need digital support or b) want to support this amazing programme, give this short episode a listen to find out more.
Getting Oxfordshire Online | Helping everyone get online across Oxfordshire
www.sofea.uk.com
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Today’s Shorthand episode explains how SOFEA’s Nourish and Flourish programme – launched in partnership with the Didcot Primary Care Network in January 2022, addresses 3 key issues…
Rising childhood obesity; since 2006, childhood obesity rates have increased by 30% nationally and in Didcot alone, by 40%.
Rising chronic disease in adults.
Barriers to health eating.
Dr Kerry Lock, SOFEA’s Nutritional Therapist and Nourish and Flourish Programme Manager talks about the 3 pillars of support that are addressing these issues:
Nourish and Flourish School Programme (piloted in Didcot 2022 & 2023)
Nourish and Flourish Nutritional Therapy Clinic (Since 2023)
Nourish and Flourish Community Kitchen (launched November 2023)
For more information:
Nutritional Therapy Support (Didcot only) – Referral via your GP, Diabetic Nurse or Social Prescribers
Via our website www.sofea.uk.com
Or email Kerry@sofea.uk.com
Special thanks to all of our fabulous partners who have helped make Nourish and Flourish a success including:
Dr Rachel Ward and the Didcot PCN, Nourish and Flourish kitchen magician Alex MacKay, 8 Didcot primary schools, Replenish Oxfordshire, Didcot Garden Town, JR Hospital, JDK Restaurants, Secret Santa 365, Brendan Mullard and team from Object Space Place, our lovely builder Chris from CSN Build, Nourish and Flourish community chefs Vanessa, Maia & Jane, Magnox & South and Vale Council ,You Move, & 2 local Didcot Secondary Schools 7 Fareshare UK
Thanks also to Nathan (podcast editing support).
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Episode 15: Coming Out - My Story.
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
To celebrate Pride Month last month, Logan (he/him) has come onto the podcast to share his story about coming out as gay. In this episode, Logan, who is on SOFEA's education programme, bravely shares how coming out changed his life and how expressing himself through fashion and makeup impacts his self-confidence.
This episode references bullying, homophobia and other potentially triggering topics. There is also some strong language in this episode. If you are in need of some support, click on the links below to see what support is available in Oxfordshire.
Links mentioned in the podcast:
www.sofea.uk.com
https://www.trainyouth.org.uk/more-services/
https://www.oxmindguide.org.uk/locationcategory/lgbtq/
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Episode 14: Neurodivergence with Jamie Douglas.
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Episode 14 is with the lovely Jamie Douglas from Response organisation; talking all things neurodivergence. Previously a teacher in a secondary school, Jamie was diagnosed as Autistic aged 40, and is also a parent of a neurodivergent child, giving him a breadth of lived and professional experience. This episode covers everything from diagnosis, energy drinks, the UK education system, and even some guidance around language we should be using when talking about Autism and how to challenge unhelpful comments.
Please like, share and subscribe!
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Episode 13: It's the t'ism - with SOFEA's Autism Advocacy Group.
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Monday Apr 08, 2024
To celebrate Autism Acceptance week, we have a very special youth-led episode with CJ, Max and Mia who are all members of our Autism Advocacy Group. All three of these wonderful young people are at SOFEA on various education and employability programmes, after having struggled in the mainstream education system as Autistic young people.
They each share parts of the lives, focusing on themes important to them such as friendships, social cues, sensory overload, the education system and their experiences through diagnosis.
This inspirational group continue to strive for more equality for neurodivergent people, and hope that people listening, whether you are Autistic or not will join the movement to better support and understand neurodivergent individuals!
#autismacceptance
www.sofea.uk.com
@sofeauk
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Episode 12: "Supporting men to fight the fight of life' - The Cornermen
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Trigger warning: this episode discusses men's mental health and themes around suicide.
'Because everyone needs someone in their corner’.
In this month’s episode, John and Steve from @thecornermencic join us to discuss how they combine boxing and men’s mental health support. This episode covers everything from suicide prevention, myths around men’s mental health, …. oh, and The Cornermen even have a band (and merch!). Links are all below.
A huge thank you to John and Steve for coming onto the #SOFEASESSIONSPODCAST, and for all the amazing work you do in South Oxfordshire.
https://thecornermen.org/
Instagram: @thecornermencic
The Cornermen Band
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Episode 11: Cooking, community and connection with Alex Mackay.
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Episode 11 is here!
Alex Mackay joins us for a walk down memory lane; through his magnificent career and how it led him to being SOFEA’s Kitchen Magician. From cooking, to community, to connection, this episode covers so much, with a few laughs along the way.
Ps. this episode does feature a tiny bit of strong language!
Friday Jan 05, 2024
Episode 10: In Conversation with our Deputy CEO, Noel McCarthy
Friday Jan 05, 2024
Friday Jan 05, 2024
Episode 10 is here!
Our Deputy CEO and Director of Business Innovation, Noel McCarthy has joined us to talk about why communicating our model and why it works is so important, he also reflects on his past four years at SOFEA and how this has led him to his new role, which aims to strategically connect with businesses that share our values and why this is integral to a sustainable SOFEA model, that can help more people, in better ways.
If you are an individual or business wanting to support what we do please email Noel@sofea.uk.com or if you have a general inquiry about SOFEA contact info@sofea.uk.com. You can also find us at www.sofea.uk.com
Friday Oct 13, 2023
SOFEA SESSIONS SHORTHAND: What is Social Prescribing?
Friday Oct 13, 2023
Friday Oct 13, 2023
In today’s episode our Social Prescriber Link Worker Selina has come on to talk about what Social Prescribing is, why we feel it’s needed in the community and how people can access the support.
At SOFEA, we work with the Didcot PCN and also in partnership with Age UK to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs, thereby enabling them to take greater control of their health and wellbeing.
For more information about Social Prescribing please go to our website www.sofea.uk.com , speak to your GP or email us at Communitylink.sofea@nhs.net
Please don't forget to leave feedback, like share or subscribe!
SOFEA SESSIONS
At SOFEA we believe in using story telling and the sharing of lived experience as a therapeutic tool. The SOFEA SESSIONS episodes will cover a range of areas such as understanding anxiety, 'all things Trans' and other LGBTQ+ areas, dealing with shame and trauma, sports and wellbeing and lots more.
Our aim is to support our listeners to not feel alone in the barriers that mental health challenges may create and enable our listeners to make deeper emotional connections to themselves.