9 June, 2026
Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) gave us a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the incredible people who give their time, skills and compassion to support Waythrough’s work.
In the South West, five volunteers joined staff at Pippins Community Centre in Axminster, home to our Together drop-in service, for an afternoon of conversation, reflection and thanks. They represented a much bigger team of 23 active volunteers who collectively contribute many hundreds of hours every year to Together, Reach and the wider work of Waythrough.
Aquarius held its volunteers’ event in the Midlands, and there were events in London, the North East and Leeds, plus the online presentation of the Waythrough Volunteer Awards.
The stories shared during the events highlighted just how powerful volunteering can be, not only for the people receiving support, but for the volunteers themselves.
Also featured here on our Main Stage, some fabulous art and craftwork, including a particularly moving gesture by one of our residents in Weston-Super-Mare.
GET INVOLVED IN OUR SUMMER THEME!
This being a World Cup football year, with the 2026 tournament kicking off in Mexico, the US and Canada this week, our summer theme has an international flavour, and you don’t have to be interested in football for this one! Maybe you’d like to write a poem or piece of prose related to one of the 48 participating countries, cook some delicious cuisine or do an arts/crafts exercise based on the nations’ flags.
There are endless possibilities so don’t be limited by our suggestions, as always these are mere prompts, and whatever your preferred way of creative expression, we always love to see the different creative sparks from throughout the Waythrough community.
David Mitchell – Re Create
Hi Everyone –
It isn’t often I get let out the cupboard but I’ve snuck in here to share a piece of news that I know David will be too modest to mention.
Regular Re-Create visitors will know David from his current and previous posts on this site – as far back as Summer 2022 – encouraging members of our Waythrough communities to share their creative spark as chief prompt, editor, technical support and arts engagement officer.
(This counts as one of his volunteer roles, I won’t embarrass David with a list.)
But I do want to say a big THANK YOU! and a huge WELL DONE! for being nominated for, and receiving, the Volunteer Respect Award in this year’s Volunteer Awards in Waythrough. Respect indeed!
Almost as good as Ipswich being promoted to the Premier?
I’ll let David decide that one…
Danny (‘umble sub-editor)
Residents at Braeside, our residential service in Weston-super-Mare, have been very creative lately. Sara, who loves ponies, made this beautiful drawing of a horse for her support workers.
And in a touching tribute to fellow resident Holly who sadly passed away recently, Jake Lawrance crafted this beautiful wooden memory box (right), engraved with her name and presented as a gift to her family.
Meanwhile at REACH – Dorset, one of the service’s art volunteers created ‘The Night in the Ward’ (below) to process his journey of healing.
And previously…..
12 May, 2026
“Light began to find its way through the cracks.” What a succinct and powerful expression of recovery, as told in one of two incredibly moving videos as part of Waythrough’s research work with women who have experienced addiction. The Climb is by a service user at 5 Ways to Recovery in Leeds and the The Worth Within – YouTube was made by a service user at Barnsley Recovery Steps. Please take a few minutes to hear their stories of resilience, told so eloquently and movingly.
It was great to see the residents of Holder House getting involved in, and taking pride in their living space this month. They were seen hoovering, mopping gardening and in general being motivated busy bees…. and at the end a raffle with lots of interesting prizes for all those who took part in making Holder House a pleasant place to be. Pictures below!
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GET INVOLVED IN OUR NEW THEME!
This being a World Cup football year, with the 2026 tournament kicking off in Mexico, the US and Canada in June, our spring theme has an international flavour, and you don’t have to be interested in football for this one! Maybe you’d like to write a poem or piece of prose related to one of the 48 participating countries, cook some delicious cuisine or do an arts/crafts exercise based on the nations’ flags.
There are endless possibilities so don’t be limited by our suggestions, as always these are mere prompts, and whatever your preferred way of creative expression, we always love to see the different creative sparks from throughout the Waythrough community.
David Mitchell – Re Create
13 April, 2026
It’s that time of year when everything starts to feel a little bit lighter, a touch warmer, and there’s a sense of new possibilities in the air.
Tessa Dunkley at Holder House sent in some wonderful pictures of a couple of spring-related activities held recently (see pics right and below).
The first was drawing a face on a pot showing present feelings or emotion and planting cress seeds so that within a week their pot will show character.
Activity 2 was writing wishes or positive things on the label of an unopened daffodil head. These are all in a vase in the dining room and will no doubt have bloomed by now.
Also featured below is a great video created by Karl, previous Community Development Coordinator at REACH Drug & Alcohol Services, to promote the Weymouth, Dorset Mindful Gardening group.
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NEW THEME
This being a World Cup football year, with the 2026 tournament kicking off in Mexico, the US and Canada in June, our spring theme has an international flavour, and you don’t have to be interested in football for this one! Maybe you’d like to write a poem or piece of prose related to one of the 48 participating countries, cook some delicious cuisine or do an arts/crafts exercise based on the nations’ flags.
There are endless possibilities so don’t be limited by our suggestions, as always these are mere prompts, and whatever your preferred way of creative expression, we always love to see the different creative sparks from throughout the Waythrough community.
David Mitchell – Re Create
