Background
ALF began as the social enterprise arm of a local business, several years before it appeared in its current form in 2015 (and registered as a CIC in 2017).
ALF have been working quietly in our local communities providing services that fill the gaps in local provision, ever since. We prefer to collaborate and support what is already working, unless there is a gap to fill.
In practice, our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of communities by supporting individuals (and groups of individuals) to overcome challenges caused by stress, trauma/PTSD, or ill health, and learn skills, tools, and techniques that enable them to become autonomous, no longer dependent on health services, and find the confidence and support to become purposeful, economically active (where appropriate) and, ideally, able to support themselves both emotionally and economically.
In turn, they are then able to use and pass on their skills in their families, friendship groups, and wider communities.
Our priority is to support those offering help and support to others. For example, those who work in frontline health, emergency services, veterans, and those running community support of any kind. It is important that we enable these people to both continue their work and ensure that, when they are affected by trauma, that they can recover and get their lives back on track.
We also work with those struggling with chronic health conditions that have their roots in stress and trauma, such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and ME, as well as those with disabilities.
Examples of our work
Large scale projects
We have taken on large scale work at times, for example, training all the work coaches in the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) across Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire in mental health awareness and skills (circa 700 staff in total) and created a bespoke programme for the DWP senior leadership team.
We have also created courses and programmes for other large charitable organisations and provided trainers from our peers, to deliver these programmes, thus creating work for those we support, as well as helping organisations fulfil their funding objectives.
Small local projects
We have provided small scale services such as setting up grassroots peer support groups and supporting peers to run their own groups, providing training to small groups of people wishing to expand their career horizons helping others.
We have delivered EU funded local projects providing emotional resilience combined with career/business skills programmes, aimed to support people back into paid or voluntary work, self-employment, or education.
We have have continuously offered one to one support in the form of psychotherapy for trauma resolution, and peer coaching which combines peer support principles with a therapeutic coaching approach.
Our Team
We have a small core team who work tirelessly in our local communities
Emma jaynes - co-Principle and founder
Keith Abrahams - Co-Principle and founder
Glenys Collings - Health Consultant for aLF
Emma Jaynes is a peer educator, mentor, and therapeutic coach. She is currently providing training the national charity, Imroc, as a Peer Consultant Trainer, training adults to work as Peer Workers in NHS and voluntary sector mental health services.
Emma has held senior positions in the voluntary sector, Business, and has worked in the NHS and education. She has worked in frontline health and taught psychology based programmes to adults for over a decade. She is adept at leading; teaching & training; coaching & mentoring; building relationships and bringing people together.
Emma has trained and is proficient in many areas from Psychology, Health and Wellness, to Business, Academia, Music, and the Arts. She has an outstanding ability to capture the attention of, and connect with, people across all sectors, who willingly support or partner in her aims.
Emma models the peer approach with an unrivalled level of authenticity, competence, and compassion, always bringing her wit and humour along with her. She inspires and motivates others to follow their aspirations and become the best versions of themselves they can be.
Emma takes a non medicalised, non pathologising approach to interpreting and working with emotional distress, supporting people to make sense of their personal stories and experiences, while helping them to progress towards their goals and attain a good quality of life.
Keith has a diverse background, training, and expertise in business, finance, psychology, and psychotherapy. He has over 35 years’ experience as a Finance Director, is an FCCA, and has worked for several large multi-national organisations. He has also run several SMEs over the past few decades and has been practicing as a psychotherapist for over 35 years.
Keith’s specialist expertise as a trauma therapist has earned him an excellent reputation in his field.
He approaches clients with a calmness and solidness that immediately puts them at ease and enables them to move forwards quickly towards their life and career goals.
Keith’s experience and training make him uniquely placed to bring strategic guidance and psychological insight into businesses, and senior finance executives value his calm, pragmatic, and multi-dimensional approach to coaching as an experienced peer.
Keith acts as valued mentor on the team, ensuring that ALF holds to its values, aims, and vision.
Glenys Collings is a specialist in well being and natural healthy living. She has had a successful career in nursing which has led to Naturopathy and Integrated Medicine.
Glenys’ holistic interventions are based on nutrition, natural healthy living, eastern philosophies and positive psychology to support the challenges of 21st century life.
She specializes in all diet and stress related health symptoms, including addiction issues. Her therapy empowers and motivates the individual to understand their own wellbeing and to maintain lifelong positive health.
Memberships and associations include: Royal College of Nursing, Association of Naturopathic Practitioners. • 18 years experience in General Practice managing chronic and acute disease. • Opted out of NHS to practice holistic Integrated Medicine. • Now promoting innovative patient centreed approach to integrative 21st Century Health Care. Registered General Nurse RGN Dip. Naturopathy Dip. Acupuncture PG. Integrative Medicine
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