Stories of Strength Podcast by Action Together

Episode 2

On today's show Danielle went to the always welcoming Deeplish Community Centre, a favoured spot for lots of different groups and local services.  She joined a brilliant women’s group facilitated by Cartwheel Arts and spoke to Salma Khalid an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner, Naseem a participant and Fareeha a volunteer, to understand the inner workings, motivations and mental health benefits for joining. During the workshop they took some time out for them selves, recited poetry, created beautiful glass art and shared a meal together. The space was safe, warm and inviting. Thank you so much for having us.

*Trigger warning Suicide and child disability

“Too many people stigmatise people with disabilities….especially in our community (south Asian). Deafness is a hidden disability there is not much awareness out there, so talking about it like this can help break the stigma, and I wouldn't be able to do this had this not happened to me”

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“The doctors had said that you can’t have any more children…it was from that point onwards that we decided if we had the opportunity to look after other children then we would”

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We had the privilege to speak to Cilla Baynes OBE, a long standing leader in the arts and culture world in Manchester and Rochdale, co-founder of Community Arts North West.  And Bushra Sultana an artist, arts facilitator and teacher who freelances for Touchstones, HOME Mcr and Manchester International Festival. 

They talk about how they progressed through their brilliant careers, and how their childhoods influenced their development.

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Today's episode features two amazing women, Jackie and Ivy united through friendship and volunteering.  

Jackie shares her story of losing custody of her daughter due to undiagnosed postnatal psychosis, but her life did turn around when she was finally correctly diagnosed, reunited with her daughter and re- invigorated through volunteering. And Ivy also talks about how her life changed and blossomed through volunteering, friendships, and going back to school at the age of 40.

Trigger Warning - Reference to post-natal depression and family bereavement.

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Kimberley talks about how she struggled through both her pregnancy’s due to hyperemesis and post-natal depression, and how this led her to set up the Women of Whitworth project to celebrate local women and their achievements.

Trigger Warning - Reference to post-natal depression.

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"Don't suffer in Silence".  Dani talks about her mental health journey, her addiction, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her perpetrator and how she has rebuilt her life. Dani tells us how she has used art as not only a form of therapy but also in helping her set up her successful business. 

Trigger Warning - Reference to suicide, mental health, alcohol addiction, severe weight loss. 

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Soul Sisters https://soulsisters.org.uk/

Mel tells us how history can repeat itself, how she wishes she had spoken up and the pain of losing her children. Listen to how Mel is turning her life around and how she has found her voice and inner strength.

*Trigger warning contains references to domestic abuse.

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This week we listen to Sharon sharing an all too familiar story of how mental abuse from a partner can quickly escalate to physical, and how isolating this can be.

*Trigger warning contains references to domestic abuse.

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"If you have anything happening to you, physical or mental, there is help available" Hear Maliha talk about her work and life experiences.

*Trigger warning contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. 

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Lizl from Rochdale Connections Trust talks openly about being a child of an alcoholic father, witnessing the abusive relationship of her parents and how this has impacted on the rest of her life.

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This is a heart warming conversation in English and Urdu, hosted by Cartwheel Arts at Deeplish Community Centre in Rochdale. 

Writer and poet Anjum Malik speaks to Parveen about her happy life, the benefits of working and the centre of her universe - her family.

Sharon openly shares her story of strength of how she got away from an abusive relationship and the detrimental effects it had on her children. She describes the act of one policeman who helped her make the first moves to a new live and the continued support of services such as Rochdale Connections Trust.  

Razia tells her story of her first job as a welder, realising her strength as a woman and becoming a carer for her husband.

Tamsyn opens up about her abusive relationship, why she kept going back, losing her children and how she finally broke away for good.

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The amazing Balqis talks to Millie about her loving relationship with her father, sacrificing her education to be a carer and her determination to be a community trailblazer.

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Mar 28 • 25:24

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Holly shares her story of being homeless and pregnant at 16, and how grateful she is for the support from Rochdale services and funding opportunities that got her through college and university.

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A local youth group share their experiences of coming out, challenges at school and safety in their communities.

“One of my wisdom teeth was smashed into 14 peices because he hit me that hard" Channi shares her brave story of how she turned her life around after being abused as a child and how that impacted on her future relationships.