Solace@ Empowerment Charity

Empowerment is an innovative charity based in Blackpool, dedicated to serving marginalised communities in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast since 2017. We provide diverse services through passionate individuals who support the area’s most vulnerable people, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. Our vision is to support local communities and improve lives by advocating, co-producing, challenging domestic abuse, tackling social isolation, and promoting kindness, justice, and equality for all.

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Our work in suicide prevention

Solace @Empowerment Charity contributes to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it through Solace, a service within Empowerment that originated from lived experience. Everything we do is designed to meet the needs of individuals, families and the wider community.

Solace provides support to family, friends, and the wider community in Blackpool around suicide and mental health. As part of postvention, we offer a single point of access to local services and resources, as well as a safe space to meet, talk, and help each other. Our team works with individuals to reduce stigma, dispel myths, and highlight the importance of support for those affected by suicide.

Given that Blackpool has suicide rates above the national average, we emphasise the importance of community-backed suicide and mental health support. Our overarching aim is to foster an environment where meaningful change and support can take place.

Our work encompasses several distinct themes:

Suicide Bereavement Support: We provide peer support, therapeutic support, and family drop-ins and outings to help those affected by suicide navigate their grief and find a supportive community. Our approach is human-centred, ensuring that each individual’s needs are met with compassion and understanding.

Suicide Prevention Support: Elliot’s Place is dedicated to building a community of young men who empower each other and challenge the stigma of mental ill health and suicide. We offer daily activities such as football and boxing to promote engagement and well-being. Additionally, our I am Dylan project supports individuals with diagnosed or undiagnosed neurodiversity, providing peer-led assistance and advocacy. Through this project, we give hope and encourage healthy coping mechanisms. We also have a weekly peer support group for anyone struggling with suicidal ideation and mental health issues. Our peer mentors assist individuals who struggle with making appointments and are often non-attenders at local services due to various barriers.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support: We regularly host, drop-ins at colleges, local businesses, we have brew and chat drop ins in construction sites and coffee shops. We hold local events and family activities to reduce stigma and promote mental health awareness. For instance, for Suicide Prevention Day, we organise Unite For Hope, featuring live bands and artists and spoken words. This year, we are excited to host our own conference, “Let Talk About Suicide” furthering our mission to create a supportive and informed community. A collective lived experience voice, to bring Hope to Action, as everybody is a priority to somebody.

At Empowerment, we believe in the power of collaboration and working together. By fostering partnerships and collective efforts, we aim to support the silenced, empower those most at risk, and create a community where kindness, justice, and equality prevail. This is the essence of Empowerment.

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Our current priorities

Our current priorities focus on saving lives and making systemic changes to improve support for those affected by suicide. We are actively working with Lancashire Police and the coroners to implement changes to the G72 form, ensuring that all individuals are automatically referred for postvention support through an opt-out policy. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring that local and national commissioned services work together seamlessly across the Fylde Coast.

We are also organising a conference to bring together key stakeholders and the community at the heart of it is lived experience, and we continue to support families and individuals affected by suicide, providing them with the resources and assistance they need.

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Our current challenges

Collaboration issues – getting organisations to work together remains a significant challenge. Despite the urgency and importance of the work we do, there is often resistance to collaborate. It’s crucial to remember that these aren’t just political issues; these are people’s lives. A collaborative approach is essential for effective support and systemic change.