Hooi-Leng is the most warm kind person. I had a lovely relaxing massage. She is so knowledgeable and has inspired me to look further into massage and alternate therapies. Thank you so much 🙂

A Touch of Gentleness are involved in many HVA events, providing much-needed space for reflection, relaxation and community connection. Grateful for all they do!

Two lovely ladies came to our Monday Club and got through 6 people in an hour. They all enjoyed the time they had.

The lovely team from A Touch of Gentleness supported our Big Green Day event at the Combe Valley Community Garden and Discovery Centre last weekend. They were busy all afternoon, providing much appreciated hand massages to visitors and stall holders at the event. We has some terrific feedback from visitors on how much they appreciated this service. We will definitely invite the team back!

Thank you to all the staff in ITU and HDU. The rest repaired my body but with your kindness and feeling of real care with the hand massages you gave me back my sense of self worth. I was very down…but you were so kind .. so I’ve not given up hope .. and I will move forwards once again. I can not emphasise the major part you with your hand massage played in my recovery and I will always be so thankful.

At Hastings Direct, we love inviting A Touch of Gentleness to our wellbeing events. These kind, compassionate and professional volunteers help and support our colleagues and the bring the best out of everyone We look forward to seeing these cohort of lovely people back at our doors again

Such a well governed organisation with high ethical values that match our own. Our guests absolutely, volunteers and dignitaries were queuing up for a hand massage throughout out 3 hour event. The power of gentle touch was clear to be seen. I cried gentle tears it was so wonderful. Please do come again! Thank you.

What a beautiful day I had learning hand massage and all of its wonderful benefits! I’m so excited to start my volunteering journey, giving hand massages with an open heart and kind ear to listen.

A beautiful teaching day filled with Magic. Wonderful spiritual quotes, anatomical learning, sweet sharing, fabulous company and detailed hand massage training practice thoughtfully and clearly taught by delightful, warm, kind, knowledgeable Touch of Gentleness Helen ✨️🙌🙌🙌🙏

Hello Carmen, I just wanted to let you and Helen know how much I've valued giving patients hand massages recently. So I'm so grateful to be involved. Tonight I gave two hand massages. One gentlemen jumped at the offer of a massage, he relaxed, heart rate went down, pain disappeared. The frown from his brow softened and he was asleep. I was overwhelmed, it was because I actually felt I had done something worthwhile and of value. Nursing can become routine, mechanical, automatic, but this really touched me and for the first time in a while I remembered some of the core reasons I wanted to be a nurse. The second massage was lovely too. The patient, a young man, who had serious neurological problems, said that he felt that all of the sensation and movement he was regaining in his hands recently was directly because of the massages. He couldn't thank us enough. It was great to let him talk, and make time to listen to him. That was another treat. Something we have less and less time to do. Thank you Best wishes Sophie.

We were lucky enough to have A Touch of Gentleness join us at Amberstone Hospital for our summer BBQ. Service users, their families, friends and carers were so grateful to receive this amazing service. The feedback was that people felt cared for, appreciated, relaxed, and heard. This is so important for our service users and their amazing support networks who give so much. Staff were also able to make the most of this service and enjoy this alongside others. We can't say thank you enough and express how wonderful this work is! Ellé, Occupational Therapist

A Touch of Gentleness visit our community drop-in Meet up Mondays once a month. Their visit is very popular with our guests and is very much valued by them. We have to use a ticket queueing system to make sure everyone can enjoy a massage! One of our key objectives with Meet up Mondays is overcoming social isolation. Hand massage is a great asset that help reach this goal.

A Touch of Gentleness provide a fantastic service to our members at Lunch Positive, many of whom have experienced stigma and social isolation in their lives. The volunteer are kind, considerate and mindful of being in a safe and confidential space. Touch is also such a powerful tool in boosting wellbeing

Thank you for providing such a relaxing experience for our participants.

A valuable skill that is good for the patient-that was amazing ,I felt the stress fall off me.

Helen came to talk to our Ladies group this week about A Touch of Gentleness, which is a wonderful not for profit organisation that she started after Covid. She was truly inspirational and we all enjoyed listening to her. I would highly recommend her.

This lady fell asleep whilst I was doing massage and continued to sleep for hours. In the morning she said it was wonderful, she trusted me, felt comfortable and said it was an amazing service. I believe the Critical Care hand massage has greatly improved patients' well-being in a number of ways. It has helped reduce their anxiety, improve sleep, alleviate pain and stiffness; and most of all brought patients comfort. As an ITU nurse, providing hand massages helps me humanize patients and recognise the emotional aspect of the healing process.

The hand massage sessions have been a huge hit at the hospital. We initially began with a single inpatient with a number of sensory requirements. The parents of the patient explained that this these had an hugely calming effect, something which was extremely beneficial in an often overwhelming ward environment, from one session we eventually scheduled these to take place weekly and both parent and patient were looking forward to these each week. The ward team also noticed the positive effects and had asked for massages too. So that we can offer this service to more of our patients, families and staff, A Touch of Gentleness are coming to train a cohort of our volunteers.

Makes you feel like you are a human being and it helps you to your recovery. I think it helps the nurses relax and draws them nearer to the patients.

Thank you so much for your lovely massages. I swear these hand massages are the things that have helped my hands get better quicker.

Achieve your own Nirvana then you can go on to help many more folk

I was really impressed by our Touch of Gentleness training day yesterday. Helen was so caring and professional I'm looking forward to doing my first massage very soon.

It made me feel human and safe at a time when I was scared and uncertain.

A big THANK YOU to the volunteers for making the time to come to the monthly Family Day. It is such a kind offer and a lovely addition to the day's activities, which families really appreciate.

The session run by A Touch of Gentleness for our year3 pupils was really enjoyed by the children and their parents commented on how excited the children were to give them a hand massage and show what they had learnt . On a deeper educational level it promoted our values as a church school - to give rather than receive, to show kindness and trust. It also taught children a valuable lesson about consent and touch, covering important aspects of PSHE and safeguarding curriculum. Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity, we will definitely be writing this into future Friday Focus lessons.

Julia Bray Head of Northiam Primary School

25/03/2025

Myself and all the residents thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Mathilde and her team of volunteers to Cheneys Lodge Retirement Scheme. Their lovely manner, and relaxed approach put everyone at ease, and all who underwent a massage, stated it was' calming, so relaxing and the oils used smelt lovely, many slept well too. An all round enjoyable experience! So much so, we have set up repeat visits for Touch of gentleness to return regularly to the Scheme, and look forward to welcoming them again soon.

‘We are a family, we enjoy making a difference. We are constantly appreciated by our colleagues and Helen the Founder.’

HVA quote from the East Sussex Volunteer Coordinators Meeting

22/03/2025

Very relaxing massage

I so love the difference hand massages with A Touch of Gentleness makes to our patients. Its made my job so much more rewarding and it has helped me connect more also with my colleagues who benefit from it too.

This patient was so relaxed, eyes shut, respiratory rate down, heart rate down. He thanked me and said it was really really nice. He slept well that night and said he felt so much more rested. We were able to talk during the massage ( his wish) about his health . He thanked me as well for the time to chat

Thank you for visiting our support group. Our members and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed their relaxing hand massages delivered by your friendly, caring team and look forward to another visit next year.

Our often lonely and isolated guests and those with a diagnosis of or recovering from Cancer, feedback to us at our gatherings, how grateful they are to your volunteers for providing the wonderful and healing feeling of a hand massage. An example of the many comments: "The lady who gave me my hand massage had a warm smile, a wonderful aura and spirit. She was so calm, quiet and listened to me. And the beautiful smell of the oils was so soothing. We just love having them around". On behalf of them. we at FAiR thank you for supporting them. Kind regards Chris Pollard / CEO of FAiR - Friends Altogether in Rother. Reg No. 1203412

Patient lightly sedated but restless...After the massage he was calmed and settled...no need for increased sedation

When I gave my partner’s End of Life Doula client a hand massage he fell asleep very quickly & looked relaxed with a gentle smile. He later said “This is the best day I’ve had for ages” He’s had periods of being agitated & anxious. On waking later he asked me to massage the other hand which since having a Stroke, he hasn’t let anyone touch for months. He said it didn’t hurt and felt relaxing. Previously it has hurt when touched. Thanks to ATOG for the wonderful hand massage training I received, all you offer & the difference you make in the world. xox

This is so relaxing. This is the best I have ever felt. This is a high tech hospital.

The wellbeing programme at Hastings Direct have invited A Touch of Gentleness to a few of our events, and each time they have never disappointed For those who have their hands massaged with the wonderful cohort of volunteers have nothing but positive words on their experience Just by merely listening to our colleagues and having meaningful conversations, raises both their confidence and wellbeing. I look forward to inviting them back again to Hastings later this year

Giving a hand massage to patients in critical care is an incredibly meaningful and soothing experience, both for the patient and the member of staff. It does not only provide a moment of calm amidst the chaos, but it also offers a sense of human connection that helps reduce anxiety and fear and helps the patient feel care and valued

I had the most delightful hand massage from Rosemary when A Touch of Gentleness was at The Cancer Cafe in Rye. So lovely to have that very special 20min connection. Soothed mind, body and soul Thank you 🙂

providing hand massages in Critical Care is a moment of quiet connection where we can build trust and provide comfort to our sickest and most vulnerable patients''

ICU Nurse

12/02/2025

What a beautiful workshop was led by Helen. It points to the beauty and depth in simplicity, like touch, human touch. What great medicine we have in our hands! I truly appreciated how Helen started by speaking about what gentleness (truly) is, and the meditation she led us into, it all gave me a deeper experience of the meaning of that powerful word. This workshop has deepened the connection with my own hands, and with self-hand-massage as a way of tunning in, in order to bring it out. Thank you so much Helen for your love for humanity, and for your love, period. And to my dear friend Tara for introducing us to you.

From the very first moment, A Touch of Gentleness with Helen felt like stepping into a sanctuary of peace, understanding, and deep transformation. Helen's presence is warm and reassuring, creating an atmosphere where you feel truly seen, heard, and valued. This course is more than just learning—it’s an awakening. Helen's gentle yet powerful guidance helps you reconnect with your inner self, unraveling layers of tension, doubt, and emotional weight you didn’t even realize you were carrying. Each session feels like a breath of fresh air, a moment of pure stillness in a world that often rushes too fast. The beauty of this course lies in its simplicity and profound impact. It’s not about grand gestures but about the subtle shifts that create ripples of change in your heart and soul. By the end, I felt lighter, more centered, and deeply nourished—not just mentally, but emotionally and spiritually. Helen is a rare gem, and A Touch of Gentleness is a gift to anyone seeking clarity, calm, and a deeper connection to themselves. If you’re longing for a course that doesn’t just teach but truly transforms, this is it. 💫 Thank you, Helen, for your wisdom, kindness, and the beautiful space you’ve created. I am forever grateful. ❤️

Spending a day with Helen was a most heart warming experience. Already an experienced masseuse I learnt so much from her training and felt so very calm and revived at the end of the day. It was an absolute stress-buster and I can't recommend it highly enough. Helen is an inspiration.

A Touch of Gentleness Volunteers are amazing at bringing the moment of calm and relaxation to busy and stressful lives of unpaid carers. Many come to the sessions run down, in a desperate need of a short break and relaxation. The hand massage is provided expertly, the volunteers create a calm environment and are great at reading the room and either offering a friendly conversation or creating time of complete quietness. Something that carers or our charity couldn’t afford without the support from A Touch of Gentleness.

We were lucky enough to have the lovely ladies from A touch of Gentleness at an event and I couldn't recommend them higher. It allowed the parents time to relax and unwind while the children were playing. They are the most thoughtful, compassionate and caring group of people and I couldn't recommend the higher. Thank you again :)

We had the pleasure of Vicki and Michelle delivering wonderful hand massages to our Ukrainian families and friends at the event. They are not only incredibly skilled, but also friendly, caring, and kind—making the whole experience feel personal and special. Our clients were ever so grateful for the soothing effects of massage- so relaxing and perfect for relieving tension and stress. It was such a thoughtful and calming service. Truly fantastic experience all around! Thank you.

So much gratitude to Tara for introducing Helen into my life! Her commitment to a way of gentleness is an inspiration! Whether through the experience of touch, or simply sharing her presence, one can't help but be 'touched' by Helen's example. While already committed myself to a path of peace, I find myself further inspired to add a touch of gentleness.

Thank you very much for Emma, we didn't have many people in today but those who came really enjoyed themselves, not just the massages but the way she listened to them.

I completed my volunteer training with Mathilde and it was such a good day : ) Really inspiring to be amongst a group of people who want to take this simple yet soothing and gentle practice out into their communities. I am proud to be a part of this initiative and can’t wait to bring it to people in my area.

Very relaxing and just so good to connect with someone on a physical level too.

A super relaxing hand massage which is really helping my circulation.

I met the most amazing lady who was so wonderful at giving my hands a hand massage. Moreover she was a great listener.

I so look forward to seeing you each month as it’s the only physical contact I get other than the odd friend hug. And it’s sooo relaxing.

A Touch of Gentleness are a remarkable organisation. We have been working together this year to support family and informal carers through offering hand massages in Hastings. These have been greatly enjoyed and appreciated by our carers. As one told us afterwards “Oh my goodness me! That was so relaxing and I feel silky smooth now…I’ll definitely be back.”

I have been a part of A Touch of Gentleness as a volunteer for the past few months and I have enjoyed so enjoyed supporting Helen and her team of volunteers as they reach out to the community offering free hand massages. I am not exaggerating at all when I say it is truly transformative for so many people. The members of the public who come along so value the touch, human contact and just being heard. I am so proud to be a part of this, it truly is nourishing for my soul seeing others being so gently held and understood on the most important level of gentle touch.

Catherine

08/12/2024

I am 38 years old and have always longed to experience what a caring mothers touch may feel like. Today I think I felt it. I will remember it for ever. Thank you

Anonymous at the Beacon

06/12/2024

Thank you for your incredile service and the gift of time. So utterly precious.

Andrea

06/12/2024

I find going to the community supermarket not easy and daunting. The volunteer invited me to sit, have a big sigh and gave me a hand massage, and during that time my worries lifted and I felt much lighter. Thank you.

I hadn’t heard of A Touch of gentleness, so wasn’t sure what to expect. Mathilda was lovely and soon had me at ease and engaged as she explained the reason for A Touch Gentleness and how important it is to have it in our lives. I really enjoyed learning new techniques and came way feeling confident to practice this in my roll at work. Thank you

Lovely, friendly,caring and kind ladies than do a amazing hand massage for the residents, would highly recommend. It's great to have a chat,coffee and a hand massage all at the same time.

When I met Helen and A Touch of Gentleness I chanced upon them in Burgess Hill by the food pantry. I was distraut and disconnected. I suffer from a myriad of mental health challenges but when I saw the sign 'A Touch of Gentleness' I knew I needed some of that. The words alone drew me in. And then I had an incredibly soothing gentle hand massage with one of the volunteers. That hand massage shared with such kindness honestly started my journey to becoming re connected with myself again and with others. My exprienece with A Touch of Gentleness was so powerful that it has changed my entire life. Since that first transformative experience I have trained as a volunteer. I feel a part of the community and I am beginning to go out into the community with others and offer this service at local events. The touch is so calming and grounding and given that both touch and gentleness are reciprical I always feel I am gaining as much as I am giving. I would like to thank Helen Prosper and her incredible team for bringing me back to myself and others.

The touch of gentleness training was a very inspiring day. Taught in a very easy and accessible way. Helen was a wonderful teacher, very informative with a host of engaging stories. I highly recommend.

Training day began with a look at the ethos behind TOG, what a beautiful way to start. The whole day was informative, holistic, gentle and encompassing, I felt empowered to volunteer, accepted and valued. Great job by Helen and her team.

Brilliant day it was lovely giving

Alijane

13/11/2024

I had a lovely day and people like minded people and it was a great calm and had a lovely atmosphere

The training day was wonderful, I got far more from it than I imagined. The tuition was great, very gentle and easy to remember. I met some lovely people, the venue was good and nice to be in the centre of Lewes. I felt blessed and nurtured by the time I left.

We had 2 of the volunteers attend our Dementia Cafe held at a local care home. All the attendees of the cafe and a few residents of the home all really enjoyed their hand massages and all were saying what a lovely and relaxing experience it was. It was nice for the carers have someone take care of them for a little while. We shall be booking in again for another session and recommending the service to others

A Touch of Gentleness kindly offered to come to our NHS unit and offer their services. We are so grateful for the experience they provided! We had amazing feedback from our patients including 'what a way to give back to people', 'very relaxing massage with a lovely lady', 'really helped my anxiety'. Staff were able to enjoy a hand massage too! Thank you so much to the amazing volunteers!

We welcomed Helen and some of her amazing volunteers to our lunch club where Helen spoke to the members to explain the principles of a Touch of Gentleness and the volunteers carried out therapeutic hand massages. What an amazing experience! Such a feeling of peace and tranquillity and love and a listening ear. So important for all of us who might experience loneliness and isolation. We all thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Thank you Helen and the team

“Oh my goodness me! That was so relaxing and I feel silky smooth now…I’ll definitely be back.”

A carer at Care for the Carers

24/10/2024

“The massage was divine. Thank you so much for letting me offload my troubles for a while. So nice to have someone take care of me for a change!”

A carer at Care for the Carers

24/10/2024

It is my first time to have a hand massage. She is so gentle and kind. It was a relaxing experience. I’ll do it again and thinking to become a volunteer too to give back to the community. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this wonderful activity. It really brings positive energy to someone’s day and your volunteers are LOVELY. Thanks so much for doing this.

I live alone and have to rely on friends hugs. Having this 20 minutes of hand massage is a nurturing experience for me. Touch is so important. I feel a lot more relaxed and at peace than when I first came in.

Thank you for introducing me to your lovely services. And thank you for giving the gift of time So precious.

I was so happy to chat with the lady that gave me a hand massage. Such a rare treat.

Thank you so much I was so relaxed. My hands feel wonderful, I feel free, I feel wonderful and ready for the rest of the day. Thank you for doing all you do. I will be back and bring my friends.

Sense of being touched is so important especially to people who are working online alone. A lovely breathing space and connection in the middle of a busy day. Thank you

Thank you for your gift of massage and connection. It calmed me before a hospital procedure this afternoon. I can’t tell you how grateful I am .

What a fantastic pause and reset on a manic day. So grateful for your time. You are doing something amazing .

This morning I had a fall and was so upset. Then I came across Touch of Gentleness in the shopping centre. They’re doing a wonderful job. They are angels and it was just what I needed after a fall.

Thank you so much for a beautiful hand massage. Your skilled hands and kindness has truly brightened my day .

Thank you for the massage. It was pure magic. I don’t think anything has ever relaxed me so much into silence in my entire life.

Thank you so much for this. The feelings of peace was heart warming.

A Touch of Gentleness have twice visited our Kinship Support Groups to offer their wonderful hand massages. Kinship care is when children are raised by a family member when birth parents are unable to for many reasons. Mainly we are grandparents. We get little support, so any treats such as these wonderful gentle hand massages are a haven in our busy lives, they're so therapeutic, and much appreciated. We left our support group meeting feeling so wonderfully relaxed. Thank you Helen and your A Touch of Gentleness team.

We have recently held a wellbeing day for our staff and residents here at our care home for World Mental Health Day, and the feedback we got was amazing. The volunteers were kept busy for 2 hours, but the main thing was everyone felt relaxed. What is also important to the ethos of our Care Home is that the products used are environmentally friendly. We can't forget how professional all the volunteers were, even if I did request their services at short notice! Thank you for the wonderful service that you provide and we can't wait to welcome you back to Beechwood Grove soon!

A Touch of Gentleness kindly came to our staff event in September. What they provide is truly unique and very much needed in todays 'busy' and digitally (not physically) connected world. Our staff, after 20 minutes of touch and chatting, appeared calmer and spoke of how much they enjoyed this connection. We are looking to further partner with A Touch of Gentleness to expand their incredible training offer to our wider volunteering community. The power of touch whilst connecting with someone has been lost from todays society - thank you to all the amazing volunteers and team at this beautiful charity for reminding us of this importance of this for humans to feel seen, heard and valued.

By attending the hand massage workshop you will learn new skills, or brush up on old ones, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, resulting in a calm and peaceful feeling which will make your day complete!

I couldn't use my right hand due to arthritis and water retention. After the hand massage my hand felt lighter, I could feel tingling in my finger tips and could move my fingers a little bit which was more that before. I can't wait for the next massage.

I would certainly recommend the workshop 'hand massage for family and friends' to others. We really enjoyed it. It provides a good introduction to the technique of hand massage, with useful notes, and enables practice in a relaxed setting.

Thank you so much for my moments of peace in the midst of such a busy time.

I was having a bad Mental Health day when I came in. The massage was a ray of sunshine in my day

How personal and a lovely / beautiful thing to do. Changing the world, rubbing one hand at a time. Thank you

Wonderful-feeling so relaxed but energised at the same time. Much appreciated. Thank you

It was wonderful! I was a bit stressed this morning but after I had a hand massage-all my stress got me!!!! Thank you so very much

I am so grateful. Lovely relaxing massage and happy conversation-a feeling of real friendship. Thank you

I am very surprised at how relaxing and soothing the hand massage was and continues to grow. I feel so blessed and at peace.

Absolutely wonderful. Can feel my blood pressure coming down. Fabulous!

Thank you for helping me find my calm. Today has been a day of anxiety and fear, but spending time here today has been an absolute blessing.

Amazing work. Please keep doing what you’re doing! Thank you I feel out of this world.

Wonderful.. my poor arthritic hands -much better. Such a great idea. We need more sensory touch in our lives.

I didn’t realise how tense I was until I sat in front of Helen. Thank you so much. What a wonderful way to start my day. So very grateful.

Thank you. I absolutely needed that. Nice to have a chat, be listened to and relax. Brilliant

I so enjoyed this experience. It has restored my faith in humanity after a very brutal redundancy.

What an absolute gift as I was rushing by. And how we all do need a gentle touch. Thank you. Thank you

What an amazing experience. It allowed me to ground myself amidst great stress, thank you greatly!

Thank you, Thank you. What a lucky bunny was I to be passing by. An absolute reset. I feel a new woman now.

As a facilitator at some of the ATOG public events, I am always so pleasantly amazed to watch the tranformation of people, some tired and worn down, lonely even. After the freely given hand massage they walk out, glowing from within. There is so much love in the room. The volunteers are such an amazing team of people who want nothing, but to make a better world and to help people. I take my hat off to each and everyone of them. ATOG, is spreading throughout the land and even internationally, it's worth watching the video There is a better world' on the home page, amongst others. A huge thank you to Helen and her team of Angels for their dedication, integrity and commitment.

Helen arranged for 5 volunteers to attend our team day and it was very popular, the ladies were all very professional and the staff enjoyed the service as part of our team wellbeing afternoon. Thankyou so much!

So relaxing, thank you Leng! It was a very soothing treatment and I drifted off. Felt very reassuring and I liked the warmth. The lotion is divine! Thank you, I'll be back for more xxx 🩷xxx

Thank you Paul, very soothing.

20 mins of bliss - thanking you ❤️

I am 10 years old and I really loved talking to Paul and getting my hands massaged it felt sooooooooo good, I will definitely come again. They had amazing concentration and effort to me thank you soooooo much.

I need help to relax right now and it absolutely did that. Thanks for the time to do it.

Thank you for your time and gentle massage for my hardworking, ignored hands. It made me relax and feel cared for.

I started having hand massage with Paul a few months back, at first I was a bit worried that my personal space was being invaded. Paul was kind and welcoming, and once the treatment started I was totally at ease and felt a great connection, with being connected, gentle touch is really very powerful and I'm so grateful to Paul. Thank you

"The people who receive the massage are so appreciative, but what really bowls me over is how it makes me feel to give it. Wondrously wondrous 😁😁🌈🌈..."

"As soon as I read the advert for The Touch of Gentleness training, I immediately knew I was being called to give my time to this charity. Little did I realise how many gifts there were to gain from my own giving. The massage itself has a huge benefit to the people I give to by way of touch and healing yet in turn it gives back 10 fold by the oxytocin created in the process, the simple act of kindness which is so easily forgotten in this fast paced world, and tuning into conscious listening. There is a kindness community being created through Helen Prosper, the charities founder, within the volunteer group that is equally reverberating outward to those that receive this healing and their communities. Not only have I been involved in local massage events, I have also been able lend my creative skills to the making of a banner, needed in participation of the Eastbourne festival."

"I feel so fortunate to have become a part of this community. It has shown me parts of myself that I thought were long ago buried within and it has reminded me how to shine my light and go gently forward always with a touch of Gentleness in every step of my life."

"I so love the difference A Toich of Gentleness hand massages make to our patients. It’s made my job so much more rewarding and It has helped me connect more also with my colleagues who benefit from it too."

"It's so lovely to be able to bring a little bit of respite and comfort to people going through such a huge transition. MH a volunteer offering A Touch of Gentleness to refugees

"It's so lovely to be able to bring a little bit of respite and comfort to people going through such a huge transition. MH a volunteer offering A Touch of Gentleness to refugees

"It's so lovely to be able to bring a little bit of respite and comfort to people going through such a huge transition. MH a volunteer offering A Touch of Gentleness to volunteers

"Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever chosen to do, being part of the “Touch of gentleness” organisation has helped give me a sense of purpose again whilst connecting with elderly people whom suffer with dementia it’s helped me to have a greater understanding of the illness and giving my time for those who might just even need somebody to talk too or confide in… kindness is everything and I would really encourage people if they have the time to volunteer it might just be life saving for the person on the receiving end of a simple hand massage".

"Ever since I've attended the hand massage course, I'm passionately fond of the hand massage because it has helped my illness, friends and also people who need our gentle touch. I love to give them a good massage to make them happy, cheerful, smile and relax. More importantly I felt really connected with people deeply inside our hearts. After the first experience of offering people hand massages I felt i've achieved something which I've never done before or never dreamt of and I am very proud of myself."

"What I enjoy the most about my volunteering work is a sense of satisfaction that even though my English is broken, I can still do something meaningful for others. The language barrier doesn’t feel like a huge boundary. I feel a sense of connection to others in community. It is more of a blessing to give than to receive, I feel much happier after starting my volunteering work in A Touch Of Gentleness."

"I am a nurse and I work in critical care. having trained with A Touch of Gentleness I am now thoroughly enjoying now giving 'a touch of gentleness' hand massages to my patents. Its so rewarding To be able to provide therapeutic benefits and the comfort of hand massages specially to those that are unfortunately going through a time of great illness and stress. Many of our patients are bed bound, suffer pain or discomfort, and having to stay with us for many days if no weeks. Some can not speak due to a tracheostomy...so to provide a little extra to alleviate the stress they are going through is invaluable."

"When I receive smiles after doing the hand massages, I take those smiles home with me, they mean the world to me and the positivity and power of them remains with me for days after the volunteering....."

"Selfishly, I get so much joy volunteering for A Toudh of Gentleness, Being able to offer an ear, a safe space and for the ladies I give a massage to, the opportunity to feel validated and have a voice is an absolute honour. Helen has created something so special and it brings so much joy being a part or the A Touch Of Gentleness team. Gentleness wrapped in safe arms is what we offer."

"Haven't received such gentle touch for what feels an eternity. It was wonderful. It felt like coming home, coming back to a place of rest and peace within myself. Just wonderful. Thank you.

"I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for yesterday for your flexibility, patience and calm approach. It seemed to be just what people wanted and if I am honest I did wonder if thinking of those attending if they would participate but it was great to see a queue! Plus I have had some fab feedback. Thank you." Specialist Advisor – Tenant Involvement. Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils

"I really needed someone to hold my hand - it's been so long"

"What Helen and her team provide through A touch of gentleness is unique, calm & welcoming –They are really giving back to the local community and to those in need of a basic human connection. I noticed through a simple act of kindness what it has done to uplift those visiting the centre - each month we look forward to having the team from A Touch of Gentleness visit us here at The Beacon, Eastbourne because of the difference it makes to those visiting Eastbourne"

"You (the team from A Touch of Gentleness) had such a profound impact on our members, everybody LOVED it. We hope to do more in the future.”