WELLBEING ON THE MIND FOR CITY’S SOUTH SIDE FAMILIES
The Wee Retreat gives parents a helping hand
NESTLED away in Glasgow’s South Side may be the relaxation station that Glasgow parents have been looking for. Hailed by users as a ‘ haven’ and a ‘ hidden gem’, The Wee Retreat, based in Crosshill, opened in 2016 and was created by Vicky Kakos, an educational psychologist and mindfulness meditation practitioner.
The group is now offering a mindfulness parenting course, which was made possible after a £ 2949 grant from the National Lottery.
Vicky said: “The funding itself means the world to us.
“Without it, we would not have been able to put back into our social aims, which is the point of us being a social enterprise.
“Especially because of Covid, our profit was essentially nothing.
“We are so grateful for any funding we get at this time. I don’t think we could be in existence with out this funding right now.”
The group run as a social enterprise CIC – or ‘ Community Interest Company, with social aims that help to contribute to their community.
Vicky said: “The more profit we make, the bigger the contribution to the local community as our profit go back to this.
“We are able to give back to the community by teaching the value of wellbeing and mindfulness in everyday life.”
The mindfulness parenting course, which focuses on teaching parents fundamental mindfulness and de- stressing techniques, will be held online to avoid any delays from potential lockdown restrictions in the future
Vicky said: “The mindfulness parenting course is being held online over a period of 10 weeks.
“The course itself is based in mindfulness techniques and with with a focus on the parent themselves rather than parent and child.
“We have decided to go online with this so that any lockdown restrictions that may be put in place again do not disturb this.
“The response we get from parents is that they wish they had done this even before they had children.
“It teaches relaxation techniques and that does rub off on your children, so not only does it benefit you but also your family.”
The group works with community organisations such as Home Start South, Make Do Grow and One Parent Families Glasgow, who refer those in need to the group.
Vicky said: “We often get referrals from groups such as Home Start, who are able to connect those in need of our services with us, though there is nothing stopping people getting in touch with us directly.”
However, The Wee Retreat was dealt a blow when lockdown began, and moved classes online, as well as pausing others altogether.
Vicky said: “The funding really has meant the world to us because without it, we would not be able to operate.
“We haven’t been able to make as much as we would normally in the past few months, and so this funding really allows us to still offer these classes and give back to our community.
“We are slowly taking our time fully reopening our services.”
They wish they had done this before they had children
The Wee Retreat would normally offer classes such as group mediation and drop in sessions.
These were paused during lockdown as restrictions did not allow for the groups to meet.
However, the group mediation sessions have began to run as normal as the country comes out of lockdown, at a reduced capacity.
Vicky said: “We are only able to have a maximum of five people in these classes now.
“While it is frustrating that we can’t run to full capacity, we are so happy that we are at least able to do what we can at the moment.”
During lockdown, The Wee Retreat worked hard to keep in touch with those using the service, never forgetting to check in those who need.
Vicky said: “It’s been hard to judge whether demand has gone up for the services but we do know that it is something people have missed.”
However, Vicky said that while online classes and meetings allowed them to keep in touch with users, time away from the screen may be what people were craving during lockdown.
She said: “We try not to overload with screentime however, as we know people will be using their phones and computers to keep in touch with family and friends too, and people do need a break from the screen!
“We kept in touch with users online, but also sent out physical newsletters with things such reminders to look after yourself, quote and tips for mindfulness at home.
“It has been a difficult time for everyone, and more so now than ever, we need to be reminded that we should be taking time for our mental wellbeing and mindfulness.
“When people are paying and using our services, they are giving directly back into the community, and you can feel that too.
“I think this community feeling, now more than ever, is what everyone is needing to feel.”