Amethyst Care & Support Group Limited

05/09/2025

🎉 Arch Fest – A Celebration of Community

This week, tenants and staff from both Arch House and Springfield Court came together for a very special event – Arch Fest! The day was filled with joy, laughter and plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.

From fun games and a sizzling barbecue to colourful face painting, there was something for all to take part in. Springfield Court tenants particularly enjoyed the excitement of the piñata, which brought lots of smiles and laughter.

Events like Arch Fest are a wonderful way of strengthening community bonds, encouraging social interaction, and creating happy memories that everyone can look back on with pride.

A huge thank you goes to our staff teams for organising such a successful and inclusive day, and to our tenants for making it so lively and enjoyable. 💜

Here’s to many more shared celebrations across our services! 🌞🎶🍴

30/07/2025

🌟 Meet Our New Mental Health Leads! 🌟

Leah Canning

Leah brings a wealth of experience from the NHS, higher education, and the third sector. Her passion lies in supporting recovery through meaningful, person-centred care. Leah has worked with individuals experiencing complex psychosis and has collaborated across clinical and community teams to deliver impactful, recovery-focused support.

Armed with an MSc in Psychology and specialised mental health training, Leah brings knowledge, compassion, and adaptability to everything she does. Outside of work, she’s a British Ice-Skating Coach who loves travelling, good food, and staying active!

Vanessa Findlay

With over a decade of experience in the NHS and Third Sector, Vanessa's approach is rooted in compassion, dignity, and respect. She believes wholeheartedly in placing individuals at the centre of their care and honours each person’s unique story. Vanessa holds a degree in social psychology, a master’s in psychology, and a postgraduate certification in interpersonal skills and counselling.

Her special interest in peer support continues to shape her practice as she constantly explores how services can evolve to better serve people. When she’s not working, Vanessa enjoys reading, rock climbing, and spending time with her loved ones.

We’re truly lucky to have Leah and Vanessa join us in leading this vital work, their dedication to mental health, their empathy, and their drive to create real, lasting change is already making a difference.

💬 Join us in giving them a warm Amethyst welcome in the comments below!

02/07/2025

🎉 Farewell and Thank You, Gary! 🎉

After more than three incredible decades supporting people with a mental health diagnosis—and three years working with us at Amethyst—our Mental Health and Wellness Lead, Gary, is retiring.

Gary's journey started in the most unexpected way: from a trainee accountant to discovering a life-long calling in mental health, sparked by a chance conversation. Since then, he’s dedicated his life to supporting others with compassion, insight, and heart.
In his own words:

"We support people and not the illness they are experiencing... They are all human; they all have dreams; they all have aspirations; they are all valued members of the community. Treat them as such and they will flourish_."

Gary, your words have inspired us, your leadership has shaped us, and your support and knowledge has helped not only the people we support but also the people who work within Amethyst.

As you head into retirement—spending time with family, tending your allotment, travelling, and (maybe) writing that long-awaited book—we want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU.

🌱 You are, and always will be, a part of the Amethyst family.

Drop a message below to wish Gary a happy retirement! 💬

18/06/2025

🌈 Happy Pride Month from all of us at Amethyst Care and Support Group! 🏳️‍🌈✨

At Amethyst, inclusion isn’t just a value — it’s a promise. We proudly stand with our LGBTQ+ service users, staff, and allies not just in June, but every single day.

From celebrating love in all its forms to championing mental health and wellbeing for everyone, we’re committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces where everyone can be their true selves. 💜

🏳️‍⚧️ Whether you're marching in parades, sharing your story, or simply living authentically — we see you, we support you, and we celebrate you.

Let’s keep spreading love, acceptance, and equality — because Pride isn’t just a moment, it’s a movement.

23/05/2025

🌟 Meet Caitlyn Lockridge – Our New Team Leader at Cliffe House! 🌟

We’re excited to introduce Caitlyn Lockridge, one of the dedicated Team Leaders at Cliffe House!

Caitlyn’s journey with Amethyst began in 2024, when she joined us as a Support Worker at our Austhorpe Road service. With a passion for care and a strong commitment to personal growth, Caitlyn has steadily climbed the ladder — and we’re so proud to see her step into this new leadership role! 🙌

Having worked in the care industry since 2020, right after finishing school, Caitlyn brings both experience and heart to everything she does. Through her time at Amethyst, she’s had the opportunity to support tenants living with mental health challenges, and she’s now completing her Level 3 NVQ in Adult Social Care — a key step in her continued professional development. 🎓✨

At Amethyst, we don’t just uplift our tenants — we champion our staff too. We believe in nurturing talent, encouraging growth, and providing opportunities for everyone to shine. Caitlyn is a perfect example of what happens when passion meets purpose.

Please join us in welcoming Caitlyn to her new role and celebrating the incredible journey she’s on. We’re lucky to have her as part of the Amethyst family! 💜

22/05/2025

🌟 A Huge Congratulations to DMC! 🌟

We're happy to share some fantastic news about one of our incredible tenants at Austhorpe Road — DMC has secured himself a 16-hour paid job! 🎉👏

DMC will be working in packing and cleaning, and we couldn’t be prouder of this amazing step forward in his journey. This achievement didn’t come overnight — it’s the result of his hard work, determination, and the unwavering support from our dedicated team of Support Workers. 💪💼

DMC has always been an inspiration to us all. From using his own income to buy bin bags and litter pickers for community cleanups, to preparing warm meals and hot drinks for over 20 homeless individuals every single day — DMC is the heart of kindness in action. ❤️

His story reminds us what’s possible when compassion meets opportunity. Whether walking the streets of Leeds to serve those in need or taking bold steps toward employment, DMC continues to show us what true dedication looks like.

At Amethyst, we believe in nurturing potential, empowering dreams, and walking alongside our tenants every step of the way. DMC’s achievement is a shining example of what happens when the right support and personal determination come together.

Let’s all take a moment to celebrate this milestone with him. 🎊
Your journey is only just beginning, DMC — and we’re all behind you!

08/05/2025

💙 Mental Health Awareness Week at Arch House! 💙

As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches—a cause close to all our hearts—the amazing tenants and staff at Arch House took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise awareness in a fun and memorable way! 🧊🎉

We’re so proud of our tenants for their enthusiasm and bravery, we want to give a HUGE shoutout to our incredible Support Workers who made this activity possible, their dedication, creativity, and continued support to make Arch House a place full of positivity and community spirit.

Check out our video below to see the challenge in action and find out who we’ve nominated next! 👀👇
Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s speak our minds. 💬🧠💙

06/05/2025

🌟 A Heartwarming Farewell to CD 🌟

Today, we’re saying goodbye and good luck to someone very special — CD, one of our tenants at Austhorpe Road.

CD has been part of Austhorpe Road service for a while, and now she’s ready to move on to a brand-new chapter in her life.
CD is moving into her own home and stepping into independent living with her partner— and we couldn’t be happier for her!

At Amethyst, we always aim to support each tenant in a way that suits them. We work closely with our tenants to make sure their care & support plans are person centred and reflect their individual needs.
CD’s journey is a great example of how this approach helps people build confidence, independence, and reach their outcomes.

👏 Well done, CD! We’re so proud of you and wish you and your partner all the best up North.

24/04/2025

23/04/2025

☀️ Sunshine, good food, and great company at Arch House! ☀️

The tenants and staff at Arch House, one of our wonderful Amethyst services, made the most of the sunny weather with a fantastic picnic in the garden!

Everyone got involved – JF whipped up a delicious tuna pasta and a variety of tasty sandwiches, while LT treated us all to a homemade chocolate and banana cake and some zesty lemon buns! 🍰🍋
It was a lovely afternoon filled with laughter, sunshine, and plenty of smiles. 💜

Great work team Arch House – here’s to many more sunny days like this!

20/04/2025

🐰🌷 Hopping Into Easter with Joy!

Wishing our entire Amethyst community a joyful and peaceful Easter filled with laughter, love, and delicious chocolate eggs!

Let's take this time to cherish moments with family and friends and create wonderful memories together.

Happy Easter from all of us at Amethyst! 💐

03/04/2025

🌟🏡 Celebrating SR's Volunteer Journey at Austhorpe Road! 🏡🌟

We're thrilled to share the fantastic progress of our very own Austhorpe Road tenant, SR, who has begun volunteering at the local church, serving cups of tea to community members. SR's dedication and enthusiasm for giving back have not only made a positive impact on others but also inspired us all!

Seeing SR's passion for volunteering grow has been truly heartwarming, and we're so proud of her accomplishments! Her commitment to self-improvement and community involvement reflects the supportive environment we cherish at Austhorpe Road and Amethyst.

A huge shoutout to the support workers who continuously go above and beyond to empower our tenants and help them achieve their goals. Your dedication to fostering a nurturing, engaging environment at Austhorpe Road is greatly appreciated!

Join us in celebrating SR's achievements and the spirit of giving back that enriches our Amethyst community. We look forward to sharing more incredible milestones and success stories in the future!