Always on
This project successfully funded on 3rd July 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 3rd July 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
We have a shortfall in our budget and need to fundraise to continue our work with women who have long term health problems.
Shiatsu For Change (SFC) have run our "Well Woman project" for the last 5 years. The project offers Qigong classes in the woods as well as treatments to women who have long term health problems and wouldn't otherwise be able to access these services. These women are often too ill to work and so rely on services like ours to support them so they can begin to rebuild their lives.
I think the best advocates for our work are the women who have benefited from the well woman project, so here is a sample of what people have said about our project.
“Receiving regular shiatsu treatment from SFC is an essential and transformative source of support for me, living with secondary cancer and the effects of ongoing cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment, and the mental and emotional stress of living with a life-threatening illness, can have a devastating impact on the body. This has been my experience and Shiatsu has been central to coping with ongoing symptoms of extreme fatigue, pain, tension, nausea and a regularly activated nervous system.
During a session, my body is supported to feel held, to relax, and release tension and emotions. I feel my system returning to a more balanced and peaceful place in which healing is more likely to occur.
My experience of Shiatsu is that it can soothe, ground and energise the body and mind, depending on what is needed to restore balance. I feel the benefit of each session being carefully designed to meet my body's changing needs, as they appear at that time.
Healing touch and heartfelt presence is so resourcing and is a source of such deep nourishment, during a time that would feel very depleting, lonely and frightening without it.”
" My pain level has dropped significantly. My mobility and balance have also improved noticeably and I felt very respected, listened to and supported and will greatly miss my sessions!"
“This course of treatments has been truly life changing for me and has given me back a level of health I never knew in this lifetime! Just as you intended the places to do for women in need.”
"Gentle movements and being in a group with other women has helped me feel less anxious and stressed and I’ve been able to feel good, and my symptoms (Digestive issues and collapsed lung) have improved ."
“Nearly two years ago I felt I’d hit a brick wall of exhaustion, a feeling of being totally depleted. I knew there were things I should do to help my self, exercise, yoga. But I also felt I couldn’t put one foot in front of the other.
SFC was recommended to me by my daughter and I knew that lying still was about all I was able to do. Gradually I felt energy return, and a feeling of wellness that I haven’t felt in many years. As well as benefiting specific areas of my body, shoulder, knees, digestion After a lifetime of not taking care of and nourishing myself working with SFC marked a change of focus And a realisation that valuing myself is so important.”
"I found Qi Gong in the woods invaluable in giving me the time and space I needed to start to redress the balance in my life, particularly as it came at a critical time for me when no other help or support was available that was having a noticeable beneficial affect on my health due to my complex mental and physical health symptoms."
“With each shiatsu session I felt like something softened and shifted in me and overall the treatments have really helped with my anxiety and ability to find the deeper rest i often need. I have a clearer perspective on my health issues and feel less overwhelmed and engulfed by the physical stuff, even now that my treatment has finished i feel supported by the whole experience and less isolated by chronic health, shiatsu has brought me a sense of ease and release. It has been incredible to have access to something which so effectively treats my being as a whole and not just focus on the parts that are ‘sick’, to be treated with such tenderness and care has been very nurturing and a contrast to how daunting other health related appointments can feel.”
"Attending these sessions has supported me to meet my body in a way that feels safe- the combination of Qigong, community sharing and nature has been really restorative and has been an essential part of my recovery and wellbeing. Without these sessions my wellbeing would not have been maintained- I’m very grateful for them and hope they can continue."
" I’ve really looked forward to learning as much as I can so I can try and keep going with the practice."
"Well to move far more than I ever imagined I could be"
We need your help to cover a shortfall in funding these services through to July when we will be able to apply for funding from the National Lottery Fund who have funded the project for many years.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made