About Bluesci
We believe that good Mental Health and Wellbeing are an integral part of everybody’s life and that everyday things can improve our mental health, wellbeing, levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
Our Journey
The Bluesci Service was founded in 2004 by Stuart Webster and Alicia Clare, to provide a service around Social and Cultural Inclusion (the SCI in BlueSCI). Stuart and Alicia have over 50 years of combined experience working in the field of Mental Health in-patient and community services. Since its inception, Bluesci has adhered to its fundamental belief that good mental health and wellbeing is achieved by working closely with local communities, taking its guiding principles from a variety of evidence and best practice.
Over the past twenty years, Bluesci has expanded to have centres in all four areas of Trafford and a wide range of services to meet the needs of Trafford residents. The service is designed to provide a comprehensive and easily accessible offer which people can choose to access in the way that works for them.
In 2024, Bluesci recruited a Chief Executive Officer, Lindsey Mallory, with the view of leading the organisation through it’s next chapter. Bluesci currently delivers services funded by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, Public Health and Primary Care Networks. We are the lead voluntary sector partner for the Trafford Living Well service and are a member organisation with the Trafford Community Collective.
Philosophy and model
Bluesci was created to offer a collaborative model of mental health and wellbeing support. We believe that individuals who are experiencing, or have experienced, mental health problems and/or services can contribute a wealth of knowledge and experience to its service development. Therefore, our services are delivered by members of the Trafford community, volunteers, partner organisations and paid staff members.
Our services are designed based on several models and theories including the Life Recovery Model, Trauma Informed practice, The Five Ways to Wellbeing, and the Connecting People model (Webber et al, 2016). The role of team members in the people’s journey to recovery is that of a companion or fellow traveller rather than an expert. Teams support people to influence the way they want to live their lives and to self-manage existing conditions. This is based on the desire to respect people’s autonomy, strengths and resources, acknowledging that with the right support, people can thrive in their community.
Ever since Bluesci’s conception in 2004, creativity has been a core element of the service. Our teams use a ‘brokerage’ approach that enables people to achieve their aspirations through music and arts, volunteering opportunities, education and training related activities linked to mainstream life domains.
Vision and values
The service aims to:
- Promote learning and personal growth whilst utilising people’s creativity and drive, offering a flexible service with choice therefore combating the practical and emotional difficulties people may face when accessing opportunities.
- Support social inclusion in accordance with the life recovery approach and assist people to recognise their potential by drawing on their experiences and skills.
- Challenge the stigma of mental ill health and raise the profile of people’s abilities.
- Promote a commitment to anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice which will be judged by what we do and what we say.
- Promote a healthy workplace by adhering to our Colleague’s ‘Be kind to yourself’ work place charter
Trafford Residents can expect a service that:
- Treats all people with respect and empathy
- Promotes positive risk taking whilst always maintaining health and safety
- Provides sufficient information to enable individuals to make informed choices
- Works with individuals in the process of identifying skills, interests and achievable aspirations
- Creates an environment that is one of opportunity to achieve
- Ensures that all religious, spiritual, physical and cultural needs are taken into account
- Is accessible for people with disabilities
- Has access to independent advice and support
- Will actively seek individuals’ ideas, views and opinions to improve service delivery
- Ensures individuals can make a complaint or give feedback without fear of retribution
- Provides opportunities for people to come together