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Overcoming trauma and helping others – Dina’s story
Dina Shale, from Leicestershire UK, has transformed her life after her own childhood trauma. Growing up, Dina experienced several years of childhood abuse from the people closest to her. Many people take for granted that the people you can trust the most in the world are your parents. This wasn’t the case for Dina, as she experienced sexual, mental and physical abuse. After years of this abuse, Dina was kicked out of her home and became homeless at sixteen. She desperately sought the security and peace that she lacked so fervently in her childhood. There was only one escape from her trauma that Dina experienced as a child. She knew…
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Protecting Your Family’s Mental Health
Over the past nine weeks, families across the country have found themselves working, living, learning and playing at home as the world reacted to the coronavirus crisis. Families with younger children used to days at school, teenagers preparing for exams and adults working full time were suddenly thrown together 24/7 with no chance of escape. It may come as no surprise then that mental ill health now affects 1 in 3 people, a statistic that changed quickly from 1 in 4 people after a few weeks in lockdown. This new statistic also represents the stats for mental health in children and young people, which a Government survey conducted in 2017…
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Marie Curie’s Emergency Appeal
I want to urge my readers to get behind Marie Curie’s Emergency Appeal. I like to support charities on my blog generally and Marie Curie is particularly close to my heart. When my parents were in their last days of life, Marie Curie nurses visited them both providing support and care. This not only supported my parents as they confronted their own deaths but also helped family members. It is a time of coming to terms and making peace with what is happening. Whilst providing excellent care, Marie Curie nurses also have an amazing talent for adapting their service to the individual needs of their patients and their families. They…
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Hydrocephalus charity – Harry’s HAT
Have you heard of Hydrocephalus? Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain. Caroline shares her powerful story about her son Harry who has the condition. Like so many inspirational mum who already have loads on their plate, Caroline has set up a Hydrocephalus charity to support people from diagnosis and beyond. Here comes Harry leading to us establishing our Hydrocephalus charity From day one, my pregnancy with Harry didn’t feel quite right. I bled lots, ended up in hospital at 16 weeks and felt horribly anxious throughout. Outwardly,…
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Losing the sense of smell – a shocking experience
What aromas have you enjoyed today? For me, I woke to the smell of baking as my daughter made some muffins. It is so easy to take our senses for granted. Today I share a guest post from Chrissi as part of my series about women who have overcome adversity. She tells us about losing her sense of smell and how this made her feel. Be inspired by how she took this experience and set up a charity to help others. Losing the sense of smell That summer, I had visited a favourite mountain spot on a hot day. I stopped the car to admire the view. Above me, tall…
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Songs for funerals that I want at mine
Let’s #talkabout death baby! Let’s talk about you and me or whoever ends up organising my send-off from this planet. You are of course at liberty to add your own special touches to my final ceremony because hopefully you think I am so worth it. Seriously though, it is vital we talk about these things as it makes it easier on those we leave behind. Marie Curie have launched the biggest ever public awareness campaign about death. It is called #TalkAbout and aims to get the nation talking more openly about dying by having conversations with loved ones, friends and family. I have agreed to support this campaign and I…
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Army woman shares her powerful story
I love to share the stories of inspirational women on my blog and to highlight great charities. I am able to do both with this powerful interview from an army woman of substance, Colonel Ali Brown who after an impressive career now helps the Women’s Royal Army Corps. WRAC lends support to women who have served in the Army. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenage years I had a very happy childhood living in a country town and spending most of my time outdoors. I enjoyed school and took every opportunity such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award. My teenage years were about school and the family…
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Wake Up Kick Ass and be inspired!
Many years ago at a student women’s dinner that I hosted a friend told me she loved how I would kick ass to help other women. Along the way and to my regret I stopped doing that.. Increasingly I want to get back to fighting for women’s rights and celebrating the great individuals we are and the contributions we make to the world. Today I am sharing an interview with the founder of Wake Up Kick Ass (WUKA) the pants for when you have your period. She has a powerful story to share and I hope you will be inspired to take any disadvantages in your life and turn them…
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Teach a Man to Fish – developing young enterprise
Helping young people in need is something I hope all my readers would want to do if they had the means. As a former charity worker, I have always loved organisations that provide aid but also help people develop skills and qualities so that they can help themselves moving forwards. I am delighted to share this guest post from Susanna Worth and William May about the charity Teach a Man to Fish. Young female entrepreneur The only girl in a family of five children, Divine was sent away from her home in Kigali City to live with her Aunt so she attend a good school in the neighbouring district of…
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Perfect Spring shoes from Hotter help Marie Curie
I am looking for perfect Spring shoes as I realise there is a new season on the way. It is time to put my boots away for another day. It’s important to find something comfortable and flat. I love a bit of colour when it come to footwear too so I was thrilled to hear about the Tara shoes from Hotter. Even better, these shoes help support the Marie Curie. Marie Curie are there at the times when you need someone to support you through the toughest of times. Generous charity partnership For every pair of Tara shoes sold, £20 will go to Marie Curie helping to fund an hour of…
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Becoming vegan and helping animals in need
Victoria Bryceson is passionate about advocating a cruelty free, environmentally-friendly lifestyle and helping animals in need around the world. She is vegan and organises a series of Vegan Events UK festivals up and down the country. She is also founder of animal welfare and education charity Miracle’s Mission. Here she tells her story about becoming vegan and helping animals in need. Becoming vegan and helping animals in need “I became vegetarian 22 years ago when I first fully realised what meat was and where it came from. I also gave up eggs and wearing any leather clothing or footwear. This is the point when I made the connection that meat…
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Strong Soham Mums Charity Calendar 2019
Strong Soham Mums have joined forces to produce a charity calendar with a cheeky twist. They are getting naked but all in the most amazing cause. I don’t often ask people to share my posts in a begging type fashion but this time I am and I think you will see why when you read on. Who are the Strong Soham Mums? They are like you or me in that they are mums who love their children. The difference with these mums is that they have all lost a child and all live in Soham. We all know that losing a child is the biggest fear of any parent so…
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Life-saving test for newborns – let’s campaign for it!
Newborn babies deserve a test that could save their lives. That sounds like a no-brainer. One of the things that happens when you are a blogger and/or influencer is that you become aware of so many things that don’t go so great in our world. The good thing is you also have the honour of supporting good causes that just might change things. Today I am letting you know about a life-saving test for newborns Life-saving test for newborns When you have your baby, all you want to do is keep it safe. I have an almost 19 year old and I still have that primeval instinct. What is someone…
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Support for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Today I am sharing my interview with Ailsa Bosworth, the CEO and founder of NRAS – The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society which includes a little of her life story and the reason she started the charity along with tips for women. Thanks to her there is support for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Describe your childhood and teenage years I was born and grew up in a small village in Scotland to the west of Glasgow until I was between 7 and 8 when we came south to East Sheen because of a change in my father’s job. So my early childhood was full of freedom to roam the fields and…
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Christmas goodwill examples to warm your heart
Christmas goodwill is my favourite part of the festive season outside my own family celebrations. I love how everyone gives their time and attention in a more generous-spirited way. I see people reaching out to help others and more forgiveness too. I love how charities benefit from unexpected donations at this time of year. I asked bloggers to share times when Christmas goodwill examples made a big difference to their lives. “My friends doing the pick up and the drop of the my kids when I am in need. They are such stars. I will never forget” www.ethannevelyn.com “I worked in America doing door to door sales one summer…
