Halo everyone,

We are pretty much out of pandemics but the aftermath of past 2 years will hang around for a while seemingly with other changes happening in Europe and after all around the world. Children are the ones affected by pandemic a lot as many of them missed their so important school years by staying at home for long periods of times without friends and so important social interaction at school, some missed their graduations or their friendships broke, some don’t know until now how to get back to the routines as they were before. Some came to a new country because they had to leave their own because of war. Some struggle with their home situation some families are far away and others have to take care of their loved ones from very young age. 

There is so many stories not influenced only by past couple of years. Some bounce back as if nothing has happened but others might need more time and more support.

 I’ve started this new exiting journey of running last year. Now I’ve completed my first 5k on Edinburgh Marathon Festival and the struggle get there reminds me how fragile our mind power and inner world influenced by fears, negative thoughts and anxieties can be. Childhood is a time when we often form all these and so I believe children need mental health support a lot while the world is going through a lot of changes plus a lot of children has to face many other life changes in their personal life’s as well. I wish there would be something as place2be when I was growing up helping children with emotional awareness that this doesn’t have to be something what we learn the hard way in the adulthood. Even more I am happy to be a part of such organisation today.

I know the work of Place2be for a while. They help children to deal with not only life struggles, fears and anxieties, but are a safe harbour for those little/young ones who need to be listened to or need a space to express their emotions. This is done through various programs place2be offers - either short chats throughout breaks, one to one counselling, parent support or children group support through journey of hope focusing each time on different topics. That’s what place2be offers over decades to children in primary and secondary schools and seeing it first hand how kids become more aware and in peace with their own emotions is truly something amazing to observe. 

The money you donate is going straight to place2be account which is charity I do know personally, work for as a volunteer on placement and believe in its importance.. 

Your support will be much appraised if you have spare even if only 1£ it would go to a good cause and you’ll be making sure that children in UK no matter the circumstances are getting mental health and emotional support. To support this beside donation I will run 10k this year and share the process. 

I will be honest running is not the easiest thing I have ever done and really made me face my own programs, believes and such all the way through and still does. I tried few times over past years but never made it to the end. Finally I got quite far last year but fell back to beginnings in the last months of 2021. It took me 6 months to finish 9 weeks NHS podcast from 0 to 5k at the beginning and once I got there some life circumstances changed and I was back in square one 😂 yet I booked myself for 5k run on 5th of February 2022 and so I needed to train. This run has never happened as I accidentally booked myself at work on the day of the run. So I signed up for Edinburgh Marathon festival in May 2022 and I’ve finished it last week. I almost didn’t go because I’ve started questioning my abilities once again yet I’ve decided going even if it means I’ll crawl there 😄 My first official run in my life something so exiting what can’t be explained by words when I was running last few meters towards the finishing line. At the moment I am questioning if to sign up for 10k run in October 🤔🤭

With so much uncertainty in the world, children and young people need emotional support now more than ever. That's why I'm taking part in Step Out for Mental Health with Place2Be. Place2Be is the UK's leading provider of school-based children's mental health services. During lockdown, they have been working tirelessly to provide support to children and families who need them most. With your support, Place2Be can continue to be there for families.- £30 could pay for a vulnerable family to get support from a mental health professional. For many isolated families this is a lifeline, giving them access to basic necessities like food.- £100 could help 14 children to reach Place2Be during not only lockdowns and pandemic and talk about their fears. Thank you.