I’m walking 50km along the Cotswolds Way on 13th June, as part of the Cotswolds Way Ultra Challenge!

As someone who hasn’t taken on a challenge like this before, I’m excited and let’s face it, nervous, to tackle 50km. I really hope I can do it!

Working in the office, I see firsthand the difference Home-Start Cotswolds makes each day, and I’m proud to be supporting a charity that I know has such a great team of staff, trustees and volunteers behind it. Together, we support local families experiencing difficult times – sometimes dealing with issues such as postnatal depression, bereavement, debt, loneliness, anxiety, social isolation or domestic abuse. As a mum to three, I know that parenting can feel hard sometimes, add extra challenges to the mix and it can so easily feel overwhelming. That’s where our volunteers come in, to support a family, visiting them at home once a week. Our team of volunteers are the best of humans, and they spend time getting to know a family, showing their support and offering practical help. This can seem quite simple; chatting and listening to Mum, playing with the children, helping around the house, accompanying them to appointments or getting out and about - but these simple acts of kindness can make a huge difference. As one Mum recently said, “my volunteer has come in like a guardian angel”.

We also run postnatal groups, allowing us to reach more families across the Cotswolds in areas that are more remote and don’t always have local activities. The Cotswolds is a beautiful part of the world but very difficult to get around if you don’t have your own transport or local networks, social isolation is a real issue. These groups give parents the opportunity to meet other local parents, share experiences and all whilst learning tips on sleep, feeding, baby massage, first aid and play.

I feel very lucky to work and fundraise for such a brilliant charity. Any donation, no matter how small, is really appreciated. Thank you ❤️

Now, I best get training…!