Since taking early retirement I have been working part-time for The Oasis Centre - Cornwall. It is a small local charity whose vision is to end loneliness and isolation in the local community. The charity brings people of all ages and backgrounds together to form friendships and support one another. Oasis provides provides wellbeing cafes and family hubs in St Columb Major and St Eval, supporting the oldest and youngest age groups in our community, they also provide a drop-in service for everyone from the main office at St Columb Major (which is where I fit in!)

I remember my time as a young teenage mum, and the mother and toddler groups were a lifeline and a sanity saver for me then, giving friendship, company and quite often reassurance that I was doing ok! I can see from our Family Hubs how this is still so needed for people with young families from all backgrounds.

At the other end of the spectrum, many older people in rural Cornwall are isolated, and/or living on a restricted income. Our Wellbeing Cafés provide a warm, safe space, entertainment, companionship and a hot meal. Again, providing many with a lifeline, and improving their wellbeing.

The charity relies wholly on grants and donations and the very generous efforts of volunteers. To help contribute to this amazing cause on 7th June I am walking The Saint's Way, (or Forth an Syns), along with my long suffering husband Paul, and my bodyboarding buddy Lin. It is a long-distance footpath that cuts right across Cornwall from Padstow on the north coast to Fowey on the south. Roughly 27 miles long, and we plan to do it all in one day (legs permitting), there's bound to be encounters with cows, (those who know me know how much I don't like those!!) and maybe an ice-cream or two along the way