Anniversaries

Thank you for all of your support – 4 years! 🥳🎂

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, News, Numbers and stats

I continue to be amazed at what I am achieving – thank you for giving me the opportunity and the support that I receive 🥰

I still sit in awe some days of the fact that in a very dark period I was brave enough to listen to important people who know me well and took the step to protect me and my work from the various sources of attack at the time but also that I was recognised enough about what was happening to protect me and Integr8archery enough as I was creating it to future proof it from further attacks.

The reason for creating it as a CIC was exactly that, to protect what I and my “little company” ( I am always going to miss the weekly catch ups with my dad and hearing him ask about what he labelled “my little company”). I have been challenged about that decision on a number of occasions in the last 4 years but they are those who want profit, and I stand by the not for profit, I want to give and not make financial gain from what I do and I don’t owe anyone any explanation for that though I do explain, and passionately so, to those who ask.

2025/2026 saw me make a huge step forward personally and in my paid employment and as a result I did choose for a period to change the focus a little for Integr8archery CIC to allow me to continue to do less without stopping whilst focusing on the “day job”, it is after all the thing that puts bread on the table and allows me to do this. I think those who know me well understand that what I do at work as a senior youth support worker in children’s residential care, the hours I give as a regional safeguarding/wellbeing officer in archery and running Integr8archery CIC to provide access to those in the community who believe they cannot access sport. For those who it allows to create activity to reduce isolation, mental health and wellbeing support and social interaction when people have become isolated all wrap around each other and work with each and the skills I use transfer around all areas of my paid an volunteer work as a result.

this year has seen me focus on soft archery rather and very little pointy archery, though I have done both. I have also been allowed to help returners those wishing to find ways to stay in the sport. Life throws out challenges and sometimes simply knowing others are there and willing to share their experiences is enough to help encourage us to stay and fight for what we want, I share my story to help, and I am grateful it does.

one of the things that I really enjoy are the updates from those I have supported when they tell me how they are getting on, our aims and achievements are all different and I love hearing about what everyone is doing.

there are lots of things in the calendar for the summer and I cannot wait to see everyone and catch up but also meet new people. I am making choices around my own journey within the sport and if I do leave AGB in October I have already started to consider how this will impact what I offer with Integr8archery CIC and will update on changes if and when they are made.

so here we go (I am thrilled with these numbers):

2025/2026 –

Weekly school sessions (thank you to the coaches who deliver on my behalf)

187 @ 6 x primary schools

378 14 x secondary schools

132 @ 1 off events in schools

other groups / events

72 individuals in residential homes

6 community groups – 113 adults and 67 children

123 individuals in colleges

so the numbers for the year 2025/2026 are -1072 in total from June 2022 to June 2026 I have put bows in the hands of 6640 individuals It has been an absolute blast so far, absolutely some days are hard, there have been occasions when I have had to cancel or disappoint people and that always hurts me as I hate disappointing people but there has been so much fun and laughter too. I love seeing people try something new and I love the days when people realise they have choices and there are opportunities where they have been made to believe that there are none. I have to say thank you to those within the region who nominated me with the Ron Smith Memorial Trophy and the nomination was for everything I do in our sport, safeguarding to various volunteer roles but also helping people try, join, remain in our sport – I am still humbled to receive this almost 2 months on. 

I look forward to some return to normality as things settle and there will be more catch ups with what I am doing and I am looking forward to sharing news with you all.

I have, in recent weeks, enjoyed shooting my own bow after a long gap and even entered a competition!
see you all soon and here’s to the beginning of year 5 of Integr8archery CIC

182 weeks = 3 years and 6 months ❤️🏹🥳

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Event recap, News, Numbers and stats

when I started Integr8archery CIC in June of 2022 I started writing 2 blogs a week, in part to “chat” over what I was doing with anyone who was interested as I had first volunteered in archery in 2016 and it had grown and grown through various roles and as an Archery GB ambassador from 2019 – 2022 I really set out to show people my sport had a place for everyone, often to those who didn’t realise it and to show that it was also an amazing sport to help change lives, something that I had been told on numerous occasions from 2016 – 2022 when I had put bows in hands and from those I supported to stay in the sport they loved when they faced changes to stay.

My dad was my greatest supporter and every week we would chat about my “little business” and how I was doing, and what I was achieving. He listened to me chat about what had happened in the couple of years before hand and how I now wanted to set up a way to prevent people coming to take my work again or to try and make money from it, my “little business” was very carefully set up as not for profit and as a community interest company anything owned by the company will always belong to the company and I had to nominate a place everything would go if I closed it down because ven in closing it I will not be able to make a profit – he listened to me mull over and decide where to nominate.

Don’t worry I’m not closing down! 😂 I am just explaining for anyone who has only recently come across me and my little CIC. There are others who do similar and I work with some of them, chat over ideas with some other, respect everyone and never throw stones, even at those who speak ill of me and what I do.

A few short days after setting up, dad was diagnosed with terminal illness and as we set about helping him fight for quality time and arranging his plans, Integr8archery CIC became the thing we could talk about every week that had nothing to do with the pain of his illness or the fear of what life would be without him. Boxing Day 2022 marked 6 months of my little company and stars were important as we reflected on what I had achieved so far and was I doing what I set out to do! He was very proud of those numbers and keeping them has become even more important now to allow me to continue to reflect on what my aims were, what I had explained I was trying to do and reflecting on if I am still achieving it. So I publish numbers every 3 months.

So here we are 3 years later, approaching the third anniversary of loosing dad, it always gives me some comfort to be able to update figures again and wonder what he would say, though I do have a pretty good idea, as we talked a lot in those 6 months between diagnosis and him losing his fight, about questions and conversations I might want after he was gone and he did his very best to let me think what he might reply.

Last weekend I took a walk along the Norfolk coast in the cold, brisk wind to look at the seals, something I always love doing, seeing new life and reflecting on the sadness that not all the pups make it. Not sadness just nature and the circle of life, it reminds me that we are all temporary and we can only attempt to do what we can to make a difference whilst we live our days. I have volunteered in many ways for 35 years! The last 29 years to fulfil a promise I made to the universe 29 years ago, to make a difference whilst I can. I am trying my very best to do that always ad thank everyone who supports me and those who help me when I need an ear or extra hands.

So here we go:

As of the last quarter I had put bows in hands of 5568 people since June 2022. These are true numbers the last quarter =

schools :

weekly sessions

52 @ 6 x primary school (1 has stopped for this who notice it was previously 7 schools)

172 @ 14 secondary schools (2 new schools)

plus 78 @ one of events at 3 schools

3 x residential homes – 46

4 community groups – 67 children and 56 adults

72 at colleges

so this last quarter = 543

overall total for the 4th year to date = 1278 to date

added to the first 3 years of 5568 = 6846.

I continue to be awed at how many people trust me to invite me in to do these things, and in addition be allowed to support those who find staying in the sport when faced with change.

I wish you all an amazing 2026 and hope it brings good health and happiness for everyone 🥂
see you on the range out there, my calendar is filling so I know that I will surely enjoy the company of many 🥰

3 years and 3 months 🥳❤️🏹 week – 169 weeks

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Event recap, Numbers and stats, Re-published blogs

I love the anniversaries it is good for me to reflect on what I have achieved, somethings have to stop, some things start and it’s all about balance, for me this is all an amazing way to share my sport with other people, I love the way people see what they can do and enjoy it, often entirely surprised after being worried initially.

My sport is amazingly adaptable and varied and this makes it inclusive. I have been blessed to work with so many varied people and groups and I love this ability, from 4 years to 92 years.

If you follow me you will know that I celebrate the anniversaries and I use the quarters to reflect on what I have achieved with Integr8archery CIC, I love the numbers as they help me focus – the last update was 3 year anniversary, thank you for reading that. 

 

So here I am, the last 3 months from 28th June to 27th September 2025 –

3 x school events – 195 people

weekly school sessions –

7 x primary – 84 people

12 x secondary schools – 146 people

3 x colleges – 32 people

4 x Residential Care homes (seniors) – 36

3 x Community groups (juniors) – 111 children

2 x Community Groups (adults) – 95

2 x company team building events = 36 people

total for the last 3 months =

735 people 🥳❤️🏹

added to the previous 3 years = 5568 people and the 4th year of integr8archery CIC looks to be kicking off with a boom!

thank you to everyone who has helped me and supported me in that time, ever do I take it for granted 🥰 you are all amazing and there are definitely days that I would stumble without you, the messages and the cups of coffee ☕️🍰 work their magic always.

This is of course all on top of the many other things that I do, some people criticise the amount of volunteering that I do, but it’s my decision and those closest to me know what drives me, a promise I made 29 years ago, I believe I am keeping it. 

What I do know is that the 4th year seems to be off to a great start and I am continuing to enjoy sharing my sport and supporting those who take part in it. 

 

 

 

3rd Birthday 🎂 celebrations and statistics 🥳❤️🏹

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Blog with a message, Health, News, Numbers and stats, weekly update

Wow! 3 years! I have no idea where this time has gone at all.

I loved being an ambassador for AGB and I stand by the validity of the group and the value of the roles, but the sheer amount of projects I was doing was somewhat overwhelming for people overseeing the ambassadors. The things that happened in 2022 made me believe that there was no place in this sport for me, as an archer or anything else. What I have learned in the long term is that the coach who said those things, (my coach) was the wrong coach, a bad coach! Instead 3 others coaches who know me and my story, sat me down and said own yourself, the good, the bad and the ugly, and get out there and do what you do well. Their voices made it to places that the friends who were supporting me didn’t quite get and I will forever be grateful but never more so than the advice given to me by pirate Dan! Thank you my friend for believing in me when I needed it and for being real.

I am also grateful to the few people who woke up 3 years go to find themselves in a chat group helping me choose the name of my new little business, my Community Interest Company that would allow me to do what I wanted, not for profit, providing access to sport for those who think they cannot access it for any reason. never once did any of them say what the heck are you thinking! They woke up, embraced the fact that I hadn’t slept, had been up all night and was on a serious caffeine high! 😜

I started off writing blogs twice a week for the first 2 years, then I have gradually moved to once a week and now once a month unless I have something to share, this I see suggests I am processing the loss of my dad in January 2022, the blocs were to replace this weekly calls we had that I could no longer have so I think this is a good sign for my recovery from the loss of my dad. 🤗 I do post stats at the quarter marks and I was very proud at 2 years and 9 months –

weeks 143 – 147 wow what a mad month that was!

so now 3 months later – I can add

that there are another

16 primary schools
37 secondary schools

12 colleges

31 residential care homes

6 children in csre

5 people in refuges

32 people in community groups

which makes a total of 142

added to the existing 4691 = 4833

year 1 = 2061

year 2 = 1873

year 3 = 899

I love this as I said I would be doing less, focusing on what I wanted, that I think is important and I think it shows that in part I am doing that, 1 person which uses other’s support when they need to.

it doesn’t take into account the issues with a group that cost me the range which has seen what I can do reduce, but it doesn’t take into account the joy of choosing what I want to focus on. There is nothing that I will not consider but I will be focusing on preventing groups from creating issues to the wider purposes of the aims of Integr8archery CIC, lessons learnt in 2024/2025.

I also still support some groups who continue to run without us and I have other roles within my sport and my day job.i am very happy with these numbers 🤗🥰

so there we have it, I have lots planned for the summer of 2025 so fingers crossed we get them met 🤞🏻🥰

shout me if you need me, whenever 🤗

eat cake and raise to Helen, I a trying my hardest to be the best me for my children 😘

weeks 143 – 147 wow what a mad month that was!

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Blog with a message, News, Numbers and stats, weekly update

Firstly, apologies for the gap in weeks, things have been chaotic on a number of levels from my health to some things happening within my close circle and then work requiring me to step up and do a significant amount of extra hours to help support a situation for a young person, including an unexpected break to the coast which was intense, hard work but also as we were lucky with weather, some beautiful moments in each day.

What have I been doing in those missing weeks for Integr8archery CIC?

Some of you do remember that it is just me, and I organise everything and hold meetings and reviews and I am lucky that when I need coaches I have a small team of amazing coaches who I match to delivery requirements, I am immensely grateful to these people who don’t really need me and are amazing enough that if I am not around they crack on with it. They are also incredibly understanding of my tendency to issue emails etc during the middle of the night, a combination of my working shifts and that I do not sleep, they know I don’t expect them to be awake to reply 😂

So it’s been meetings, (thank goodness that COVID really taught us how to connect via the internet) and that wherever I have been, I have been able to attend much of those by my virtual sessions. To those who I have been able to see face to face, thank you for finding time to catch up with me around the crazy schedule and to those who I had to postpone, I think I now have new dates in my calendar for everyone but if I have missed you, please let me know.

A couple of projects have been knocked on the head and I will hold dearly the memories and friendships made over time in these places, but, whilst I come for free as a not for profit, even where there is no charge for my delivery, there is often a cost to venues and I understand that budgets have to be met. So I walk away from these with absolute certainty that we all did our best and I have seen some individuals move on from both projects and do so well in archery that we can all be proud of that.

The change of season has seen some of the groups that we have to suspend over winter come back out and I love the feeling that we are all happy to see each other again, catching up over arrows and tea, the feeling that summer is around the corner is very welcome.

Week 144 was 2 years and 9 months! It still blows my mind that here I am with my little non profit CIC and that people allow me to introduce them to my sport but also, in some cases, allow me to open doors to other sports. I am a huge believer in the adaptability and inclusivity of my sport which is why I work with such a massive age range but also the very many things that sport can provide an individual not least, getting active.

I was on the radio again this morning talking about just this – find me at 2:10 – 2:17:30 if you wish to listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b08h?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7Lv8Oe_4RS9F2O8D55VGYK0JXeQvWTTcfMm-jUBLEepQosUNFMSnjWPRCfyQ_aem_fLYgbVhw2rPhewBEZxwGSQ

But as is customary at the quarter anniversary I had stats for you

Months 7-9 for year 3 saw

5 x secondary school = 180 individuals

primary schools = 12 individuals

Disability groups = 8 individuals

Women in refuge = 9 individuals

Saturday morning groups = 30 individuals

Seniors in residential settings = 15 individuals

Children in care = 7 individuals

total of 261 individuals with a bow in their hands which if we look at the previous stats

https://integr8archery.com/2024/12/28/week-130-2-and-a-half-years-of-integr8archery-cic-numbers-🥳❤%25EF%25B8%258F🏹

So, to date year 3 stands at 261 + 757 =1,018 individuals with a bow in their hands!

Meaning Integr8archery CIC has in the first 2 years and 9 months put bows in the hands of

2061 + 1873 + 757 =4,691 individuals

I am proud of that number, some days it’s hard work, some days I wonder what I am doing, but then I receive a message from someone that reminds me and I carry on. Last June when I announced the second anniversary stats I said I was going to reduce my hours but all I did was fill them with other things in this sport 😂🫣

As I am now already 4 weeks into the last quarter of my 3rd year I cannot see this “less hours” happening any time soon either 🤷‍♀️

So let’s move into the outdoor season confident that we will carry on shooting arrows whenever and wherever we can, whilst ever someone wants us to.

THANK YOU for your continued support and see you somewhere soon 🙃❤️🏹

week 130 – 2 and a half years of Integr8archery CIC – numbers! 🥳❤️🏹

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Blog with a message, Numbers and stats, weekly update

That weird spell between Christmas and New Year will always see a half year anniversary for my “little business”. So make yourself a nice warm brew and let’s catch up with my numbers to date.
Dad was so proud and excited of the 6 months in 2022 and I will be forever thankful that he got to see that after the support he gave me when I was setting up. Now I share because it’s important to be able to see what I am doing for perspective on the tough days, doing things alone can be hard work at times.

For anyone who wants to read previous anniversary stats here are a few links –

1st year June 2023 –

https://integr8archery.com/2023/06/27/1st-anniversary-🥳-ptsd-awareness-day-perfect-timing-❤%25EF%25B8%258F🏹

2nd year June 2024 –

https://integr8archery.com/2024/06/28/happy-2nd-birthday-week-104-🥳

3 months into my third year –

https://integr8archery.com/2024/09/17/weeks-115-116-sorry-not-sorry-❤%25EF%25B8%258F🏹

So here we are are, (yes it’s 4 days late – day job😉) 24th December 2024 = 2 years and 6 months

The last 3 months have seen –

Education – made up of 14 secondary schools, 4 primary schools and 2 colleges = 183 people

SEN and Disability groups – 27 people

Seniors – 41 people

Children in Care – 18 people

Activity Groups – 53 people

These are all new hands holding bows, some of these have stayed shooting and joined our sustainable groups, some shot for a few weeks and some tried just once, the most important thing is that everyone enjoyed it!

1st year totals – 2061

2nd year totals – 1873

3rd year, half way point – 757

= 2 and a half years = 4691 individuals with bows in their hands – not at all bad in my opinion!

Thank you as always to every coach or helper that I have had, and to those who have trusted me to introduce them to the sport that I love, it’s a pleasure to see you go from anxious anticipation to relaxing and smiling and believing in yourself.

I give a lot of hours to this and they are all unpaid, Integr8archery CIC is not for profit, some of the work undertaken by coaches is paid but in return they offer me free hours too because we all believe in getting sport into places where people think it is not within their reach.

I have been successful in claiming some time back for myself and my own shooting which has seen this last 4 months become really enjoyable and some of those hours have just been moved to other existing volunteer roles, particularly safeguarding. My average hours for Integr8archery CIC are 21 per week, so I dropped over a third in the last 2 years, no small achievement. Yes there is a correlation between hours given and numbers, that’s clearly seen but I am ok with that, show me another non for profit company run by 1 person who is achieving more than I am, I will congratulate them but balance is important for my own health and I am stronger now and more settled. Thank you to everyone who believed in me in the summer of 2022 because I didn’t, and you gave me the courage that I had lost 🥰

See you all in 2025 – and remember if you stand next to me for long enough, you will no doubt find a bow in your hands 😂

Weeks 115 & 116 – sorry, not sorry ❤️🏹

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Numbers and stats, weekly update

Following the Thoresby shoot things all got very manic at work and required a lot of very long, intense hours and when at home I tired to concentrate on responding to Integr8archery emails and messages, ensuring commitments were met and planning and finalising details for new provisions and groups.

No shooting at all for 2 weeks just some clingy band work whenever I could to keep the muscles awake and ready for the county championships. Apologies to anyone living with me or trying to message me because I have been at work, asleep or in meetings ☕️

Next week will be 117 weeks which is the first quarter of my third year – it never stops being amazing.

My little non profit community interest company – reaching out to provide access to sports for so many people who think they cannot take part for such a variety of reasons.

So, numbers? (I know it’s only week 116🙃).


The first quarter is always a little lower because it covers the school summer holidays, schools are a big part of what I do, but with the community groups we have covered and the final weeks of the 23/24 academic year we have had the following numbers –

schools – 242

SEN & disability groups – 72

seniors – 58

Children in Care – 15

Children’s activity groups – 48

435 people in 3 months, I am happy with that, I love the laughter and smiles and the joy that comes with introducing the sport that I love to new people along with watching the progression of those who are wanting to.

Sunday saw the NCAS Open and County Championships and I was finally able to pick up my bow. A second bowman 1st class score in the first session and an expected dip in the second session, both beating the personal best score I set for the round in 2021. A possibility I may have set a county record for the double, claim submitted and to be confirmed, unlikely to be long before someone has beaten it but I was only beaten to the gold by 4 points and that, along with everything else just shows the work that has gone into my outdoor season is all falling into place.

Though the pain was high by the end of the day and Monday certainly saw me pay, I can say with certainty that I am currently feeling the joy that I felt back in my first outdoor season in 2018 is back and that is worth all of the work and effort. 2019 – 2023 were a rollercoaster of emotions and struggling to find new ways to shoot to allow me to continue. Definitely standby the care you should take in who you let into your circle, choose only the right voices to let into your head space.

A couple of possible outdoor competitions that I may take part in to spend time with friends and to maybe see if I can get the third bowman 1st class score, but I had marked this weekend as the official end to my outdoor season so I can say that on reflection I am incredibly happy and have enjoyed most of the season.

This week will see 2 new groups pick up bows for their first session so that will be fun and schools are settling back in this week after the return for the 2024/25 academic year.

Enjoy the week and catch up with you soon ❤️🏹

Happy 2nd birthday – week 104 🥳🎂

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Anniversaries, News, Numbers and stats

Thank you to everyone who supported me from the beginning, who have joined me along the way, who have let me in to discuss what we might be able to do, who have trusted me to put a bow in their hands, helped them face change to stay shooting ……… the list of what I get to do is wide and varied and I love all of it, it’s hard work being the one in charge of my little business all alone, whilst working, being a parent to amazing young people, trying to shoot my own bow and also volunteering in non archery ways.

So, my time – it’s free always, I remain committed to not for profit, any money that comes in covers costs of storage and petrol for running around, anything left goes into delivering for a group, a project – whatever.

The people who work with me do a combination of paid and unpaid time, anything paid is predominantly paid directly to them, I make all the arrangements but it’s only rare that something comes to me to be passed on. In return for the paid work they do, almost all of the coaches then donate varing amounts of free time to Integr8archery CIC, no pressure from me about what or when but most give valuable time for which I am grateful. ☺️


I made the decision at the end of 2023 that I would reduce how many hours I was giving, 25-30 hours a week is a lot and there were a number of health issues happening with both myself and both of the children under the hospital. 2024 saw other issues in the family with health that added to this. Thank you from all of us to those of you who have supported us through all of that. Lots of positive news amongst all of that, still things going on but your support has meant so very much 🥰🤗

I don’t think it’s really going to be a surprise for me to say, not much changed, because I had announced a change in my time commitments it meant when I needed to post that there was going to be any delays (and I do always post on social media what’s happening and how long you might wait – usually a couple of days when I am on my working weekend), I can do it without feeling stress or guilt. Not everyone listens, some people push and can be rude 🤷‍♀️ I will not apologise for having a life! I nearly lost it 110 weeks ago!

So time –

2023/2024 for Integr8archery CIC I have given 987 hours of my time to this little provider of flying arrows 🥰

Total number of hours to other volunteering, including Archery GB, other sports related events, working with other CIC’s or groups focusing on the same goals as mine accessibility and inclusion – 226 hours 🥳

Total of volunteer hours for the year = 1213 hours – so that 112.5 hours less than my first year so my reduction on time to relax? Turned out to be a couple of hours a week 😂🫣

How many people have I had the pleasure to help put bows in their hands? I love these numbers – they are what keep me going on the hard days when I am wondering what I am doing or why I am doing it! I deliver or take part in as much as I can, the biggest exception is schools as I have coaches in a variety of places and I cannot be everywhere all of the time, I try to pop in occasionally and I am the project manager and the contact for all of them, meetings are less fun that delivering but anyone who has sat in a meeting with me knows that I am no less enthusiastic in those meetings than I am on the ranges 😂

Education – 852 individuals have picked up a bow, some once, many for numerous weeks.

Community Groups –

Broken down a little further to –

Youth – 305 which includes young carers, LGBTQIA+, Foster families, Community support and inclusion groups

Rimaya related sessions 192 individuals including the Northamptonshire Sport Together Fund supported sessions with Wellingborough Muslim Community

Seniors sessions – 86 individuals over the age of 68 years, awesome to see them smile in a new activity

Business Events – 138

Disability sessions – 89

Refuge confidence building sessions – 52

College sessions – 87

University Sessions – 72


A whopping total of 1873 individuals who have stood with a bow in their hands, some have had a taster, some shooting as part of ongoing groups, some moving onto local clubs, all enjoying whatever we have done and I continue to be inspired by the smiles I see. I love the moments when I see someone relax and understand what I tried to explain, that this sport that I love accepts everyone, it is adaptable and accessible and makes no judgement on anyone.

So the conferences – 6, meetings – 51, webinars – 23, training sessions – 12, the many catch ups over a coffee, all worth it even when I am shattered – 1.89 people have held a bow for every hour of time I have given to Integr8archery CIC!

So if we revisit the first anniversary blog and combine the first two years of Integr8archery CIC I am incredibly proud and humbled at what’s been achieved, thank you for joining me on this rollercoaster – why do I do it? If these blogs don’t answer that but especially the quarterly and annual numbers round ups, don’t explain it, then it’s surely the many, many smiles 😎

I am off for that coffee and a treat to celebrate, before a meeting this evening brings us all back firmly with our feet on the ground ☺️

New Year = New Challenges? What will you do in 2024 as we reflect on 2023?

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Blog with a message, Event recap

It’s that time of year when we reflect on the year that’s coming to an end, most of us do it, only natural I guess. For me it’s just a blink of an eye from last New Year’s Eve. Walking in to see my parents and spend a couple days with them but realising that likely wouldn’t be the case. We had spent time over Christmas FaceTiming and laughing and those memories will always make what came next easier, it certainly gives me comfort to recall the laughter shared between dad and the children.

So my 2023 started with the end of dad’s life, 3 days when we were supported by an amazing team who we didn’t even know on New Year’s Eve.

We had spent 6 and a half months having big conversations, hard conversations and talking about little things- we knew what was going to happen and we prepared for it and I have had a year of his voice in my ear with the messages he left from those conversations.

2023 was going to be the year I tried to build on the recovery of my mental health after the horrific 2021/2022 and everything that it brought, but I would be doing it without my dad.

So, did I achieve it? In many ways, yes! My head is a calmer, stronger place but I also still have more work to do there, a lot more work. I am pleased I have the years of messages that contain the promises that were used to destroy me, they reassure me that my memories and recollections are right and my counsellor confirms that my reactions to everything that followed are reasonable and I am grateful that she’s always there when I need her.

2023 has allowed me to breathe and look at Integr8archery CIC with a more relaxed view. I am proud of what I achieve and grateful to those who help me. It’s also the positive of what came from that very dark period of my life and it’s something I shared in our weekly chats with dad, his love of listening to me talk of “my little business”. He was proud of those stats in the blog on the 26/12/22 and it makes me proud to have those 6 monthly reflections as I can hear him speak to me.

2022 and 2023 have taught me that I give so very much to my sport and that it’s ok to admit that it’s not always a good thing and with that in mind 2023 saw me start to build on some of the other things that I do and change the balance of where I use my time.

In 2023 – I gave a total of 1243 hours to volunteering, averaged that’s 23.9 hours a week. 2022 had that figure at just over 30 hours a week. So I have claimed a bit of time, not a lot, but those who know me well know that 7 hours a week for me is massive!

Of those hours 20.66 a week are for Integr8archery CIC – a total of 48 hours from that 1243 had nothing to do with archery at all!

I absolutely advocate volunteering and what you can get from giving to others, I really wouldn’t advocate giving the number of hours that I give!

Professional change came from a change in job but not to the one that I had been offered a year ago, in fact what I do hadn’t even been a thought a year ago! But I love it and I have been promoted, is it difficult some days, yes! Is it worth doing – absolutely and I cannot imagine what you might offer me as an alternative that I would consider doing! I mean I must love it to be going to an ice skating disco for over 8 hours this evening 🫣😬😱😂

My archery? I had hoped to get back to my 1000 arrows a week, stats show me I have averaged 525 arrows a week! Not what I had wanted but neither had I anticipated the time/balance of new work and family responsibilities or my ever deteriorating physical health. My shoulder has deteriorated, my back is definitely not happy 😬 but my hands, particularly my right hand, the deterioration there in 2023 has seen me loose the ability to grip at an accelerated rate this year, and the weird spasms in my thumb are frankly bizarre/frustrating and weird. Three hospital appointments in the next few weeks will hopefully move us to some answers! 🤞🏻

Of course the good news in my archery is the gift of new cams from the manufacturer for my bow which I now have back and the timing is that I can learn my new way of shooting with my very pretty bow in my hands. Thank you to Maggie, Bowtech and Martin.

These changes meant that the classification I had worked hard at for the outdoor season from starting in 2018 to summer 2022 slipped in 2023 – and yes, I measure the new classifications but also use the old because for comparison they have meaning that the new just don’t yet. Indoors I had finished 2022/2023 on my best ever indoor classification and though this season started way below, the work I am putting in is seeing that climb back up and maybe I might 🤞🏻 end the indoors where I was last year – and it will be fun to see where I settle on the new indoor classifications.

2024? work on my hand, work on my archery, and continue to work towards access to sport for all. It’s going to be interesting to see where it goes but at least I know I will see many of you as I go through the year – and that is by far the most important part of 2024 – I wish you good health, love and laughter 🥰🥂

Week 78 – 18 months – numbers! 🤩 Thank you so very much

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Numbers and stats, weekly update

As you know I keep track of my stats and what I am achieving to make sure it’s worth the many many hours given to everything that Integr8archery CIC was set up to achieve. I complete the weekly update and most weeks a midweek blog drop too to keep you in the loop. As you know the 6 and 12 months stages I updated with stats.

So here I am 18 months! A number of groups are continuing to work with us on a regular basis, frequency varies from group to group.

But today I am concentrating on new hands on bows from June 2023 – December 2023 –

Education including primary and secondary schools and colleges = 384 & 32 = 416

Children in foster care = 13

Community Groups = 81

Disability sessions = 36

The group sessions for those in refuge saw us work with 25 individuals and I am proud to say this period has included a group of men, having previously been just women.

So a total of 571 individuals picking up a bow – (inclusive of soft archery but mostly pointy) in the last 26 weeks

Also 4 archers who had stopped shooting feeling that they had no place in our sport have spent time chatting with me and are back regularly shooting.

Thank you to everyone who lets me share my passion for this sport that I love but also to the coaches who work it’s me, you are all amazing and between us there’s not much we cannot achieve.

I have also attended:

8 training sessions/courses,

9 webinars/seminars,

16 meetings

and 5 conferences.

I am excited for the very many things planned for 2024 and continue to be motivated by what is being achieved by Integr8archery CIC.

There’s lots to share with you all in the coming months and these figures only tell part of the story as you will soon see.

I hope that you have enjoyed the holiday season so far and wish you all a very happy 2024 and I do hope it’s filled with love and laughter for you all ❤️🏹🥂