The individual is at the heart of everything that I do and I choose people to work with me who do the same, it allows me to put the right coach in the right group.
A focus for me will always be welfare and safeguarding because without this nothing else will function.
I thought I would explain how that impacts my week, so in the last 3 weeks I have:
Attended the latest East Midlands Welfare virtual meeting, been interviewed on BBC radio Northamptonshire as part of the day of disability special, delivered my last session for 2024 at DISC, attended Corby Archers to deliver archery England federation cross awards to their juniors, attended a virtual meeting with white ribbon UK looking at gender based violence in education settings, attended an event hosted by the children’s society and Ivison Trust on the topic of child exploitation for sports clubs and organisations, attended a workshop hosted by BEAT around eating disorders and the festive period and joined in on the reclaim the night march in Northampton.
The other stuff I do, go to work, shoot, manage and review events delivered by coaches on behalf of Integr8archery CIC and spend time with my family, including my regular weekend with mum, all continued too.
Not everything I do sees me post photos, and it may not all seem exciting but it is all very much worth my time to keep everyone safe.
See you all on a range soon and if you are about, at the indoor nationals for certain ❤️🏹
Week 126! Integr8archery CIC was about owning the work I had been doing since 2017 and allowing access to sport to anyone who saw barriers in their way.
Sport is empowering in many ways and for many reasons, if you have been following me you know that whilst I celebrate what myself and those who work with me achieve there are some groups that, though I count them in my stats, I don’t say very much about and I never post photos of.
One such group is those that I work with in refuge, it is a privilege to be allowed in to the lives of those in these circumstances, trust does not come easy for them and is therefore something I hold very close. How these individuals see themselves is often very different to how I see them. For me they are incredibly brave and starting a new chapter. Sport has the potential to allow a person to relax and breathe and for a little while, daily, weekly….. think about something else.
These sessions are a mixture of tears, laughter, arrows and chatter, silly conversation, serious discussions. You can bet there’s a cuppa and often treats from cake to pizza depending on the mood. Sometimes I host sessions for the women who are in refuge to bring their children too, again these are amazing.
In autumn 2023 I became a white ribbon champion, this is a topic close to my heart and that I am passionate about- violence against women and girls. It’s not the only kind of violence and if you look I do have a page about other aspects I work towards, but this in particular, due to my own experience is particularly important to me. It is why I take part in the reclaim the night march, it was a cold one this year and whilst we remember the names of those who have lost their lives each year, locally we held Harshita Brella close to us.
25th November was the start of 16 days of activism and white ribbon day, why am I a champion?
It is only by raising awareness and challenging the root causes of violence that we can start to bring about change, reduce and ultimately end, violence against women and girls.
We can do this by:
• Remembering the phrase, ‘I’m not OK with that,’ to use when confronted by so-called ‘banter’ and sexist ‘jokes’ to disrupt and re-direct harmful conversations.
• Promoting equality by challenging the status quo of what it means to ‘be a man’ and to ‘be a woman.’
• Having open conversations with our friends, family and colleagues about ending men’s violence against women and girls.
• Learning about what it means to be allies to women, and how we can speak up and be active in preventing violence.
• Knowing where to find help, and sharing support with our friends, family and colleagues.
• Wearing a White Ribbon can act as an important conversation starter.
• Making the White Ribbon Promise to; never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.
Together we can prevent violence against women and girls. It Starts with Men.
For more information, resources, and ways to get involved this White Ribbon Day, please visit the White Ribbon UK website: www.whiteribbon.org.uk
This has been a crazy busy week, trying to fit everything in has been exhausting but I have pulled it off, I think 🤔
The meetings, online and in person were all attended. Crazy shifts at work all done and emotionally and mentally exhausting they were too. A couple of reviews were completed for existing projects. Plans to move short term to long term for 2 projects, created and discussed and now to get them up and running. The art show/auction attended and proud to have played a tiny part in raising money to enable Off the Streets to fund more bleed kits and I won the silent action for the piece that I had bid on!
Helping others to do their bits for the community is part if what we all do and when I get my desk set up in a few weeks this will be hanging on the wall close by for sure.
Saturday the decision was made to call of the activity session for the seniors group, where we are it was wet and incredibly windy, they had warned the tail end of the hurricane was going to hit but we had tried to remain optimistic 🤗
Sunday saw the National Flight Championships and I had decided to enter only 2 categories for a variety of reasons. In 2021 I came home with 4 golds, in 2022 I came home with two golds, a silver and a bronze. 2023 saw my flight interrupted for incredibly valid reasons. For 2024 I had originally set my goals as beat the 2 county records that I set in 2022 so that the new ones would see my club changed. Also to earn my next raptor badge having earned the Merlin in 2022.
The decision to shoot only 2 categories meant I would only have the chance to break my county record in Target Compound not exceeding 45lb. As I wasn’t going to be shooting the flight recurve bow. Break the county record I did, plus laid down the first of the 2 required distance to earn the kestrel raptor badge.
My little longbow measured in at 19lb which meant she was easily over matched in the Not Exceeding 35lb but I shoot this bow because it makes me smile.
I also ended the day with a silver medal in my compound category – not too shabby!
Monday saw the Northern Counties regional flight and here I achieved the second score I needed to claim my kestrel raptor badge 🥳
I also manage to beat my new county record for my target bow NE 45lb 🥳 excellent news
I am very happy, how could I not be, I am surrounded by amazing friends when I shoot flight and I would never change that! Flight is my most favorite form of archery but I have had to pay for putting my body through all of that 😱🤷♀️🫣
Tuesday I would gladly have stayed in bed but I had a session arranged for the amazing young people to have a session @ Kingswood in Corby. Another great session and thanking everyone as always for everyone’s warm welcome each time we come over.
The SEND sessions are an awesome chance for those who, for various reasons, have found other sports/activities are not right for them 🤗
I am incredibly proud of the young people who have helped me deliver the sessions over the summer, all 4 have been amazing 😎 thank you
The pointy sessions have been well attended and it’s been great watching the young people develop confidence with each session.
Without a doubt the theme of the week has been friendship, without it I would certainly have struggled in such a busy week.
Back home saw a swift return to life! But weeks ago a trip to London had been planned for me and Rose as a late birthday trip for her. Her love of art saw a trip to frameless followed by shopping and an Italian dinner along with some little impromptu drop ins as we travelled the city. I love spending time with her, she’s amazing company and I am blessed to have amazing friendships with my children 🤗🥰 she’s mending well and we can see the possibility of normal being a very real thing for her, her determination over the last 9 months has been inspiring ❤️
County meeting, dealing with clubs across the region and a couple outside who want to engage to resolve the issues around welfare officers, some safeguarding matters and getting ready to take on the Archery England Federation Crosses all keeping me busy when I have not been at work this week!
The news that my hard work paid of and I have passed my PBS course 🥳 is rewarding, and that I have been asked to be one of a handful of people selected to be trained in how to deliver the 1 day course across the business, makes it very rewarding but I have to say, if anyone ever suggests an intense level 5 course – consider with caution, it’s usually over 2 years for a reason and 5 months was incredibly had work 😱🤔😳 but worth it in the end and I can go back to concentrating on my level 3 and level 4 courses, lots to do and equally intense subjects, but hopefully by the new year I will be able to look back with some pride over what I have achieved across the 3 courses.
A little bit of finalising plans for the coming weeks and that allowed me to focus on Monday’s session at Kingswood Urban Development Project, grateful to be indoors as the heat was somewhat intense! As previously we ran bookable SEND sessions in the morning and drop in sessions in the afternoon. Caught up with people we had seen before and saw lots of new people two, across the day we catered for around 50 people, great to see everyone and hope to see them next month. Some great feedback from both sessions but particularly around the SEND provision which is always great to hear, it’s good to know we are getting it right, whilst we plan with everyone when working together, we only know if it’s working by hearing from those who come along.
I had been asked by several people to drop in to Lilleshall for a catch up and to offer support at this year’s youth festival. I did just that and was joined by Rob and Aidan from Kingswood Urban Development Project who hopefully enjoyed it as much as they said, they were certainly good company. List of great matches, lots of hugs and catch ups and I collected those badges I will be setting out to get in the post soon. 😊
Some intense hours at work over the next week as we support a young person going through an especially difficult time so please be patient if that impacts my time here.
It’s been a busy 7 days! Couple of safeguarding meetings that went well and hopefully issues can be resolved soon.
School games finals day, always great fun, the months of activity across the county and for many, the chance try new sports and choose one to focus on, and compete to get to finals day. Northamptonshire Sports do such an amazing job of ensuring teams, schools and providers all do what we need to across the months. Over 1100 children come together across the various sports and 10 school teams of 4 came together for the archery finals. Children from years 5 to 10 put on an amazing display and a great day was had.
The weekend saw JNOC and as I have withdrawn from AGB competition volunteering for this outdoor season it was a little strange at times but I had plenty to keep me busy. Supporting Rose is always great and a privilege, she blows me away. What she’s gone through since October would have stopped many but she has continued and the sport has, at times, kept her going. No medals but a well earned blue rose award.
In addition I was able to support the amazing team from Ebbsfleet Academy and have the rare chance to chat face to face with all of the committee and Deb managed to get a team photo of us all together ❤️🏹
I was able to support 9 other individuals and a few parents who I support always plus a bunch of others from across the county and wider, I am proud of everyone of them and saw some medals, some new PB’s, some English federation crosses and some rose awards claimed. As always accompanied by the weather dome that is Lilleshall and provided some turbulent conditions at times. Awesome work by everyone.
Home and back to work, now tidying everything up ready for heading off to Dunster at the weekend. Following my trip to a&e 2 weeks ago I have made some responsible decisions about what I should be shooting and of the possible days I have entered 5. My set up is not right and there will not be time to make the corrections needed so I am expecting absolutely nothing, not even decent scores! But I will be spending time with great friends and that is what I am going for – that and the ice cream 😜
So, prepare for next week being reduced communication 🙃
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 ☺️
I think this is going to be the badge I wear for 2024. I am going to remember it and repeat it daily because I think the fight is going to really pick up this year.
what fight? The one I stepped into in 2019, it seems like a lifetime ago, in part because the whole Covid lockdowns and the timeline disruption that brought with it, but also, because it is!
I have been involved in the world of safeguarding since I first volunteered as a 16 year old, but little did I realise how over the next 33 years it would become increasingly part of what I do, in the day job and in a variety of volunteer roles.
I see it as the most important role I have aside from being a parent, which is essentially a kind of safeguarding in its own way.
I have a number of qualifications within it and I study constantly to improve my knowledge in ways to support those who come to me. Safeguarding is a privilege as I essentially step into someone’s world when they are in their most vulnerable place. Though I also do a lot of work to help improve knowledge to prevent issues, equally important.
Within my sport I have been a club safeguarding officer in a variety of places since 2017, some I still hold, and regional safeguarding officer since 2019, sometimes being part of the safeguarding team for Archery GB at competitions.
Most issues that come to me are resolved simply, some take more work, and some of what I do is to support other safeguarding officers. I don’t get to speak about what I do due to GDPR, rightly so.
However the biggest issue I have been dealing with has been an open case for me since 2019 when I was first asked to get involved, and believe me repeated conversations, meetings and discussions with NGB, outside agencies, and athletes and coaches have seen this grow to involve so many people, and covers 14 years worth of information that I have been given.
I have a variety of opinions as to how some of the issues have happened, some is a culture where habits are taught to the next person and the next and so on, some is outright bullying. Regardless it all needs changing, acknowledgement and ownership is required to even begin to bring about change. Other sports have gone through similar and some are still going through their process, I believe that all sports have something similar, created by habits and attitudes that were once allowed that are no longer acceptable. There is no shame in holding up your hands and saying we have a problem, and we are going to make changes, shame will only come from hiding it, refusing to change it and allowing it to continue.
It might be hard, and for a while a bit rocky, change always is and this is huge, but there are so many amazing people in our sport who will work to do this given the opportunity.
For some it will be easier to try and throw dirt back, I am ready for that, it isn’t new after all, it’s been happening for 5 years already, it just may get louder and more public. There is a limit to what and how I will respond, because those who matter to me personally know me and enough about what is happening. What I will say is my day job taught me a very long time ago to evidence gather, and I keep every message across every platform and they will allow me to always know my truth and to remind myself when necessary of that truth, like they did in 21/22.
It is almost mental health week and so it is always fitting to consider my own, I have PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks and a form of acrophobia. 2022 – 16th May was almost my last day as I reached the maximum level of destruction that had been bore down on me for the previous 7 months, add to I was trying to support people who were themselves dealing with their own massive mental health issues.
It has been incredibly hard because I cannot discuss so very much of this, and that makes it harder still.
I am certainly stronger that I have been for a very long time, though I am exhausted by all of this, but I agreed to be referred to Sports Resolutions because that is the very last place I can take this, and I do have to know that I have tried every avenue in this long and weary battle but one that is so vitally important for the benefit of everyone from grassroots to elite. The last 18 months has seen me hearing from a number of people that I need to take this to the media, it’s how some sports have managed to bring about change, I have a variety of conflicting feelings about such action.
I do want to thank those who have stood by me, supporting me, those who got me through 2022 and a couple of amazing safeguarding officers who have allowed me to talk with them, for the hardest part of safeguarding is having no ability to speak of what we are carrying, they have been limited conversations but enough for me to breathe,
I am proud of everyone who has shared their experiences with me, the ones who now carry long term issues even if they have walked away from the sport that took such a huge cost, athletes and coaches. That people have felt that I have helped and who trust me enough to bring others to me is humbling and some days, most days, I wing a lot of what I do, supporting people is different for each individual and using my training, my experience and thinking outside the box has got me, and them, through a lot.
My therapist is worth her weight in gold as she has supported me through my struggles but helped me carry this too.
A few months ago, one of these amazing young people started to say things publicly, slowly, about their battles. I am immensely proud of her and I know she struggles to see herself as those of us who know her see her.
Today, on a very important anniversary of her own she has publicly released a poem that explains a little of what she has gone through, braver than me right there, I have been writing thoughts, letters, poems through my therapy for 8 years and I know how vulnerable those writings are, so to release one publicly is a truly brave step.
I asked if I could share it and I have on instagram and now I share it here, Ruby Paul you are so very much stronger than you realise and what you have put out there today will resonate and help so many not just in Archery but across other sports too 😘 it is a privilege to know you and we love you dearly.
Well it’s been a busy week, hospital appointments- things cleared off the list but new things added and so more people getting involved, my girlie will get there eventually but she’s amazing and her bow brings her peace whilst everything is still in the air. So proud of her 🤗
Meetings, lots of them!
Afternoon with the guides who are prepping to host their first start archery event in May and wanted some advice and help with kit maintenance and preparation, and hot cross buns enjoyed all round since it was Easter weekend!
Although it was technically in the next week, BBC radio Northampton asked if I would like to join them on the breakfast show on 3/4/24 for a chat on air. This was a great chance to speak about how accessible our sport is, a follow up to my previous chat on 10/1/23 and following the look east tv crew spending a morning with myself and Deb a month ago. The TV session had been as a result of Nick Wilson and a conversation he had with the BBC around accessible activity and sports. Ultimately they didn’t use archery in the tv airing but many thanks to Deb for the time she gave not only shooting under intense pressure but the interview she gave. The good news is that from the radio piece I have had a number of people make contact so it was worth the early studio time.
Over the coming weeks and months the three of us are going to be attending a whole bunch of medical appointments.
Happy to share my issues, as I already have been, particularly as it impacts my ability to shoot and the necessity for changes to allow me to continue and I know there are those who like to see what is happening.
The issues of my children are not up for public discussion.
They get involved with Integr8Archery CIC often and help in delivery of a variety of things.
With this in mind, the amount that we will be doing this year will reduce to allow time to concentrate on the many health related things going on.
Existing projects and new projects and lots of exciting things will be happening but there will be some careful selection processes as we utilise our energy on less hours.
You will see us on ranges shooting, competing, delivering and supporting but be prepared that you may some times hear a polite but firm refusal to be involved in something.
There are also some things that are important to us as topics such as anti violence and providing alternative options, these will continue to be important to us and you will see us continue to work in these areas.
I make no apology for putting us first.
See you all soon and I will continue to let you know what is happening with projects 🥰🏹
Busy week for planning and meetings but the only arrows shot this week were the school groups. Lots of reasonings, some groups have stopped for the holiday break, some have kit issues and some were cancelled due to sickness.
It did give me time to sit and draw together everything for the coming year. It’s going to be busy but fun I think looking at the calendar already.
I have been helping a couple of new safeguarding officers find their feet, it’s great to chat with people who understand the role and its possibilities, not just reactive but proactive.
As you will have seen from my post in the week I have been elected as Vice Chair for Northamptonshire Federation of Disability Sports. This is an exciting time as we are going to revamp the way that things are done to improve how we support and create opportunities in the county for increasing access to activities in the county. It’s also going to be hard work in the short term as we look at rewriting the constitution as a beginning step. It is no secret that I love my sport but I am incredibly passionate about access for all and I see multi sport and collaboration as a means to achieve so much more.
That doesn’t mean Integr8archery CIC will get less of me, I give around 30 hours a week to my amazing little company. Dropping that to 25 hours and giving those somewhere else isn’t going to even be noticed, next week sees me hit 18 months and I am excited to share the stats, but I have definitely settled into a rhythm and finding a pattern with family, work, Integr8archery, and even some time for me to shoot! Whilst I believe that my sport is truly one of the most adaptable and accessible sports I also understand that archery isn’t what everyone wants and that was the biggest reason for me training in multisports coaching rather than sport specific.
In other news, it’s my birthday at the weekend and those who know me well know I hate it, historically it’s an awful day and I try to avoid it. I have plans and I appreciate the efforts made by those who are trying to support me through the day. The next couple of weeks is going to be rough so be gentle with me please. I spend my time looking after everyone, if you could be mindful for me that’s all I ask.
If I don’t see you before the break have a great Christmas or whatever alternative way you spend the time and stay safe.
