Announcement - Integr8Archery

18 weeks and what we all know, collaborating is stronger than competing against each other – strength in numbers!

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Blog with a message, Joining forces for strength, News, weekly update 31 October 20228 November 2022

Sorry Gareth, almost all of the photos of Deb and I have at least one other person in them! 😂🫣

What I have long believed in, is the power of sharing and supporting each other. That coming together with a common goal allows us to achieve so much more than if we see each other as competition and we try and hide what we are doing to keep it for ourselves.

I have known my friend Deb Horn for a long while and since we both volunteer at Archery GB competitions we often chat about what we are doing and how we are getting on. In short, we both have a passion for our sport and what we can help people gain by bringing it to them. We both have been working exceptionally hard in grassroots sports with a significant interest in children and how we can bring archery to them in any education setting.

Whilst we have both started from different points we found ourselves in the same place as far as barriers and issues towards what we are trying to achieve. I had already spent hours in meetings with the national governing body looking at what we could do to move some of these issues. Then when I thought we had found a solution, the club who were going to be collaborating with me and my archery in education project to pilot our plan, stepped away. As I worked on how I could adjust my plan and make a new way forward, whilst preventing the same risks occurring later down the line if I work with anyone new, I found myself at Lilleshall chatting with Deb and the issues we were each facing. So I shared my newly revised plan and asked if she would like to run a second pilot along side me.

A meeting in August with Archery GB to explain what we wanted to do, looking at my work which they knew in detail and describing how Deb found herself in the same place via a different route and the agreement was made. Middle of September some final details sorted to make it work in practise and off we set. Integr8Archery Club had to launch by 1st October through urgent necessity but now I can proudly say my friend is ready to go with Arcus Archery!! 🥳

So watch this space because I believe that over the coming months we shall prove that supporting each other in common goals only makes us stronger and that there is no place for divisive attitudes. We want a world where equality, diversity and inclusion are the norm and we have both seen, for ourselves, what not just sport, but real examples of what archery can do to help change lives. Exciting times ahead Deb Horn lets see what we can do and I am proud of what Integr8archery and Arcus Archery will support each other to achieve.

17 weeks, amazing schools, fantastic children and a new avenue to offer more scope.

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Event recap, Joining forces for strength, News, weekly update 24 October 20228 November 2022

Amazing children only starting but with a determination to achieve self set goals.

So another busy, busy week.

So what have I been up to?

A social evening of thanks from Northamptonshire Sports for the volunteers at events in 2022, a great way to properly chat to those we see when working together at sporting events and actually really motivating to discuss what we all do this for, so many people ask why I give my time so regularly to others. Talking about sports we personally do and those we most prefer to volunteer at, so for me archery, running and open water swimming. Outside of my own sport I have to say I think my most enjoyable event this year was probably the pride colour run, such a great atmosphere.

The second evening of PACE ( parents against child exploitation), this is a series of 4 webinars and is open to those who care for and work with children and young people. This is a topic I have covered in my working life and have had some dealings with but these sessions are so much more. Heavy topic? absolutely, but county lines is a very real issue and something we may see signs of when working with children. As a safeguarding officer I have had children disclose information as I am a safe adult.

This session was especially emotional as the amazing Kendra of Out of the Shadows told her story, another amazing person using their own experience to teach and inspire and bring about change.

Another day of archery at Wrenn school to showcase what we have planned – curriculum, after school and a club. It was great to catch up with the children we spent the day with in July and meet a couple of new children picking up a bow. They have thought so much about what they want to aim for since those conversations in the early summer and it was fantastic to speak with representatives of the trust, especially as a second school from the trust is looking to follow a similar path. Our plans with Wrenn have hit some bumps in the road not created by the school or Integr8Archery but with continuous open communication we are figuring ways around the issues whilst we await those responsible to step up and resolve. I am genuinely excited to see what these children will achieve by the summer of 2023, I will keep you updated.

2 assignments submitted for my course, grant applications submitted for some of the groups.

My induction completed and my previously completed charter confirmed for the Sport for Development Coalition, another great group of like minded people trying to bring about change through sport. I have signed up to a number of things already, so no doubt I will be sharing more information over the coming months, is there anything more important for us to focus on other than Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, access to sport for all, and advocacy?

I got to catch up with one of my out of school setting children who attended our sessions on a Monday, at that time he was an alternate placement child. He is now back in mainstream school and taking part in archery there as the school is one of the schools in my archery in education project. How fantastic to see sport help him ease back into mainstream setting with his peers.

The other piece of news, which I am really excited about is that after being on a waiting list to start my coaching course with the Inclusive Activity Leader Program with the Disability Sports Coaching group, I was interviewed and accepted and I start my 6 months course on the 12th November and after 50-60 hours of class and placement I should be all set to help deliver 5 (Boccia, Polybat, Table Cricket, New Age Kurling and Goalball) sports in an adaptive environment. Without a doubt I am passionate about my sport and all that can be achieved with archery, but inclusion and the issues around it sees one of the biggest issues being availability of providers for adaptive sports, so lets set about increasing access by learning more sports to deliver.

Pride colour run, permission to be as silly as you like – what’s not to love!

Enough! Sorry but if you need Aim4Sport contact Aim4Sport.

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Blog with a message 12 October 20228 November 2022

I have spent 6 months answering questions on ranges, at Lilleshall, emails, texts, messages on many platforms. I answered what I could, whilst I could and now repeatedly reply to the same people that I cannot answer your questions, I do not have the answers.
The shop and the training centre are closed, you may still have outstanding matters – I cannot help. The business is still there – I have never been part of it, you may not be getting answers, I cannot get them either.

In fact you are much more likely to get answers than me, I am blocked on every communication platform.

I also have things I need, and so much information I need to give, but I cannot.

Yes there was so much being planned, yes some of you were going to be a part of those things.

If you have been reading here you know I have kept some of my projects, yes they had been collaborating with me, now they are not. You will know that I also had to leave some of my projects behind, along with work I had done in collaborating on theirs. Yes, some of those projects had been tied together to create amazing things and I have had to pull my work out of that.

I passionately believed in what we would achieve and what was planned from May to October would have showcased it all. I have apologised to every single person who I have had to cancel plans on, who I have had to disappoint.

You can work with me, of course you can, stop asking if I have walked away from everyone – look! Here on this website!

I cannot however, help you any further with anything in regards to aim4sport, either the business or the club.

You need to contact them, if I cannot get my own answers I certainly cannot get yours.

I did not create the issues, I am sorry that they are there for every single one of you.

Please now stop messaging me in regards to Aim4Sport, the impact on my mental health in the last 11 months has been significant and I am incredibly grateful to the circle that has formed around me since January to get me through everything so far, but I need you to stop with the messages about Aim4sport, the business and the club, the impact those messages and my inability to resolve matters for you is incredibly detrimental to my continued healing.

I am sorry to everyone of you who thinks I have failed you, I did not walk away. I did not cause any of this and if I could make it right for all of you I would.

Kindest regards and well wishes as we each continue to make a difference through the power of the sport we love.

Helen

1st October – new AGB year – new start & questions?

Helen Sharpe Announcement, News 1 October 20228 November 2022

Archers know what the 1st October is – the start of the new membership year with Archery GB.

I have received lots of questions this week and even more so today, so it would seem fitting that today is the day I would be doing a blog anyhow.

I have had to retire my red shirt. I now have a club of my own which was needed to fulfil the plans for the projects.

Over the coming weeks the children from my education project will have their memberships processed and their continued progress will be encouraged, especially important as a significant number have set themselves goals as both individuals and teams. I am excited to see what we can help them achieve by their self set deadlines.

Me? I am a member of my club and tomorrow I shall shoot my first competition in my new shirt! I am also thrilled to be joined by one of the friends of Integr8archery who will be shooting with me.

The club has three ranges registered and certified at the moment and there will be more added in the coming months but these are specifically for each group and not for general use.

With this in mind I will be predominately shooting at Archers of Raunds, with time also booked at Long Buckby, Bowmen of Glen, WOAC and Kestrels (double hit as my A4SAC friends are there) to shoot as a guest with my shooting buddies. Whilst the last 15 months have been difficult I have learned that the best place to shoot is with those who I am comfortable to be around and this is my focus.

Coaching? None, this was always going to be the next step if the last coach didn’t work out. I am blessed to have many coaches as friends and I have two especially, who I can call upon and have already proven that they can liaise with each other for my benefit, added in my ace physio to keep me going for as long as we can.

So, there we go, that’s what the new membership year sees me doing.

Thank you to all of you for caring enough to ask and good luck to you all as we move into the indoor season.

13 weeks is 3 months! oh wow!

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Announcement, News, Numbers and stats, weekly update 27 September 20228 November 2022

Today is the day! happy anniversary gift – the club is now live!

I have thought long and hard about today’s blog, the questions that I tried to politely answer 4 weeks ago are still being asked. However they will be dealt with at a different time, today is about what have I done in my first 3 months as Integr8archery. Having taken control of some of my work, work I have been doing for years, what have I managed to do with those projects in this 13 week period?

Well my Northamptonshire schools are still shooting, some existing and new schools have had some day sessions for different groups, resulting in me now discussing with a number of primary, secondary and a higher education facility how to get their sites up and running. 3 groups looking to have a number of children join my club whilst shooting on their site.

Hopefully continued involvement with the school games, working on a possibly huge Project Rimaya group and new multi sports collaboration in Northamptonshire with the activity partnership.

Some pilots being ironed out to get my out of school setting children back shooting, focusing on their return for autumn/winter and new children come spring.

Leicestershire is fast turning into a rival in size, likely may even be bigger than Northamptonshire – currently 2 waves of schools planned – the first a possible 17 primary schools going live, the second 12 schools from a combination of primary and secondary schools.

Plus the new development of low active groups within the county and how we can get those moving by working together across the county.

The exciting news that after successfully applying for various grants in the last 2 years, last week I received the wonderful news that the first grant I have applied for under integr8archery will see The Worshipful Company of Fletchers help Northamptonshire Carers.

I have joined forces with Well-being through Sport, the Sport Development Coalition, the Belong Network, and my amazing friend who is evolving her own work and has allowed me the privilege of the two of us sharing the space to safely find our way forward together whilst separately, for strength comes from supporting each other and working together rather than against each other.

I have almost completed the two level 2 courses that I have started in this time and I have, this week, submitted my application to learn something that will totally push my comfort zones but will add so much value to what I am doing, both with multi sports and disability sports.

So, here I am, after a very rough 12 months, finding myself that Monday evening standing crying yet again in the middle of the range, being given a very specific yet amazing brand of pep talk as I did and with the very generous support of people who believe in me, I now find myself with a community interest company and an archery club! It’s been a whirlwind and I cannot see sign of it calming anytime soon, but whilst amazed, I am also proud of these 3 months. Sure I get sad when I think of my work that I have had to leave behind, but my passionate belief in my sport and how I can use it to help change lives is stronger than ever, the work I have done for 6 years, alone or with others gave me many examples of how my quirky self can help me think outside the box to help achieve things. I haven’t lost that and now I have so many more examples to add to my list. I am grateful to everyone who has encouraged me, spoken with me, hugged me whilst I have cried, and who stand beside me in any way, special thanks to the coaches, paid or volunteer, who work with me to help provide what my groups need and for sharing my excitement when they become self sustaining.

As I sit here I know there are things that I haven’t included – my first flight workshop presentation, helping put on 4 Archery GB competitions, 2 were internationals, but my family of blue shirted volunteers are unbeatable! So many hours I have given to grassroots via my projects but also managed to volunteer at some running events too.

So, here’s to the future and whatever it brings us all and thank you to everyone who has read anything that I have written because I lost my person who I share it all with and you have all stepped into the space left behind. Thank you for believing in me when I wobble.

Heading towards week 10! planning, planning, planning ….

Helen Sharpe Joining forces for strength, News 3 September 20228 November 2022

Almost 10 weeks, but that immediately makes me think that I’m heading towards 13 weeks which will be three months! What do I want to have achieved by 3 months!

Well this week, so far, lots of emails, calls and a couple of meetings regarding archery in education, helping DISC, Northamptonshire Carers get archery back up and running.
A couple of new groups reaching out to see what we can do together.

Collecting kit from a school who have dropped out of the programme, no archery shot there for a year and I have to say, lessons learned about who and how I trust when they spoke to me on arrival to collect! However the kit is going to be used to boost a school who are turning their group into a club and will satellite through Integr8archery Club.

I have joined the Sport for Development Coalition, lots more to come there. Signed up to the Belong network and completed lots there, including my plan and evaluation schedule.

Spoken to EMAS regarding the safeguarding role, my thoughts around the last 5-10 years, explain the last 9 months and where I am currently, what I intend to do to create change. Pleased to say they heard me, believe in me and I am back in the role, I am immensely grateful for their support since I turned to them in May, I needed to breathe and they allowed me to do that.

I don’t think that’s too shabby for 4 days in week 10!

9 weeks! Let’s get some things straight and then move forward without the questions 🙂

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Blog with a message, News, Numbers and stats, weekly update 30 August 20228 November 2022

So – 9 weeks in!

After 6 years of working on so many things at grassroots level I truly felt I had lost everything and had no choice but to step away from my sport, the sport which I am truly passionate about.

I have given 20-30 hours a week consistently for a good 4 years volunteering in so many ways.

But when I fell apart yet again on a range on the 27/6/22 it was in the company of someone different. Someone who knew the whole messy story and had a different way of dealing with what was happening to me.

I am incredibly grateful to those few people who had helped me get through every day before that. Literally helping me to breathe most days since 29/12/21.

But 27/6/22 was different, maybe a combination of things, but after a very specific brand of talking to I drove home with a lot to think about, driving time is always when I churn through thoughts, added to the fact, I don’t sleep – and I certainly didn’t that night!!!

I woke up with a determination of what I wanted to achieve, that maybe, just maybe, I do have something to offer.

19 projects, between me and my best friend! Collaborating on each other’s work and also creating new work together for over 3 years. Using my links to bring Aim4sport and Archery GB together as I continued my projects under my role as ambassador.

But the mess I was in had created issues within those collaborations.

In July with a serious breakdown in communication all round, I signed over all of my rights to a number of projects, regardless of who started them or of how passionate I might be of my work or it’s aims. Moving forward under my new brand with the 8 I have kept but hopeful that as no communication was causing issues, with me stepping away, the ones I handed over could fly without me. Sad? terribly, and I had so much still to give on them, but I believed it was the best decision at the time.

I am repeatedly asked what’s happening with work that I had passionately discussed with people. The plans I had described for evolution and roll out from May to October.

Simply this, Aim4sport is not and never was mine. Whilst I do still belong to Aim4sport Archery Club, I have had to make the very sad decision to leave as it is necessary that I can satellite the children from my projects and this was no longer going to be possible under A4SAC.

So, my company is now a community interest company, a social enterprise as was always planned. There is a lot going on for those 8 projects that I have kept.

Recent conversations with Archery GB are seeing the communication get back on track and things moving forward to help me.

Should my best friend reach out, there is much I had planned for the work that I handed over and collaboration between the 2 brands could work. If not, then I genuinely hope that he succeeds and that is all I shall ever say, so please do stop asking for my opinions.

For now, I am working hard on the schools I have on board, the many I am working to get up and running by autumn. The re-estabilshment of archery in a local disability group. Work with a local group who provide access to sports for the deaf community. Return to shooting for the out of school setting educated children. Several new collaborations and a bunch of new groups, not least a possible huge Project Rimaya development.

So thank you to everyone who has kept me going in the last 9 months, those who have helped since I made the middle of the night decision that the best way forward to protect my work was to create a business!! I know there’s a small group of amazing people who woke up that Tuesday morning 9 weeks ago to find a couple of crazy messages asking for help – and I shall never take for granted that they stepped up.

And of course, thank you to my small but amazing committee who have stepped up to join me in creating a new archery club in the joined belief that we can help amazing children achieve great things.

All of these people surely share my believe that we can change lives through archery.

8 weeks, big decisions and hard work but here we are!

Helen Sharpe Joining forces for strength, News, weekly update 23 August 20228 November 2022

8 weeks! This still feels unreal, but here we are.

So, I had to cancel 2 events whilst I was away after being let down and this never sits well with me. I am trying to make arrangements to provide something for the children who have missed out, so hopefully more to come on that in the future.

10 days at Lilleshall didn’t see me stop work on the projects. A meeting with a manufacturer regarding a prototype item that both Integr8Archery and someone else wants, sees that hopefully coming soon, but also a number of other items discussed along with some input (gratefully received), of volunteers sat with us sees several new ideas for new reactive bosses. Those who know me well know how difficult I find it to sit when I am waiting so please remember that 😂 – sorry, not sorry!!!

A chat with the National Governing Body regarding the pilot we had previously built for a new kind of club, just because the original plan has failed because people have stepped away doesn’t mean the plan has fallen apart, and they have given permission for Integr8Archery club to form and run the pilot.

Lots of conversation with my friend Deb Horn, as we have been talking for weeks, sees several collaborations starting and she will also be trying the new club plan, we have each found ourselves at the same point but from different starting places. Excitingly sharing the next step as we each aim for non profit ways to put bows in the hands of children.

Conversations with a number of people around funding for different things, all very positive and I am very optimistic about what we might be able to do.

Just in case that wasn’t enough I had some conversations around the thoughts that I have had about bringing my long held plans to start judging at 50 forward and the amazing amount of knowledge shared with the fantastic team of judges I was caring for certainly helped me with the thinking, for which I am grateful.

To relax a little yesterday we had our latest arts and crafts archery session, this sees us shoot to create tie dye shirts, always exciting and we always get fantastic results. Thank you as ever to Fii for doing the organising.

Right, off to sort the emails, stay safe and shoot strong.

6 weeks and I am now the director of a ” community interest company ” !!!!

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Announcement, News, weekly update 9 August 20228 November 2022

So, here we are, 6 weeks from deciding I needed to grab what I wanted or certainly what I knew I could continue alone, from the work I had been doing for several years, work I am passionate about and believe in. I have collaborated in that time and will continue to do so with like minded people, but now who I am, what l have already achieved and what I think I can still achieve is clearly laid out and is protected for the future. (As for the projects I have had to step away from? Maybe the future will see me involved, maybe it wont – we can only wait and see, they are all work that I believe in and have worked hard on).

The government have, on my third submission, accepted all of the outlines and explanations and can now clearly see my plan and have registered my limited guarantee, social enterprise, community interest company – or CIC for short!

28/6/22 to 8/8/22 – I am proud of what I have achieved so far.

Thank you to every one who has shown support to me since 22/11/21 and especially in the last 3 months.

Never do I take anyone for granted and I certainly wouldn’t have found my feet without you all.

So what else has happened this week?

Conversations with 2 new schools, plans with existing schools, communication with a new county, and the beginnings of my own archery club!

Emails sent to AGB, my first meeting with my new club committee and the early conversation with the county. Eek! not a step I expected to have to consider but necessary.

First shirt order sent off – excited to see them being worn on ranges in several areas of the country soon. Thank you to everyone who has ordered one.

Also the bookings for my first 3 flight archery workshop presentations – exciting! More news to follow on flight in the coming weeks and months but the first competition of the season sees me earn my masters classification in flight archery!

Just aheads up, Friday I shall be off to Lilleshall for 10 days of volunteering at the European Youth Championships – I will be answering emails but not as quickly as I might ordinarily.

Welcome – exciting but a little scary too!

Helen Sharpe Anniversaries, Announcement, Blog with a message, Event recap, News 29 June 202225 October 2022

Hello, be kind please, this is all very new and frankly more than a little scary, I know there’s lots to do to get this website fully sorted, and it’s certainly not my strength!

So, after 5 – 6 years of doing my projects and working at improving all things grassroots either for those unsure how to get into archery or helping those who think their time shooting may be coming to an end, I decided to be brave and give myself and my work it’s own identity. Collaborations are great and sharing ideas is amazing, but regardless of who I am working with I am doing my work.

Recent weeks have made it clear that many people work with me because of my energy and passion for what we are all wanting to achieve and so here I am happy to share that with anyone who wants to join me and see what we can do together.

I have also been asked to reassure that my recent weeks of calm dress code will come to an end and the bright, cheerful, look like I have been dressed by a rainbow carrying unicorn will resume. It would seem what started as a safeguarding idea for my own daughter, which grew to encompass many county juniors, has extended pretty much to most who know me.

So the crazy, caffeine fuelled volunteer who cannot sit still and does not sleep is here forging her path and welcomes anyone who wants to join her along the way.

This will be where I post updates and news and though I may have been a little hidden for the last 10 weeks the work didn’t stop and we started 3 more primary schools and a college with archery and I helped at one of the county’s district schools soft archery competition which was great fun and I am looking forward to attending the county finals event in a couple of weeks where the top four teams from the day will join the others to see who gets the medals!!