Lots happening in all areas of my life as I try and get myself ready to shoot on the 7th May and starting my new day job. I call it the day job but it’s shifts so not necessarily in the day 😂 and whilst it’s set to use my years of experience in different ways and be both challenging and rewarding, it’s a great environment and I am enjoying the team and the children.
Gearing up for the events that we have planned, the disability get together to meet with the Disabled Adventurer – or Nick as I know him. This is becoming so much more based on the emails and messages that I have received and I am looking forward to speaking with the archers on the day to discuss my longer term ideas and plans.
The start archery event for Wellingborough Muslim Community that is also a wider plan, 4 sessions planned and incredibly grateful to Northants Sport for sponsoring the days.
On top of this our existing schools and the new ones looking to join with soft, pointy or both types of archery.
Loving the news that some of the instructors candidates from the course that I had to cancel have already gotten themselves new courses and that some have decided, after we have discussed it, that the sessions coach course will actually be a better option.
It is incredibly rare that I ask for anything for myself, particularly in regards to my health – this, above, I tried to do at the weekend!
It’s something that my counsellor and my friends have been trying to get me to work on for a long time. The last few months I have been trying, it’s new to me and a work in progress. Whilst volunteering at the Grand Prix it was something that was discussed with me at length and I worked hard on it, the Wednesday and Thursday actually making decisions to put me first, guess what? The world continued to turn and my family of blue and green shirts not only accepted and welcomed my decisions but encouraged them! I may have taken all of us by surprise! 😱😂
Fast forward to 15th April, I posted my blog, and I asked for 36ish hours for me, I needed to deal with lots of things and they were affecting my mental health, I wanted to get everything in order. Projects, communications, lots of things. Despite my request still people contacted me with questions, queries, none of these could wait that 36 hours, I pointed out to each of those people that I wanted to be left until Sunday evening. Did it stop them! No! So I made some decisions and now people are disappointed 🤷♀️ you pushed me, you didn’t let me have that short time I was brave enough to ask for. Apparently for some I didn’t answer questions they didn’t ask 🤷♀️ why in this sport is it so often expected that we can mind read?
What I am especially curious of is, if I asked for the weekend because I had a migraine, a stomach bug, an injury, would I have been granted that 36 hours? Is it just mental health that doesn’t get respected? Have a think, you don’t have to answer me, but please do be honest with yourself!
What it did do was confirm work that I have been doing and several events and projects I am working on are most definitely needed as I had already believed.
So now we have people disappointed because I cancelled things, and angry people who have now had things cancelled who were not actually the people pushing me and being disrespectful of my request! So the people who pushed are ok, and I will deal with yet more annoyed folks 🤔
Integr8Archery CIC is mine, a one man band, no one else makes the decisions and no one else chooses what I do, and no one else steps in when I am overwhelmed. I am working on my projects, work that was always mine, my goals, my aims and new ideas. Not for anyone else, for me. There are also a number of other things I have that I may restart, they are mine too. Don’t make the mistake that because people have collaborated in the past dictates what I am doing now, because that would also be disrespectful.
However, what did go well, that I knew would give me the boost when I was thinking of quitting, was my visit to DISC to deliver soft archery, they are such a welcoming and enthusiastic group and a pleasure to spend time with.
Followed by my trip just over the road to shoot with Towcester Archers, some projects discussed and ideas bounced and arrows flung. Last year it was incredibly important to me to create safe spaces for my mind, where, when I am overwhelmed, anxious and scared, I can go to with my bow.
So thank you and much love to Archers of Raunds, Long Buckby archery club, Towcester Archers, Banbury Cross, Kestrels and Bowmen of Glen. By far the most important thing is the gift they give me of space where I am mentally safe to pick up my bow.
When I started shooting in 2018 I spent hours on the range, practise and competing. From 2018 to 2021 I shot between 800 – 1000 arrows a week. Last year this dropped dramatically – we know why. So I started planning my 2023 outdoor season and how to get that motivation back, perfectly timed as Archery GB advertised for the #greatarrowcount project. I received notification of my involvement in the project which was to start on 1st April. Those first 10 days were impacted by my being at the European Grand Prix but my first week total sees me having shot 570 arrows, not where I want to be but getting back on track for sure.
I believe that sport can change lives. I believe in my sport especially so, archery is so very inclusive. 6 years ago I decided I could make a difference and I strive for that, putting bows into the hands of people who don’t think they can access archery, for a variety of reasons.
I work hard to meet this goal, to bring archery to those who want it, for an hour, a year, a life time.
I am also very clear that everything I do is voluntary. I don’t get paid for any of what I do, never have, and Integr8Archery CIC is set up to prevent this, non profit – remember?
So I have a day job, to pay the bills, it’s a demanding one at that.
I give between 18-30 hours a week to Integr8Archery and I do this by giving up my own time.
I have worked with the public since I was old enough to work weekends as a teenager. I know that some say thank you, some complain, some are reasonable and some less so. I have volunteered since I was 16 and I know what giving my time can help others achieve – thank goodness or maybe I would have walked away!
This week I have come incredibly close to cancelling something for the first time due to the attitude of the person who I am helping host an event. Still might really.
It doesn’t matter if you are paying or not, if you set out the terms of what you want, you can of course make changes, this involves communicating. Just constantly demanding and changing and putting more and more on me! Nope not ok! In this case the event has costs, costs that a third party are picking up, don’t think that means I won’t pull out. I have no problem with telling the third party that I will not be billing them because I am cancelling the event!
So ask yourself this? When you ask someone for a service, do you flit around in your head! Do you change your mind? Maybe you didn’t set out what you wanted clearly and are now trying to get what you want without admitting that you missed something. Or are you becoming aware that maybe you could have asked for more but didn’t and now want more because you realise it can be achieved!
Whatever it is, ask! Speak kindly and remember I am giving you my time, freely, and I am not just sat waiting for your email or call, I have other responsibilities and they don’t allow me to drop everything. Be kind, say thank you, it’s not a lot to ask really is it?
So whilst I am complaining – a message to those of you who are still contacting me about things you were interested in being a part of, remember who discussed them with you? Was it me? Did I convince you that you can change your path? Were you told I was part of those plans as they were my projects? That’s very likely, I agree. Some have spoken with me and I have worked with them to do the things they wanted after having those conversations. However, if you have sent me emails, messages, voicemails accusing me of letting you down because the person who told you those projects were being planned isn’t replying or hasn’t delivered? I can’t help you because I will not be made to feel guilty or terrible because someone else let you down.
This is not the first time I have made this point publicly and it would seem it’s a point I am repeating publicly for the third time! I do not believe that you were let down by Integr8Archery so my advice would be to go to the person or business who did let you down.
ON A HAPPIER NOTE, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS ME ❤️🏹 I NEVER TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED 😎
Lots of catching up done in the last day or so after I got home from Lilleshall volunteering as a small part of the amazing team who put on events with Archery GB, my third international event, but I learn from every event I help at, regardless of it’s level. Hard work? Absolutely! Long days? For sure! Worth it? Always!!
Always great catching up with friends and they are my friends as they allow me to sit in my pjs when they gather to chill after dinner 🙃 and they look after me when my body is struggling, no easy thing.
Instructor course, start archery, 4 community events, the disability session at the end of April to name a few …. hard work but so very worth it! New things popping up after sitting in my room alone for 9 evenings with my notepad – never able to turn off my mind! 😉
In order to allow Integr8Archery CIC to be non profit and to put on as much as we can at little to no cost for the community I have to remain in paid employment since I have yet to get that big winning lottery ticket 😂 and this week will see me start my new job after being out of work for 6 weeks following my fixed term contract expiring. This will see me take on a role that I think will be both challenging and rewarding and I am excited. I think the shifts will make my time adaptable for Integr8Archery too as some people want me on weekends and some on weekdays, so now I will have potential to be flexible around those wants. Most importantly from the Integr8Archery perspective it means I don’t require an income from what I do here.
I saw a quote that I really liked this week:
“Don’t leave a place the way you found it.
Leave it the way you would like to have found it.'”
Ben Ferencz.
A lot of what I aim to achieve is covered by this I think. If we each do a little bit, together we can achieve so much to make things better. Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Safeguarding – all can make a better world.
Sorry, yesterday was very busy, as is always to be expected on finals day!
However I sit here having been a small cog in the huge network of staff and volunteers that have pulled off another great event. My third international event now but I have lost count of how many events I have volunteered and helped with for Archery GB. What I do remember are the people, volunteers, competitors and everyone else that I have met along the road. For the most part amazing people.
My family of blue shirts are, in my opinion, unbeatable when we get together. Thanks and respect, as always to the amazing Malcolm Rees who goes to fantastic lengths to get the best images📸
I have managed to keep on top of most things, but will be sitting down later and likely much of tomorrow replying to emails, requests and generally getting everything back on track for the next few weeks especially with the events that Integr8Archery will be hosting, exciting times.
This week I received a message from the Royal Volunteer Service to tell me that I have been nominated for a Coronation Champions Award! Winning these is never something that I aim for but I have now been told by who and why I have been nominated and it has blown me away! Wow! Humbled 🤗
This week sees me start a new day job, I say day job, I will be working shifts but I am very excited about the challenges it will bring whilst also allowing me to hopefully make a difference.
You must know by now I love volunteering! I am half way through my 9 days at Lilleshall volunteering at the European Grand Prix. I love being here with these people, we work together often and know each other well. It’s like family, sure we might annoy each other some times and when we are tired – be a little snappy, but we take care of each other and achieve amazing things.
Interested in giving it a go? Put your name down and try it, you don’t have to do all the days but you can do a bit and see if you enjoy it.
What do I gain?
As a competitive archer I know that I can only shoot if volunteers work on the tournament, this is my chance to give back. I have a circle of friends I might otherwise not have met, and they are amazing, they have been taking great care of me this week knowing I am unwell. As someone who can struggle to leave the house when my mental health isn’t good this gives me purpose and this range, out of all of them, is one of my safest places. Also the satisfaction that we put on an amazing event.
It’s been a busy week and I am excited about several events in the coming week which I will explain more about soon.
Take care and have a good Easter, enjoy your shooting.
Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me following Tuesday’s cancelled plans and the following couple of days. I seem to have found a pattern to help with the symptoms and so over the next few days will catch up with things whilst being here at Lilleshall so you may find more than normal that my emails are being sent at strange hours, but you expect that from me anyway 😂🫣
Most of you know that I love being a small part in this huge team of, mostly, volunteers who put these events on and I would absolutely encourage anyone to join in. Is it tiring – yes, satisfying – absolutely, but it’s really about the people and they are awesome and it will it take long for you to settle in and feel part of the time – laughter is the key.
I will post links etc later in the week for you to watch the matches.
Thank you to Duncan and Jack for helping me out at the range yesterday, it did turn into more than we had expected but I do love the feeling you get when walking of a range that is ready to go.
Exciting things planned and I did manage to get some things done on a planning front, waiting time on hospital is communicating time!
Enjoy your weekend and May your arrows fly strong, big shout out to Jack and Rose who are shooting against each other today in the semi finals of the WOAC indoor challenge – enjoy it ❤️🏹
Yesterday was a perfect example of why I love doing what I do. A meeting with Northamptonshire Sport and Wellingborough Muslim Community to finalise the plans for our start archery event on the 8th May and the 3 planned sessions afterwards for those who want to participate after the event.
The next cuppa and catch up with the Children’s Coaching Collaborative and it was another great conversation around the voice, choice, journey. Sharing thoughts and ideas with like minded individuals is always motivating and multi sport environments is a great reminder that we are all trying to reach the same goals.
If you recall the blog I did at 26 weeks as my first 6 months round up you will remember I provided a bunch of stats and figures. If you didn’t see it if you type 26 weeks in the search box it’ll bring it up for you.
So what has the last 13 weeks held? Obviously on a personal scale the loss of my dad overshadows absolutely everything else and I miss our weekly chats about what I am doing with Integr8Archery.
On a personal archery note I had cancelled my indoor season to allow family to be priority but I have managed to pick up my bow and shoot and with some practise and scored rounds I have managed to achieve a C classification. My 5th indoor season and something that I have never before managed!! I am really happy with that – let’s be honest if we round up the 5 years I have been shooting – struggling with pain, having to become a seated archer, covid and whatever we describe the last 17 months as, the battle to shoot has been tough but at the moment my shooting seems to be settled, consistent and at the moment, the strongest it’s ever been.
What about Integr8Archery?
Well the club has its school partnership to allow shooting on weekends and planning is happening for the competitions we will host and a number of community activities.
It was fantastic to see the DISC group have their first archery session several years since the bows were last picked up, this was also the first session delivered by 2 coaches coming on board to help Integr8Archery achieve it’s goals.
Lots of meetings, several new groups looking to see what we might be able to accomplish together.
The education project has seen an additional 63 children pick up a bow and try our sport and today the children who are part of the archery club at Wrenn school will be receiving the first certificates awarded from the Integr8Archery progression scheme that we have created. Incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
Thank you for all of your support so far, see you on a range soon.
Emails, meetings, phone calls, webinars – sums up the week so far.
Doesn’t sound exciting but it is the results of lots of planning coming to fulfilment and the next few weeks and months should see things happening and it will be great to see bows in new hands and also some returners to the range.
This morning I received my certificate from North Hertfordshire College as my course results have finally been returned from the moderator following the notification I had passed the Level 2 Certificate in Self Harm and Suicide Awareness Prevention in January.
As a safeguarding officer I am not required to undertake CPD but I always have, this is by taking formal qualifications and also by taking part in webinars and groups such as the sessions with PACE to further improve me knowledge. As a significant portion of the work that I do for projects sees me and the coaches who undertake work for Integr8Archery involves children and vulnerable adults I see this as an incredibly important part of my role.
So this weekend sees us change the clocks and so we get lighter nights, perfect as we are in the transition from indoor to outdoor season as archers. I have my first session booked this coming week with some shooting buddies whose company I enjoy on the range but first to finish my indoor season today and see if I can achieve something for myself 🤞🏻❤️🏹
Take care of yourself whatever it is that you are doing. 😊
This week has predominantly focused on communication, catching up on ideas put on hold for various reasons, looking what is ready to start, making new links and reviewing existing groups and sessions.
Today was a local community event aimed at getting to know each other hosted by the local library, here I have picked up lots of information to help me signpost potential service users, as some times when chatting to people I know they may benefit from other things but I am not always sure what is available, today I learned lots of local links for exactly this purpose. Whilst this was the aim that saw me attend the event I have also come away with a number of community groups who think that their service users might benefit from the access to archery that I might be able to help provide too. Exactly the drive behind setting up my “little business” and the reason why it is a community interest company and not for profit. So, over coming weeks and months I shall hopefully be able to report back on some of the ideas and links that have come from today.
I loved hearing the news on Sunday that the DISC group had a fantastic time at their first archery session and it’s great to know the work and effort put into re-starting this as one of the activities after several years away is going to be a success. Thank you to Nick and Jackie who though established coaches are new to the Integr8Archery team and their first session for us as been a resounding success 🥳❤️🏹
Thank you also to Jack who has joined the group at Weavers to help there. First week for him seems to have gone well and he and Chris are going to be great I am sure.
Lots planned for me this coming week before I head off to Lilleshall for volunteering at the Grand Prix, outdoors season is approaching fast.
