weekly update - Integr8Archery

Week 44 – what do you know about VI sports?

Helen Sharpe Blog with a message, Health, Joining forces for strength, News, Re-published blogs, weekly update 2 May 20232 May 2023

What do you know about sport for the visually impaired? This is something that annoys me and those who know me well have listening to me complain and make a fuss for years! There is simply not enough information or signposting for somethings, for those who might use them, who might consider trying them or for those who might choose to give their time as a volunteer. Two such things that I have enjoyed giving hours to are the transplant games and visually impaired sport. Today I am going to give some information about British Blind Sport as it’s a subject that has come up half a dozen times in the last month or so.

One of the things that I do as a volunteer is spotting for visually impaired archers. I have worked on a semi regular basis with two. It came about as a result of covid, then lockdown rules allowed disabled athletes to practise and someone I knew needed help to find a range that would allow her to shoot (many refused to allow their disability members to access their ranges, a conversation for another day) and also a means of getting there and that role of spotter. Having agented numerous times for disability athletes I said I would give it a go, however I was more than a little anxious as this is more than just collecting arrows for someone and my ability to describe what was happening was going to be key to how useful I was! Turns out all those years doing surveillance in the day job gave me a useful skill on the archery range!

https://www.aim4sport.com/2021/03/26/why-support-matters-the-thoughts-of-a-visually-impaired-archer-by-deb-wright/

I gained a friend too and have been able to proudly watch Deb maintain her success on the archery field in the time since.

http://www.ncasarchery.org.uk/http:/www.ncasarchery.org.uk/achievements-deb-wright/

In recent months I have put a couple of coaches in touch with British Blind Sports in regards to archers who needed support. Whilst physical disabilities and adaptations around these are focused on and access is improving significantly, help for visually impaired is still not obvious.

British Blind Sport offer amazing support to people to access a multitude of sports

and they have an activity finder to help you locate something to go along to.

My friend Clive has used their services and now shoots for GB in a sport that he loves as much as I do

I lost my sight after an unprovoked attack – now I’m a blind archer

The sport that I love, where I found my people, that allows me to be me, is the most adaptive sport that I know. I have yet to come across anyone who cannot shoot, it’s one of the very reasons that I love it so very much and why I am so very passionate about it and what it has to offer.

There are a couple of significant events this year that need volunteers and you may be looking for somewhere to give your time so I would urge you to consider looking here:

What have I been doing this week? Mostly lots of planning and attending a couple of multi sports meetings. Lots happening over the coming weeks as the summer moves towards us!

Not so many arrows shot myself, as I would like still but getting there and this coming weekend will see me shoot my first outdoors competition of the season at one of my favourite places and will have the chance to see lots of friends. My only aim, considering the lack of shooting that I have had, is to enjoy the day, see how it all goes and enjoy the company – and not to cry for dozens of arrows like I did last year!

Catch you all soon, have a great week and enjoy this run of bank holiday weekends ❤️🏹

Thank you goes a long way, certainly better than being ignored 🥰🏹

Helen Sharpe weekly update 29 April 202329 April 2023

These cards make me smile, volunteering is a huge part of my life, I give so many hours to it, the big multi day events always have a point where I wonder what I am doing, long days and away from home, my health gets pushed by what I am doing, but the people I am with and what we are achieving make it worth it and I stay to the end. Within a couple of days I am ready to be off back to the next one 😂 and look proudly back on what we did. These little cards arrive a couple of weeks after, they carry messages from Katy and Jon and thy mean a lot. Volunteers don’t ask for much but they do ask to be treated with respect and kindness and when everything is packed away Thankyou is priceless.

Counter balance to that is when you don’t need anything or you have become self sustaining and want to step away, just a simple, thank you for helping arrange that and we are now sorted. So very much better than just not replying to messages, saves me time too. Integr8Archery has a purpose, to put bows in hands, to give everyone access to our sport, and for those who want it, to help you set up your group, become sustainable and where it’s wanted to provide coaches for long term mentoring. I also help find and apply for grants for those who want help with funding. Thank you, we’re sorted means I get to draw a line and not wonder what you are needing, it also means that I am still here if you ever find you have a question or need help, there is a very small list of people who I will not work with again, and all of those are simply due to the way I was treated, three I have never actually worked with! Go figure! But I love the feeling that you are on your feet and sorted, so please don’t just ignore my messages because you are not sure how to say, thanks, we’re ok now.

Some visits arranged for the next two days to help people look at what is the most appropriate delivery for their group and setting and these early stages are always exciting as people from outside the sport often see limits where there are none.

Next weekend is going to be incredibly busy, my first competition of the outdoor season and our first session with Wellingborough Muslim Community which is including a celebration for them and a great way to deliver our first start archery event.

I am visiting home this weekend with lots of things to catch up on and today me, mum and my aunt are off to one of our favourite spots to catch up in a little restaurant we love for their amazing fish and chips. So I hope you also enjoy your weekend and take advantage of the fact that for many it’s a little longer than usual. Let me know how you get on, I love hearing how you are all doing.

Take care and may your arrows fly strong ❤️🏹

Week 43 – events, #greatarrowcount, county records!

Helen Sharpe weekly update 25 April 202325 April 2023

Another busy week, finalising details for the start archery event which I am now looking forward to, and I love the idea that is going to also include a celebration for the community group who will be attending.

We have had to change the date for the disability archers getting together and catching up with Nick Wilson, but there is news to come about how we are turning this one off get together into something more frequent which will be jointly hosted with Towcester Archers. Sorry to those who can no longer join us on the initial date but if the new date means you can now come please do get in touch with me.

I dropped into a session with Weavers School which Chris and Jack run, great to catch up and see for myself what’s happening there.

Apologies to Maggie who I was joining to help with the Leicestershire introductions to soft archery with primary schools, I was unwell but Maggie did a great job for the county with the almost 20 schools she presented to.

Two weeks in for me, for the great arrow count as I couldn’t start until I got home from volunteering for the European Grand Prix – 1020 arrows is half my preferred volume for 2 weeks but I am settling into my new job and the shifts plus lots of training so I am not really disappointed with those numbers! Looking forward to the coming weeks as I settle properly and get my routine back, let’s be honest the last 2 – 3 years had seen my routine crushed, so things are looking good!

Finally got my act together with the information that had mangled in sending to the county records officer who has been very patient whilst he waited for me to fix it, but my flight county records are now official – so that’s a confirmed target for 2023 – new distances to replace those certificates! 😂❤️🏹

Without a doubt I love my sport, I have been forever grateful that the county team welcomed me in the summer of 2018 as a novice and stuck by me when I struggled. My flight family though, welcomed me and kept me shooting when I would have walked away and everything I achieve there is down to the truly most welcoming environment I believe you will find in archery. Seriously, can you imagine walking onto the field for the British Target Champs or the range of the indoor championships and saying can you teach me I have never shot? 😱🫣😂 In 2021 that’s exactly what flight archers offered, bring your kit to the national championships and we will teach you on the line, 4 national gold medals that first year and then the following year 2 national golds, a silver and a bronze. My masters in flight and my raptor badge! Let’s see what my third season – 2023 brings😎

Right, I have emails to send and soup to eat before work, take care and enjoy the sunshine even if it’s not quite warm yet 😉❤️🏹

Lots happening this week – busy, busy, busy

Helen Sharpe weekly update 23 April 202323 April 2023

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.

Take care and see you on the range soon ❤️🏹

Week 42 – mental health, safe headspace and arrow counting

Helen Sharpe Blog with a message, Health, Joining forces for strength, weekly update 18 April 202318 April 2023

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.

Week 41 – time is flying! Remember each of us can make a difference.

Helen Sharpe Blog with a message, weekly update 11 April 202311 April 2023

I genuinely have no idea where time is racing to!

41 weeks of Integr8Archery! Wow!

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.

Week 40 – volunteering – give it a go!

Helen Sharpe weekly update 4 April 20234 April 2023

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.

Week 39! 9 months – wow and thank you 😍

Helen Sharpe Announcement, News, Numbers and stats, weekly update 28 March 202328 March 2023

39 weeks! 9 months! Wow!!

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.

Week 38 – making new links

Helen Sharpe weekly update 21 March 202321 March 2023

My hat is travelling all over the place!

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.

Take care and see you all soon.

Week 37 – DISC launch, design visuals and thank you.

Helen Sharpe Announcement, Event recap, Joining forces for strength, News, weekly update 14 March 202314 March 2023

If you know me, the projects or just keep looking here for what’s happening you will know that everything I have done for the last 4 years in regards to long term projects is about them becoming sustainable for each group that I work with. The base of this plan is that they have people trained and take over the running of the group and coaches who work with them on behalf of Integr8Archery to mentor them.

Last summer I was approached by Northamptonshire Carers to discuss plans for the DISC group which meets every other week and provides access to their users to a variety of sports. Some years previously they had archery in their cycle but it had stopped.

Upon visiting we found a treasure of kit, they were aware that they had soft kit for arrows Archery but we found so much more, meaning that with just some support and training they could easily be up and running for the full range that our sport can offer.

This week we have finally gotten everything in place and 19th March will see the first of their monthly archery sessions take place! This is so exciting. It is here I must say a number of thank you’s – The Worshipful Company of Fletchers who have generously provided funding for two volunteers to undertake instructor training next month, Long Buckby Archery Club for the donation of the kit for pointy archery, when we found it, it was all very carefully labelled and the club have donated this to the group for their ongoing use. Also to Nick and Jackie from Towcester Archery Club for joining the group of coaches who work with Integr8Archery to go out there into the community and provide access to our sport and will be giving their time to support the DISC group.

Wednesday saw another great multi sport meeting hosted by Graeme at Northamptonshire Sport, always great to look at how we can help each other and achieve our shared aims, more to come about new things I will be doing from that meeting later.

Couple of meetings around our start archery event and some reviewing plans for schools already working with us.

Also design visuals for the medals we will be using for the competitions that we are planning and as Duncan and I have just about sorted our progression scheme, the badges have been designed for this along with a new flight workshop badge after the previous supplier let me down.

Thank you so very much to Duncan for all of the work he has put in on the Integr8Archery progression scheme, this scheme will see individuals work to the level that will then allow them to partake in the AGB progression scheme and something that I have been trying to arrange for over 2 years but have run into difficulties along the way, so thank you Duncan for always listening to my thoughts, also for creating the certificates and now designing the membership card for the Integr8Archery school club members.

I never take for granted any of the work that anyone does with me, wether voluntary or if they are paid by one of the groups.