Four of our staff team are taking part in the Cotswolds Way Ultra Challenge in June and they have been getting as many miles in as they can in preparation for the event. With the hot weather we’ve been experiencing recently the long walks have meant lots of electrolytes and water stops, but the good news is Katharine got to test out her new sunglasses on a walk at the weekend! A glorious day for it, Karen and Katharine walked 20km from Stratton to Sapperton and Ivan managed a massive 50km walk across the Stroud valleys. Hann was on a rest weekend after her 30km trek the week before. The team are really hoping their training will pay off on the day (and that the weather is on their side!).
All the money raised will go straight towards supporting families in the Cotswolds. The team have particularly loved walking through so many of the villages that we support – it’s highlighted just how beautiful they are, but also how isolating they can be for many. Social isolation is a big challenge in our area and we know that our volunteers make a massive difference by helping families to feel less alone and more supported, wherever they are based in the Cotswolds. Home-Start UK have recently published a new survey conducted by YouGov which highlights the scale of loneliness and isolation among UK parents of babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, with significant implications for both parental wellbeing and children’s development. Nearly half of UK parents (49%) with children under 5 say they can feel lonely or isolated, with around one in six (17%) reporting that they often or always feel this way. It’s an area of comcern that we certainly experience first hand in the Cotswolds, you can read more about the findings of their survey here.
If you’re in a position to support our walking team and our work at Home-Start Cotswolds, donations can be made through the teams Just Giving page linked here.