So who am I and why should you trust me?

I’ve been trying to find a single word to describe what I do here. It’s hard to boil down to one thing. Firstly, I have twenty years of professional training and experience. This covers mental health recovery and personal development, including teaching, writing and lecturing. Consequently, I’ve worked with all ages – kids excluded from school to forensic settings, community centres and most things in between.

Background

I used to run The Frugal Family all the info is still live, but it’s also full of my beautiful boy and I can’t spend time there anymore.

Since 2019, I’m also a grieving mother – and that’s made my situation quite unique.

Putting those two aspects of my life together, has been… challenging. Knowing something to be true (training) and doing it for yourself (lived experience) isn’t quite as simple as it sounds!

More recently, I’ve been able to match my sustainable living interests with several businesses in the funeral sector. They are working hard to provide environmentally positive alternatives to the traditional offering. Having had to arrange our son’s funeral, it’s a topic I’m very passionate about.

Helping to create easily understood messages about sustainable options and to share these positive practices has helped me find purpose. Additionally, it draws on a number of skills I’ve developed over my working life. Also, it helps ordinary people like me, feel better about the ways they can make positive choices in the midst of a dark time.

Qualifications

I’m certified Carbon Literate and a Mental Health First Aider. I have also completed a Climate Change Certificate and achieved a Certificate in Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences. I’m currently working on my Level 5 DMI qualification (it’s every Wednesday, so don’t call me then!).

Prior to these current updates, I have my Cert. Ed, MA in Military History and lots of other weird and wonderful bits of paper. Did you know I’m a qualified masseuse??