Latest from Woman and Home in Inspirational-women

‘I asked about renewing our vows - my husband was horrified!’ Sara Davies on the secret to a long-lasting marriage

Gemma Calvert — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Sara Davies has revealed the simple rule that’s kept her 27-year relationship alive - spending one night together a week.

The former Dragons’ Den star, who met her husband Simon when she was just 15, says Thursday date nights are the key to their long-lasting marriage.

The couple, who wed in 2007 and have two sons, Oliver, 11, and Charlie, 9, live in Teesside, close to both sets of parents.

“The kids sleep at their grandparents every Thursday,” Sara explains. “It’s lovely for the grandparents and we get that quality time together too.”

Sara, who is worth a reported £37m, admits they don’t do extravagant date nights.

“I’m not a big one for saying, ‘Let’s go out for dinner,’ because we have to eat out so much for work,” she says. “We’ll have friends around, or it’s a chance to catch up on a movie we’ve been wanting to watch - something the kids wouldn’t be interested in.”

Speaking exclusively to woman & home as our June issue cover star, Sara describes how their relationship evolved as they grew from teenage sweethearts to business partners and parents.

“We got together when we were teenagers and didn’t have any responsibilities,” she explains. “We’ve gone from innocence and a care-free nature to building the business together, then building our lives together. Through all of those different stages together, we’re stronger for it.”

(Image credit: Future)

“We’ve gone from innocence and a care-free nature to building the business together, then building our lives together"

So as they near their 20th anniversary, would the couple contemplate renewing their wedding vows?

“I remember once joking about it with Simon and he just looked horrified!,” laughs Sara. “He was like, ‘Why do we need to do that? It sounds like a load of expense for no apparent reason?’ So that’s a no!”

There’s no denying they can afford it. The couple are co-founders of craft supplies company Crafter’s Companion - a business Sara began as a student at the University of York - which is worth more than £30 million - and Sara insists they’re every inch a team.

“I’ve never really thought about being a breadwinner, because we always do everything together,” she says. “We’ve always operated as a team and therefore the money that’s come into the household has come into the business that we’re running together. It’s never felt like one of us earns the money and the other doesn’t.”

(Image credit: Future)

Shop Sara's style

Exact match

Goddiva

Balloon Sleeve Chiffon Maxi Dress

The wrap over drape at the waist of this dress is so flattering, and the blush pink colour makes it perfect for a summer wedding. The long sleeves give you arm coverage, but are lightweight enough not to make it too warm to wear in summer.

Exact match

Karen Millen

Colour Block Fluid Tencel Woven Tie Neck Blouse

This is the same blouse Sara is wearing in the shoot, and there are only very limited sizes left, so you'll have to be quick to click if you love it. The pink and red colour combination is really striking, and the voluminous sleeves will balance out a pair of barrel leg jeans.

Karen Millen

Soft Tailored Single Breasted Blazer

This is a fuchsia version of the coral tailoring Sara is sporting, and the asymmetric panel flowing from the lapel makes it look much more designer than high street.

"As much as I say that vulnerability is a bit of a superpower in business, my walls are still up all the time"

Even her many investments - including those from her seven years on Dragon’s Den, a commitment she paused last year to focus on Crafters Companion - are a shared effort.

“People think, ‘Sara’s invested in them’ but when those businesses are doing well, it’s not just because of that. It’s because we’ve worked collectively, as a team. Simon’s really involved."

Unlike her publicity-shy husband, Sara’s on-screen presence is growing. She made history as the youngest female Dragon on Dragons’ Den when she joined in 2019, two years before becoming a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. More recently, she hosted ITV gameshow Time Is Money and will soon appear in a new series called The Box.

And after hosting her ITV festive celebrity craft show Christmas Craft Off, Sara is hungry to carve out a bigger space on screen.

“I look at all the cookery shows out there and there’s so much you can do in crafting in the same way,” she says. “There’s so many celebrity chefs, but you just don’t see celebrity crafters. I had so many ideas, tips, tricks and hacks that I wanted to share with people.

“When I pitched the idea, they loved it so much, instead of doing a one-off, they did a five-part series. I really hope that’s the start of my own show, owning that craft space.”

Most recently, Sara and her younger sister Helen have launched a new podcast Mind Your Business, where they share business advice, lessons and mistakes. It’s recorded in a building where the sisters lived as children and Sara later ran Crafter’s Companion.

“Doing it with Helen gets me to a place where I’m prepared to be a little bit more open and vulnerable than I would ordinarily be," says Sara.

"As much as I say that vulnerability is a bit of a superpower in business, my walls are still up all the time. Whereas in that environment - in what used to be our childhood home and with my brother-in-law doing the sound - I feel so relaxed. It’s helped me drop my guard so the podcast is drawing out raw honesty. I think that’s what people are really loving!”

woman&home magazine

You can read Sara's full interview in the June 2026 issue of woman&home magazine, - on sale now. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

'The longest I held my baby for was two hours': the shameful role the Church of England played in forced adoptions

debraashtonwaters@gmail.com (Debra Waters) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:39:21 +0000

Diana Defries was just 16 when she was told to give up her newborn daughter. But it didn’t happen a century ago – this occurred in 1974.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, thousands of young mothers were sent to homes run by the Church and sanctioned by the Government. There were around 100 of these homes in England alone, and many subjected pregnant women to hard labour, akin to Ireland’s notorious Magdalene Laundries. Here, vulnerable women gave birth, only for their babies to be forcibly removed for adoption.

This wrongdoing has come to light again after the BBC reported on an apology the Church has drafted. In reaction to this, BBC4’s Woman’s Hour spoke to Diana, who told host Anita Rani that, shortly after giving birth, she was taken to an adoption agency where her baby was prised out of her arms. The following week, Diana was sent back to school where she had to pretend that everything was fine.

In the interview, Diana describes the feelings of shame she felt; of herself and others being treated like “lesser beings”; and that she carried a sense that they had been punished. She is now hoping to be vindicated by the Government and the Church, but while a spokesperson for the former said it is taking the “abhorrent practice… extremely seriously”, the Church of England has yet to issue its apology.

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Diana’s distressing experience is by no means isolated. The scandal has prompted some heartbreaking responses on social media. In the comments section of the Woman’s Hour Instagram post.

Wagstaff2023 wrote, “It happened to my mum. She had her first child stolen by the church and state. They said if she didn’t give her up they would diagnose mental illness and she would be locked in a institution and they would take the baby then and she would be stuck forever so it was best she handed her baby over. She tried again, married my dad and had me. But in the end she couldn’t cope and killed herself. Those responsible have blood on their hands. They’ve inflicted generational trauma on so many people. It’s time for an apology.”

maternal_matters’ comment recalls the lasting consequences it had on her own mum, “It has affected her all her life the shame and treatment she received by nuns. it also affects the child taken. My mum had 3 more boys and me, but a child doesn’t replace a child.”

Sammyingayle, who was one of the babies similarly affected, wrote, “I was taken immediately from my mother, placed in a cot for 10 days, alone at the most crucial time for experiencing safety as an infant, wired to be with my mother and denied that by nuns and the state. It caused me untold harm.”

The therapist Bhavna Raithatha also commented that she has witnessed the suffering of some of the victims, “I've had so many clients share a similar, traumatising story filled with shame and grief. Where is the shame and accountability for the men who got these girls pregnant? Where is the justice?”

'I'm glad my mum died' - author Katrina Collier explains the reason why she felt nothing when her mother passed away

Elaine Hayward — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:34:07 +0000

The phone rang at 2.34am, waking me with a jolt, and before I answered it, I already knew it would be my sister and, instinctively, I knew why she was calling. ‘Mum's gone,' she said, quietly.

Listening to her speak, I murmured all the appropriate noises as she explained that Mum had collapsed and died instantly from a sudden brain bleed. She was 87. I stayed on the line for a few minutes and then hung up. I then pulled the duvet up to my chin and went back to sleep.

When I woke up a few hours later, with sunlight filtering through the curtains, I felt calm, content and even elated. This wasn't shock or denial. It was relief. But before you judge me and label me cold-hearted, you need to know where I came from.

When events like Mother’s Day come around, I’m aware of other people celebrating and being grateful. But growing up with a mother like I had, it’s a reminder of a relationship that caused endless anguish and heartache.

In adulthood, I always found Mother’s Day nauseating in its tweeness and painful in its reminder that my mother lacked the nurturing qualities that are celebrated on this day.

‘Before you judge, you need to know my story'

Katrina Collier with her Mum - Katrina's 1st birthday party (Image credit: Supplied by Katrina Collier)

The Damage of Words: A Memoir of Healing Self-Hate And Gaining Self-Mastery by Katrina Collier.

In her debut memoir, Katrina shares her 12-year journey of overcoming childhood abuse, complex PTSD, and deep-seated self-loathing. Available at Amazon.

I grew up in Sydney with my parents and three siblings in a house governed by fear, all of it emanating from our mother. The four of us lived in terrified silence, dealing with her relentless emotional and physical abuse.

One day, when I was three, I had a tantrum because I didn't want to leave nursery at pick-up time. It was a normal messy burst of childhood emotion, but when we got home, my mum was so angry that I'd embarrassed her in front of the other parents that she beat me furiously with her bare hands.

I buried the trauma of the incident so deep that I forgot it happened until years later when Mum casually mentioned it. ‘That's when I learned how a parent can kill a child,' she said with no shred of remorse or shame.

When I was eight, the neighbour's dog fell into our pool and nearly drowned. Somehow, I got the blame, and the beating I got from Mum afterwards was savage. She made me bend over the bed and wait for the cane handle of the feather duster, the anticipation almost worse than the pain itself. She always made sure never to leave visible bruises.

My dad was easier to love because he didn't scream or hit. Working long hours as a university lecturer, he'd often get home at 9pm and sleep through the weekends, which meant he rarely saw the abuse. But as I got older, I came to realise he did know it was happening.

He'd suffered childhood trauma himself and was too weak to protect me and my siblings. When I tried to tell him how Mum treated me, he would shrug and say, ‘You can't change your mother.' It took me decades to realise his refusal to protect us was its own form of harm.

The abuse from Mum didn't stop when I got older. As a teenager, I was still beaten if my report cards weren't perfect or for perceived slights I didn't even understand.

Katrina Collier with her Mum - Katrina aged 2yrs, 8months (Image credit: Supplied by Katrina Collier)

I hit Mum back once and she went berserk hitting me over and over, so I never did it again. By then, my self-esteem was in tatters. Thankfully, the friends I made at school gave me the love I wasn't getting at home, but the inner critic Mum had installed in me was relentless.

After leaving school, I went to university but failed and got kicked out in my second year. I started working in a bank and, at 21, I finally left home and moved in with a friend.

Mum told me that I'd never survive in the real world because I was useless. Riddled with insecurities and seeking validation, I slept around and found myself in relationships with violent and narcissistic men, replaying familiar patterns without understanding why.

At 27, I met a kind man and we got engaged. Mum was mostly well behaved in front of him, but in a private conversation, she told me the engagement ring made her sick and that she disapproved of us living together – an extraordinary judgement from a non-religious woman.

Her words made me curl into a ball and sob. Unconsciously, I sabotaged that relationship by being unfaithful and just six weeks before the wedding, I called it off.

Katrina and her Mum at Katrina's 21st birthday (Image credit: Supplied by Katrina Collier)

‘Friends gave me the love I wasn't getting at home'

I met another man at 29 and after I introduced him to my parents, Mum told me I wasn't good enough for him, her words feeling like a physical punch. Hoping to avoid drama with Mum, my fiancé and I eloped and moved to the UK, where he was from.

Neither my husband nor I wanted children, with my own reason being that I was terrified of passing my trauma on to my child. I'd also felt so trapped growing up that freedom felt precious and not something I was willing to surrender. Of course, Mum called me selfish.

Distance from her helped, but didn't save me. Occasionally, emails arrived listing my failings as a daughter and when I finally confronted her, sending back her own words, she accused me of being vindictive for keeping her emails as ‘evidence'.

When I was 40, I visited a life coach to help with some work issues, but she guided me to something much deeper. With her help, I learned about narcissistic abuse and discovered I had complex PTSD and deep co-dependency rooted in childhood trauma. Through various different therapies, I slowly learnt to love myself and eventually love who I was.

Katrina Collier - aged 54yrs. Please creit Amanda Clarke Photography (Image credit: MAIN PHOTO: AMANDA CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHY)

My marriage ended amicably in 2012. The last time I saw my parents was three years later when I met them for lunch in Sydney where I was speaking at a conference. It was awful with my dad staring straight past me while Mum ranted about politics and the past. At the end of the meal, they handed me my childhood photos and said they didn't want them any more. Saying nothing, I left, but by that stage, I'd checked out emotionally.

Occasionally, Dad and I would email and he'd send birthday and Christmas cards signing off with ‘‘love Mum and Dad', which annoyed me. When he died in April 2022, I actually felt relief. There was no funeral, just a private cremation, and soon afterwards, Mum emailed me about some of his possessions, insisting I collect them. ‘Not that I want to see you,' she wrote. ‘You mean nothing to me.'

I collected them later that year, accompanied by my sister. Mum and I exchanged 10 minutes of small talk and I don't think I even said goodbye. I never saw or spoke to her again.

So, when my sister called me late that night in November 2025 to tell me our mother had died, I felt nothing. Walking my dog the next morning, it felt like shackles falling away, like her claws finally releasing me. After 12 years of healing and writing a memoir about it, I realised that I would never hear her voice again and there would never be another repercussion.

Wannabe mums, mothers who lost a child, those whose mum was amazing but has passed and so on: so many people struggle now that other people feel they must celebrate their mum on social media. What I’d like other children to know is that it’s ok to feel negatively about the day. There is no shame or guilt to feel.

She had requested a private cremation but even if there had been a ceremony, I would not have gone. When Mum was alive, people told me I'd regret cutting her out. Now she's dead, they tell me I should feel guilty for having done so.

If she had been an abusive partner instead of a mother, the advice would have been simple – leave. When I say I'm elated that she's dead, it isn't out of malice. It's acknowledging my freedom and the end of cruelty. And I refuse to grieve that.

* The Damage of Words: A Memoir of Healing Self-Hate And Gaining Self-Mastery (£10.99, Synergy) by Katrina Collier is available now from Amazon.

'I carried the shame long enough': Gisèle Pelicot on justice, survival and confronting her ex-husband

Kate Woodward — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:14:36 +0000

How do you even start to comprehend the horror of the ordeal endured by Gisèle Pelicot and what it has taken for her to survive it? UK viewers will gain some insight tomorrow evening when her interview with journalist Victoria Derbyshire airs on Newsnight.

During a gut-wrenching conversation, Madame Pelicot takes viewers behind the headlines, to the heart of the depravity and cruelty she endured at the hands of her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot and dozens of other men. But throughout her harrowing account, one message stands out – her support and encouragement for survivors to pick up the torch she’s lit and carry it forward.

Madame Pelicot’s case is one of unimaginable horror, the details of which first emerged in 2020, three months after her then-husband was arrested and charged with multiple instances of upskirting. She was shown evidence that would change her life. Mr Pelicot had been drugging her and inviting men to their house at night, where they would repeatedly rape her.

“It was inconceivable that this man who shared my life could have committed these horrors. It was a descent into hell,” she explained. “We were crushed by the horror.”

No matter how many times the details of Mr Pelicot’s crimes are heard, the impact never diminishes. Like any one of us, Madame Pelicot believed her home in the quiet town of Mazan was her sanctuary, her safe space. Instead, her husband of almost 50 years was slipping pills into her food and drink, before he and dozens of other men raped her. He did this for nearly a decade until police investigating the upskirting case found photos and videos cataloguing the campaign of violence against his wife.

“I saw crime scenes, terrible scenes, and you wonder how a human being is capable of doing that,” she said of seeing the footage.

As the court case approached in 2024, Madame Pelicot could have chosen to remain anonymous, but didn’t for one clear reason. “I wanted the shame to shift to the other side. I’d carried it for more than four years. That self-inflicted pain, I felt, meant victims were being punished twice,” she tells Victoria Derbyshire. “And I thought that if I was able to overcome it, all victims could do it too.”

It’s remarkable that despite the trauma she has endured, Madame Pelicot turned her thoughts to others, and did what she believed could bring about a radical change.

Every day of the trial, with composure and courage, Madame Pelicot faced her abusers, and gave evidence in open court. Hearing her explain her reasoning in the Newsnight interview is deeply moving, especially with the seemingly ever-worsening Epstein files revelations.. Her message to survivors is clear:

“They must not lose confidence. They must dare to choose a public trial. It’svery important. It’s also a path to self-recovery,” she explained.

This interview comes as Madame Pelicot releases her memoir, ‘A Hymn To Life’, which details every part of this harrowing journey. She recalls the moment she realised what her ex-husband had done. “Something exploded inside me. I was in such a state… It was like a tsumani". And describes phoning her three children to tell them as “the worst moment of my life”.

Madame Pelicot reveals she intends to visit Dominique Pelicot in prison: “I think I need to see him to get answers. I don’t know if I’ll get them.”

As it stands, 43 men have been found guilty of raping Gisèle Pelicot, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault. Throughout the interview, Madame Pelicot remains calm and composed, even when discussing some of the most horrific moments she’s endured. It’s only when Victoria Derbyshire shows her footage of grateful women thanking her for her courage that Madame Pelicot becomes emotional.

When speaking of the women who turned up to support her at court each day, she said: “They gave me incredible strength, and I think my story echoed their suffering. The women I met were often victims who’d never dared to file a complaint. And quite a few told me they would now have the strength to do so.

“I hope I managed to transmit that message of hope to all the victims. I passed on the torch to them, and I hope that today they will dare to speak out and, if one day they too have a trial, that they will also open it. I think it will help to transform all their suffering. They must also dare to do what I did, they have the strength to do it.”

Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview airs on Sunday 15 February on BBC Two at 10pm, and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.

'It's possible to turn loss into something beautiful' – author Katie Carr shares how she helped her brother's memory live on

Helen Renshaw — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

It's no secret that life can be challenging sometimes, and when it comes to grief, we all experience it differently. Sometimes, simply managing to put one foot in front of the other or to keep showing up is a cause to feel proud. And for some people, looking for hope is the best way to heal their heartbreak.

Author, artist, educator and coach Katie Carr has, sadly, experienced bereavement too many times, and at too young an age. But she found a way to turn the loss of her brother Toby into the start of an exciting new adventure, as she tells us here.

"Three months before his death, I interviewed my brother for a podcast. ‘If you want to do something, the time is now,’ he said, an attitude that sprang from a lifetime adapting to loss," says Katie.

Katie and her siblings with their parents (Image credit: Katie Carr)

"In 1988, when I was 11, our brother Marcus, nine, and Toby, just six, our mum, Bron, developed a viral brain injury from which she never recovered. She woke up one morning confused and was never the same again. Mum’s still alive today, but she wouldn’t recognise me in the street.

"A few years later, Marcus and Toby were diagnosed with Fanconi anaemia – a rare and life-limiting genetic illness that leads to bone marrow failure and various cancers – and told they’d be lucky to live to 30.

"We reacted by doing everything we could today in case it wasn’t possible tomorrow. Marcus became a GP and travelled the world, Toby was an architect and keen sea kayaker, and I went to live and work in Spain."

Katie with her brothers Toby and Marcus, on the beach in Whitstable in 2016 | Katie learnt to sea kayak after Toby's death (Image credit: Katie Carr)

"Then our dad died suddenly in 2010. Seven years later, Marcus died of throat cancer. The grief Toby and I shared was terrible, but we each had a counterbalance of joy. My first son had just been born and my brother set off on a sea voyage of discovery.

"Toby decided to kayak in each of the 31 areas in the BBC Radio 4 Shipping Forecast, the weather for the seas around the British Isles. The sea was a constant, soothing sound in our home as kids, and we knew what it meant because we had our own boat."

Toby on his adventures (Image credit: Katie Carr)

"In 2018, I adapted to motherhood as Toby set off on his adventure and the happiest, most exhilarating time of his life. He covered two-thirds of the shipping forecast areas, but by late 2020 he grew exhausted and knew that something was wrong. After months of tests, he was diagnosed with incurable liver cancer in summer 2021.

"The news hit me like a blow: I was going to lose Toby just like I’d lost Marcus.

"If you want to do something, the time is now"

"That November, Toby landed a book deal to write about his kayak challenge, but he knew he wouldn’t live to finish it.

"By New Year’s Day 2022 he could barely walk, and asked for help into his kayak for one last paddle. He died a week later and all I had left was my memories – and Toby’s records of his adventures."

Moderate Becoming Good Later by Toby and Katie Carr

Katie used Toby's notes to write the story of his quest to sea kayak the areas of the Shipping Forecast, starting in South East Iceland and making his way down the western seaboard of Europe. It's both an epic adventure – sometimes choppy, constantly moving – and a personal voyage of discovery that includes old friends and new, plenty of wildlife, and the ever-present sea.

Thundery at Times by Katie Carr

Katie has now written a memoir, available to pre-order now ahead of its release in May 2026. Moving between the wild edges of the British Isles and the everyday realities of motherhood in Barcelona, it explores grief, a difficult family past and midlife reinvention, with honesty, flashes of humour and an eye for the small moments that keep people going.

"I decided to write Toby’s book for him. Even if it didn’t sell, it would help my kids to remember their amazing uncle. Toby had made masses of notes and voice recordings, including conversations with friends and loved ones along the way. I pieced it all together, although hearing his voice and reading his thoughts brought tears to my eyes.

"Then writing the book began to feel like having an extra year with my brother at the very best time of his life. Sharing his exploits and his love of nature worked like therapy. The book wasn’t really about kayaking – it was about life and loss."

Once the book was published, Katie said she had "one more thing to finish for Toby – the 10 areas left in his shipping forecast challenge. Only I’ll do it my way, safely and learning as I go. I started in the Bristol Channel, then moved to Wales – and felt a closeness to nature I’m determined not to lose."

Katie did indeed finish the challenge, completing her last paddle in July 2024, in Shetland, before raising Toby's flag from a rock stack.

She says, "I hope finishing the challenge and the book show that even in the depths of grief, it’s possible to turn loss into something beautiful."

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woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the October 2023 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

Dame Sarah Mullally confirmed Archbishop of Canterbury - but why does a woman in charge still feel historic in 2026?

Ellie Fennell — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:52:11 +0000

This week, Dame Sarah Mullally became the first woman to take on one of the most high-profile roles in British public life as she was officially confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. It is undeniably momentous. But the fact that this feels historic in 2026 raises an uncomfortable question. Why is a woman reaching the top still considered such a breakthrough?

It isn’t because progress hasn’t been made. Women now lead countries, companies, and institutions that once felt permanently closed to us. But when you look at the numbers, the imbalance is stark.

Fewer than 17 per cent of the world’s nations are led by women. In the UK, there are just 19 female CEOs across the FTSE 350. And whilst the Church of England has made progress in opening leadership roles to women, there are still only 7 female Diocesan Bishops (out of 42)

So, whilst Mullally’s appointment marks a change, it also highlights how relatively rare it still is to see a woman at the very top and how such a promotion is both celebrated and analysed in a way that a man’s rarely is. Progress, yes. Normalised? Not quite.

I saw this gender tension play out close to home when my mum, the Revd Canon Gill Calver, was ordained in 1994 as part of the first cohort of women priests, in a ceremony led by Archbishop George Carey in Canterbury Cathedral. Over the next 25 years, she encountered ongoing resistance to her leadership simply due to her sex.

On more than one occasion, worshippers walked out of services as she stood to preach, and she was blocked from becoming Rector of a new parish (a role for which she had been recommended by the bishop) as a female Church Warden refused to accept women priests. In her early years, when a woman in a dog collar was a true rarity, she was even mistaken for a Strip-o-gram as she arrived to visit a poorly parishioner.

Thirty years on, she has seen responses to women leaders in the church change, but still believes there is considerable work to do to overcome the prevalent unconscious bias.

‘As a woman in the church, it often seemed necessary to justify my presence in the leadership roles I was given beyond simply being able to do the job. I trained five male curates in my parishes, one of whom went on to become a bishop, yet this raised question marks for some. It was as though I had to prove I could be responsible for their development despite being a woman.’

Revd Canon Gill Calver and Revd Rachel Webbley at Canterbury Cathedral for a celebration of 30 years of women in the ministry in 2024. (Image credit: Revd Canon Gill Calver)

Having seen first-hand how much harder than her male peers Mum had to work to be accepted and taken seriously, I’m acutely aware of how deeply ingrained instincts around leadership affect the behaviour of many. Decades of research have shown that, when people picture authority, they still picture a man - a phenomenon originally termed ‘think manager, think male’ by psychologist Professor Virginia Schein. In institutions such as the church, shaped by tradition, hierarchy, ritual, and biblical belief, that bias is even harder to shift. Women may be accepted in principle but still questioned in practice.

Sociologist Alice Eagly’s work on ‘role incongruity’ highlights another challenge experienced by many female leaders - that women are often judged not just on competence, but on whether they behave in ways that feel acceptably feminine. Too soft, and they’re not taken seriously. Too decisive, and they’re seen as unlikable. It’s a balancing act which men are rarely asked to perform - and one that can make women’s authority feel disproportionately scrutinised, however qualified they are.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Perhaps this is why Mullally taking up this role feels particularly charged as we are aware of how much tougher her journey to the top must have been in comparison to male contemporaries. Women who reach leadership positions in resistant organisations often do so having already navigated scepticism, compromise and heightened questioning. That experience isn’t unique to the Church. It’s shared by women in boardrooms, politics and public life where authority often still comes with unspoken gender bias.

Dame Sarah’s appointment matters, because it challenges deeply held prejudice around who looks like a leader, who sounds authoritative, what life skills matter and who feels ‘right’ in charge. It also raises the question of whether a deeply tradition-bound institution, still greatly divided when it comes to the question of female leadership, can truly adapt to having a female figurehead.

Revd Rachel Webbley, 50, a Team Rector in Whistable, certainly hopes so. She welcomes the new archbishop’s appointment on many levels.

‘I’m delighted to see a woman take the reins as it serves as a reminder of how far we've come. When I was a child, there weren't women priests let alone bishops so it’s good to see our institution evolving. But, above all I feel relief that such a good appointment has been made. The fact that she’s female is just a bonus. What matters more is that she's such a strong, experienced, wise and kind individual who I think will lead us brilliantly.’

If the Church of England - one of the country’s most tradition-bound institutions – can unite behind Archbishop Sarah, it will say much about the future of women in leadership as well as the future of the faith. And perhaps bring us a little closer to the day when we stop counting ‘first women’ and simply accept that the best person got the job.

'I found a way for my autistic daughter to flourish' – the woman who met heartbreak with hope

Helen Renshaw — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The way that people respond to big challenges in life can vary wildly, and reveal much – and we're pretty sure that mother Bridget Wood's response to her daughter Lucy's differences makes her a remarkable woman.

When faced with a difficult situation for her family, Bridget found a way to give back to others, proving that we can find a positive in almost any situation. We hope her story lifts you up as much as it did us.

"23 years ago, I was in woman&home magazine talking about my little girl Lucy, who was six. The article was called Losing Lucy because at that time I felt as though my real daughter was locked in a cage while I desperately searched for a key," remembers Bridget.

"Lucy had been a happy baby until she was two, when her words started to disappear. She fell silent, except for sometimes making awful noises. She stopped enjoying cuddles and stared blankly ahead.

"I spent months taking her to doctors, and when I heard the diagnosis, it felt like the world had ended. Lucy was autistic, and back then, it was a case of sorry, there’s nothing we can do.

"The child I’d hoped might go to university, maybe have a family, was gone, and I just didn’t feel strong, brave or clever enough to cope with a three-year-old autistic child. I started to dread meeting other mums in the park, hearing about their children’s progress, knowing mine would not hit those milestones.

"I felt weighed down with guilt too. My son Alex was two years older, and plans to do something special for him were usually cancelled when his sister had a tantrum."

Lucy as a baby (Image credit: Bridget Wood)

"Doing my best for Lucy became my mission, and in 2000, together with other parents of autistic children, we set up the Rainbow School, now called BeyondAutism.

"There was tailored teaching helping Lucy to start to talk again, and one day when she was about five, she pointed out of the car window and said, ‘Mummy, horse!’ My heart leapt. A chink of light at last."

"When I see Lucy smile, the hard times melt away"

"But when Lucy was nine and Alex 11, my marriage ended. Suddenly, I was a single mum struggling for money, struggling for time, struggling to cope. I had to find a full-time job and sort out childcare. It was a hideous, lonely time.

"Lucy went to a secondary school for children with autism and our life found some rhythm. As the years passed, she learned to write simple words and would flash me the loveliest smiles.

"When she went to a specialist college at 18 I worried she wouldn’t cope away from home, but she absolutely loved it. Then I worried that when she left college, we’d be back to square one. That’s how the story ends for many people like Lucy – living with ageing parents."

Lucy with mum Bridget (Image credit: Bridget Wood)

"I worked out that if Lucy pooled her benefits with other young people, they could fund an independent life. So in 2017 I set up All The Other Lucys with a group of others. We rented a property in Somerset, and Lucy moved in with three housemates and support workers on a rota – a formula we want to share with other parents.

"Lucy will always be autistic, so she will always need some sort of chaperone. She would struggle with unplanned situations. For instance, if she went to wait for a bus and it didn’t turn up, she would just wait all day.

"Yet now, she’s able to live a fulfilling life. Lucy helps at an equestrian centre, and works at a hairdresser and a cafe staffed by people with disabilities. She’s leading her own life and that makes both of us happy. When I see that smile on her face as she helps with the horses, all those hard times melt away.

"My thriving daughter has always been the ‘real Lucy’ and I’m so proud to be her mum."

We can't get enough of stories about real women over 40, from women volunteering at a food bank, to New Year's heroes, to the woman who trains guide dog puppies and even the women finding fulfilment in working with animals or moving abroad to start a new life.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the October 2023 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

From breeding tiger cubs to training pigeons for movies, meet the women enjoying fulfilling careers with animals

Ellie Fennell — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Working with animals can be thrilling, fulfilling, and most of all, rewarding, and there are so many different potential careers.

We've previously met a woman who trains guide dog puppies, another who set up an alpaca walking business, and even women who have been saved by animals.

Here, we speak to four women who all work in different fields but devote their time to caring for and training our furry and feathered friends. From an animal talent agent to an animal therapy practitioner, a zookeeper to the co-founder of a falconry centre, we hear their fantastic stories.

"I trained pigeons for 'Paddington In Peru'"

"I was running a dog-training club when I was asked to audition my Border collie Jacy for a Post Office advert," says Jill. "The agency told me what was needed, so I trained Jacy up to grab hold of the postie’s trousers and spin him around perfectly. The audition went well and, before I knew it, other shows and films were approaching me to train animals. This led me, 37 years ago, to set up my own animal talent agency.

"Animal stars often get their own dressing rooms on set – and many can be seen in hair and make-up every morning! I’ve trained everything from cats and dogs to parrots and budgies on EastEnders, and farm animals for All Creatures Great and Small."

Jill feeds her small flock of geese. (Image credit: Jill Clark)

"I even trained pigeons for Paddington in Peru! I had to teach them to tap on a window, which was hard, as the usual method is to feed them, but obviously the glass was in the way.

"We trained them up with a pane of glass and a platform to land on, so I could feed them around the side. I then had a second trainer on set to treat them once they had flown to the window with me and tapped it."

"The best part of being an animal trainer is helping the animals grow into talented actors"

"Training for shows is very different to classic obedience training, as we need it to look like the animals belong to other people, not us. It can also be tough getting actors to fully engage with them if they’re not really an animal person, but treats always help.

"Of course, sometimes it goes wrong. I once trained a cat to come out of a top-floor building and run down some metal stairs. All was going fine until my very tall assistant fell down the stairs just after he let the cat go. He came clattering down and scared the living daylights out of her. My assistant was bruised, but the cat was fine and did the action perfectly the next day – however, I was a nervous wreck!

"The best part of being an animal trainer is helping the animals grow into talented actors. They really do love learning, which makes them a joy to teach. It beats a nine-to-five job any day."

"Horses can ease people's grief"

"Growing up I loved horses, and adopted my own at 27. After studying psychology, I did a year’s training in equine-facilitated psychotherapy, which led to setting up Equilore in 2018," says Loes.

"We now have six horses, and offer group and individual therapy for people who might have experienced trauma or are struggling with anxiety, emotional regulation and depression. We get referrals from schools, social services, charities and government.

"Our clients don’t ride the horses – therapists observe them while they interact with the animals and debrief with them about their experiences afterwards.

"It’s so moving when someone struggling with grief enters the field and the whole herd quietly draws around to stand with them. The horses seem to sense people’s emotions and move to support them."

Loes with one of her horses. (Image credit: Dan Rayner/danr_oxford)

"It’s incredible to watch chronic school refusers finding connections. One young client saw horse Zekie having a bad day, neighing loudly and getting bitey with other horses. Observing this, she started talking about how she too lashed out and ran away when under stress. After a few sessions, we identified her triggers and worked on strategies to keep her in school.

"Some horses, like Elsie, are brilliant at exuding calm; whereas others – like gentle giant and ex-eventer Gerry – are like cuddly teddy bears and love being around children. I feel so lucky I get to work with these wonderful animals."

"Being a zookeeper was my dream job"

"Being a zookeeper is my dream job. I love working with everything from penguins to chimpanzees, wallabies to capybaras," says Roslin.

"A memorable moment was when a pair of tigers I was looking after, Sasha and Yuri, successfully mated, having a litter of three cubs. Often, male tigers need to be kept separately from the mother and cubs after birth, but Yuri was so gentle that he stayed with Sasha and their young. It was special watching them.

"Every animal has a unique personality; some can be quite cheeky!"

"Conception and contraception are key parts of a keeper’s job. We can’t have unlimited young in the pens, but there are relatively few reputable zoos who can home new arrivals, so reproduction is carefully planned. Many of our chimpanzees have hormone implants to help.

"Even the planned pregnancies still present challenges – timing my dash into a chimpanzee pen to suck up enough fresh urine with a syringe from the floor to test with a pregnancy kit is a fine art!

"Every animal has a unique personality, and some can be quite cheeky. Kevin, one of the penguins, was such a rebel that he was banned from our penguin parade, as he couldn’t be trusted not to sidle up to visitors for a quick nip!"

Roslin cares for 82 chimpanzees and monkeys. (Image credit: Edinburgh Zoo)

"We check on all the animals every morning. One chimp, Lianne, knocks on the window to say ‘hello’ as I’m doing my rounds, while Kato, a brown capuchin, squeaks loudly in excitement if he’s not seen me for a while. Others, like David, a chimp, would see morning checks as a hide-and-seek game, and completely disappear. Having spent ages looking for him, he would then appear in front of us as if out of nowhere.

"Chimps sleep just like humans, settling down at the same time every evening and sleeping until morning. They are often on their sides, curled up in a comfy spot with their head resting on their hands.

"I’m often asked how you get to be a zookeeper. After studying biological sciences at Napier University, I was lucky that my speculative letter to Edinburgh Zoo 30 years ago coincided with a temporary zookeeper vacancy.

"My advice for people wanting to get into it is to volunteer at a local zoo or vets, or to help a dog walker or at stables. Practical experience is invaluable and helps build a network of contacts with a shared passion for animals."

"We love teaching people about birds of prey"

"I’ve always loved wildlife, from chasing grasshoppers as a child to working in the Welsh Mountain Zoo in my 20s. Now I’m focused on bird of prey conservation and rehabilitation at our falconry centre, which I founded with my partner in 2000," says Luce. "I met Barry when he ran bird displays at the zoo where I was a keeper.

"With 30 birds – from vultures and eagles to hawks, falcons and owls – we offer flying experiences, and work in conservation, breeding critically endangered vultures for release into the wild in Africa."

Luce teaches visitors about wildlife conservation. (Image credit: Luce Green)

"Training is quite straightforward – I often say the birds train us! Once we’ve built up a relationship, we replicate the skills they would require in the wild, using food to reward them and recalling them to the gauntlet or glove. With the falcons, we use a ‘swing lure’ – swinging a small pouch around, which replicates the flying shapes of birds the falcons would hunt in the wild.

"Our birds still possess wild behaviours, so we do occasionally have hair-raising moments. I’ll never forget the time our African vulture George took a wrong turn and found himself in the dog parade!

"I’m passionate about wildlife conservation. By teaching our visitors what they can do to protect these magnificent creatures, I hope Barry and I have made a positive difference to their future survival."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the April 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

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'We took the leap and moved to a completely new place – and it transformed our lives'

Michelle Rowley — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like moving somewhere brand new, be it the other side of the world or a few hours' drive away?

These two women did exactly that, leaving familiar surroundings for somewhere new and transforming their lives in the process. Amy Frain and her husband moved their family 9,000 miles to start a new life in Australia, while Ali Gillow and her partner moved from London to rural Wales, where they even started a new business.

Here, they share their experiences with us.

"I've fulfilled my childhood dream of living in Australia"

Amy and the kids enjoy time at the beach. (Image credit: Amy Frain)

"When I was a child, most other kids chose the USA or Africa for school geography projects, but I always chose Australia. I was fascinated by this far-off land that had incredible wildlife and barbecues on a sunny beach at Christmas.

"I often returned to that image during my hour-long commute from my home in Southport to work in Manchester, in the cold and dark at 7am.

"As high school teachers, Rob and I were spending increasingly less time with our own children. We were arriving home at 6.30pm and spending 30 minutes with the kids before putting them to bed. We were also working at home in the evening and at weekends, and had no work-life balance.

"In 2013, we visited friends in Perth. We’d been to Australia before, but this time the sunshine, beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle led to us dreaming of living there. It was a slow burn but in 2019 we decided we had nothing to lose by registering our expression of interest for a visa, so we could teach there.

"It took four years to get our visas, then one early morning in September 2023, Rob shouted, ‘Check your email. Check your email!’ I looked and was stunned. Our visas had been granted."

"We’re spending much more time together as a family"

"We were so excited, but also in shock. ‘How on earth am I going to tell my sister?’ I thought. I was nervous about leaving my secure job of 19 years and telling my students that I was leaving.

"George, then two, was too young to understand, whereas Lily was both excited and sad to leave her friends, grandparents and cousins. I reminded her of all the amazing wildlife she’d see in Australia and that she could go to the beach every day. Her school helped by doing work on Australia, and the Australian cartoon Bluey was an absolute blessing.

"By August 2024, everything was in place to make our 9,000-mile move to the other side of the world. Rob, an IT teacher, had secured a job at a college, friends had offered to host us until we found a house, and removal company John Mason was booked in to ship our belongings to Australia."

Amy and her family meet the local wildlife. (Image credit: Amy Frain)

"The day we left, on 16 August, came with many mixed emotions. My dad came to see us off. I was a broken mess at the final goodbyes, but he reassured me that he was only a phone call away. ‘Go and give Australia everything you’ve got,’ he said. ‘If it doesn’t work out, there’s always a home for you here.’

"In the taxi to Heathrow Airport, I cried on and off all the way. The children were excited and saw it as a big adventure.

"We have now lived in Australia for six months and absolutely love it. We’re earning almost double what we were in the UK and have lots more free time.

"The kids adore seeing the colourful birds and the kangaroos. Life is more laid-back. Since arriving, I got a PE teacher role at Rob’s college, so we travel to work together. Our workday finishes earlier, so at the end of the day we go to the beach. We’re spending much more time together as a family.

"We plan to stay in Australia but as we are still living with our friends, our next focus is getting our own house with a pool, like we promised Lily.

"We stay in contact with friends and family through FaceTime and messages, and one of Lily’s friends is now a pen pal. A number of friends and family are saving up to visit.

"As a child, I’d never have believed that one day I’d be calling Australia home – but dreams can come true."

"Leaving London for Wales was life-changing"

Ali and Dan own three alpacas and grow their own vegetables. (Image credit: Ali Gillow)

"Like all my family and friends, I’d only ever lived in London, and never envisaged moving away from the city I called home. Driven by ambition, I’d been successful in my careers in banking recruitment and property management.

"On the face of it, I had it all. A flat in fashionable Belsize Park, gym membership and an exciting social life, dining in the finest restaurants.

"However, work had been my life and it had left no time for a relationship or children. My days were a whirlwind of early starts and pressurised long workdays. By 6pm on a Friday, I was exhausted.

"Nevertheless, I’d jump in the car and drive an hour to the south coast to go sailing for the weekend. While my colleagues were spending their bonuses on designer handbags, I would spend mine on sailing or saving to go on trekking holidays.

"In 2013, I met Dan – a primary school teacher and musician – through online dating.

"He was so different to me. While I was immersed in finance and property, he was teaching young children and playing jazz trombone.

"When I told him one day that I had to ‘bike some keys’ to a landlord I was dealing with at work, his reply was ‘but you don’t have a bike’! Nothing in the world of education was ever so urgent that you would need a motorbike courier!

"However, there was clearly a strong connection. We had our own flats, but three years into the relationship, we decided to look for somewhere together that we could enjoy at weekends. I wanted a property within an hour of London, but the prices were too high."

Ali and Dan moved into a cottage overlooking the Berwyn Mountains (Image credit: Ali Gillow)

"Waking up on Christmas Day in 2015, in North Wales, where we were staying to be near Dan’s family in Liverpool, I suggested buying a holiday house there. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to say that,’ Dan smiled.

"We returned in March to view some properties. The estate agent told us that he had a house in mind that we’d love, but it didn’t go on sale until the following month, so we couldn’t do a viewing.

"However, I didn’t need to see inside. We both fell for the beautiful stone-built house immediately. Situated at the top of a valley overlooking the Berwyn Mountains, it was stunning. There was no question: we would buy it."

"My London friends all thought I was mad"

"‘Ty Cerrig’ became our retreat from London life, a picture-perfect place to escape to for some peace and quiet. Dan lived there permanently from about six months after we bought it, while I commuted back and forth for work.

"When in March 2020 we could see that a Covid lockdown was imminent, I went to my office, packed everything into my car and made the five-hour journey to lock down in Wales. The unexpected opportunity to spend more time there proved to be life-changing: I never left.

"When I told my London friends that I wouldn’t be returning to the city, they all thought I was mad. However, I was the happiest I’d ever been in Wales. I loved the air and even the weather. Life slowed down.

"Now, my mornings start waiting for the kettle to boil on an AGA while competing against Dan at Wordle.

"In London, I had to be within a stone’s throw of a shop, but now it’s a 30-minute drive to a supermarket. The only time we get stuck in traffic is when there’s a flock of sheep in the lane!

"We now grow our own vegetables to cook for dinner, and we make jams, chutneys, bread and elderflower wine with ingredients from the garden. I weave baskets and joined the WI.

"At one WI meeting, a local alpaca farmer gave a talk about keeping alpacas, and it inspired me to get my own. I’m now the proud owner of Ned, Toffee and Griffin. They always put a smile on my face.

"In 2022, the barn conversion next to our house went up for sale. We decided to buy it to rent it out in addition to the cottage that was on our land, which led us to setting up AliDan Holiday Cottages & Retreats. Guests often arrive fraught after the long drive from London, and go home feeling floaty and rejuvenated.

"Sometimes I’ll sit in the field with Ned, Toffee and Griffin. I reflect on how much my life has changed for the better. Although I wish I’d made the move sooner, I’m still grateful for the life I had in London, as it enabled me to finally find my true self here."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the March 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

New Year heroes: meet 4 volunteers putting others first

Mel Hunter — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Whether you rang in the New Year with a glass of bubbly in hand, a quiet night at home, or tucked up in bed, for many people the night looked very different – and entirely inspiring. These are the unsung heroes who give up their time, energy, and heart, all year round.

From hospital wards to food banks, mountain rescues to late-night helplines, these volunteers and workers are the ones quietly making a huge difference, often in ways that go unseen.

As 2026 brings new beginnings for us all, it's the perfect time to celebrate the New Year's heroes doing remarkable things for others.

"We make sick children smile"

(Image credit: Paul Meyler/Spread a Smile)

Vanessa Crocker, 60, from north London, spends much of the festive period visiting children in hospital.

"Our charity, Spread a Smile, grew from conversations at our kitchen tables in 2013. My friend Josephine Segal, 56, had arranged for a magician to visit her 12-year-old nephew, Aaron, when he was having cancer treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Now enjoying life at university, that visit made such a difference to Aaron that he asked if she could do it for other patients.

"Working together, we started with three entertainers – now we have more than 80. They visit 27 hospitals and three children’s hospices around the country. As a charity with no statutory funding, we rely on the generosity of supporters.

"Parents often tell us that it’s the first time they have seen their children smile for a long time. Josephine and I are very hands-on. We go into hospitals with our entertainers, and spend time chatting to the children and their families. We also organise outings.

"This year, those who can come out of hospital joined us in the new year on a trip to a West End theatre, meeting the cast afterwards. My husband, Paul, and four grown-up children know how much it means to me.

"Of course, there are sad times, but I am inspired by the children we meet and honoured to make a difference."

"As a mountain rescue volunteer, I am on call 24/7"

(Image credit: Kerry Harrison)

Mel Smith, 42, an osteopath from Huddersfield, volunteers with her local mountain rescue team.

"When the call came in last New Year’s Day, I grabbed my backpack and was soon trekking up nearby Marsden Moor, a huge expanse of wild heathland, to rescue a walker who had fallen. It was pitch dark, so the members of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, where I’ve been a volunteer since 2020, split up to find the quickest route to her.

"I arrived first with my fellow volunteer, midwife Nicola Ingle. We checked the patient over, suspecting a fractured ankle, then once the rest of the team joined us, we carried her on a stretcher to a waiting helicopter.

"As a mountain rescue volunteer, I’m on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. My first festive call-out was 29 December 2021 – a 13-year-old girl had broken her leg sledging.

"A few days later, a woman was found hypothermic on the moor. We had to handle her gently, as rapid movements could have sent her into cardiac arrest.

"Being part of the ‘Red Jackets’ has been incredible. I found out just how special the team was after I lost my husband Rob, 55, in a diving accident in July 2021.

"Their companionship meant I was never lonely – it’s like being wrapped in a giant ‘red hug’. Helping others saved me during that awful time. I couldn’t rescue Rob when he drowned, but I can rescue others.

"That is a huge motivation."

"I had a call from someone close to taking his life"

(Image credit: Helen Molyneux)

Helen Molineux, 55, from the West Midlands, answers calls to the Samaritans.

"I started volunteering in 2019 and have worked every New Year’s Eve since then. Although I haven’t suffered mental health issues, others in my family have.

"My brother Christopher took his own life in 1991 when he was 26. My dad, who died from motor neurone disease, also struggled for much of his life. At times he would disappear, then phone, often from the local Samaritans branch, saying he was safe.

"One year, I took a call from a gentleman who was close to taking his own life. Through talking, he began to see he was stronger than he’d thought. He went forward, able to live another day.

"I continue to be humbled by our callers’ honesty and trust. I used to be a terrible overthinker but, by listening to others, my problems can be put into perspective.

"People may call us for help, but our work isn’t selfless - they enhance our lives."

"Our New Year's Day party is open to all in need"

(Image credit: Tropical Sun Foods)

Saira Begum, 61, who runs a food bank in east London, hosts a New Year’s Day party for those in need.

"The guests may not know each other, and they are different ages and nationalities, but there's always laughter, friendship, music and delicious food at our New Year’s Day party.

"I started my charity, PL84U Al-Suffa, in 2013 with family support – the acronym is ‘Plate for You’, and Al Suffa nods to our Muslim identity and relates to hospitality.

"My aim has been to bring people together, whether that’s the elderly, homeless or families struggling to afford food. With the cost of living crisis, our food bank is now open three days a week, providing vital supplies and helping people find extra support.

"With 500 people a week depending on us, we will carry on through the festive period, opening our doors on the Wednesday and Saturday after Christmas, ahead of the New Year’s Day party, which is open to all in need.

"My husband Farooq and I, and a team of volunteers will be up early that day, decorating a scout hall. I know how painful it is to feel like an outsider. I’m of Pakistani heritage and arrived in Britain from Uganda as an immigrant in 1968, when I was six.

"One of the pillars of the Islamic faith is charity, and that drives the work I do. It has changed my life. I was invited to Buckingham Palace in 2019 to meet the late Queen, in recognition of bringing different faiths together.

"In 2022, I was awarded a British Empire Medal, and this year, Farooq and I had the honour of being invited to King Charles’ coronation. However, I didn’t set out to do any of that. I just wanted to bring people together. Everyone needs a place where they belong."

How can you help?

These charities are looking for volunteers this year:

Become a trained volunteer for Home Start, a community network that helps families with young children
Sense, which supports those who are deaf, blind or have complex disabilities, is looking for Virtual Buddies
Charity shops including Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation are appealing for helpers now
Check out the micro-volunteering (easy-to-access, low-commitment volunteering) platform at Young Lives vs Cancer to help families affected by cancer
Coram Beanstalk is looking to recruit more volunteers to read to children for the new school term
For more volunteering opportunities, contact your local Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) group

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the January 2024 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

‘Laugh and the world laughs with you’ says our columnist Kathy Lette

Kathy Lette — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Forget potions and lotions, tonics and tinctures. Medical research presented at a cardiology conference in Amsterdam revealed that laughter really is the best medicine.

Apparently, a good chortle unleashes the same health-boosting chemicals as a bout of vigorous exercise. Laughing brings about a drop in blood pressure and boosts the immune system.

Clearly, a daily dose of Dawn French or Sarah Millican should be prescribed by doctors.

It’s also a reminder to spend time with funnier friends. One of my gal pals was stranded in an elevator recently. Precariously suspended in a claustrophobic cube in pitch darkness, she texted a message to the outside world: ‘Send in Chardonnay and chocolate.’ I grinned at my pal’s cheeky charm, but also admired her ability to laugh in the face of adversity.

Laugh in the face of sadness

Humour can be a shock absorber for your brain, too. When my darling dad became suddenly seriously ill, my heartbroken mum, three shell-shocked sisters and I drew strength from the gallows humour we shared by his deathbed. Laughter became a pressure valve, releasing our pain.

When my good mate Billy Connolly was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease and hearing loss, he reacted the way any comedian would. He laughed. “Ironic, isn’t it, Kath, that life keeps the punchline till the end.” When I offered sympathy, he shrugged off my concern with admirable insouciance. “I’ve also got anorak-sia nervosa, an irrational fear of ugly raincoats.”

Another dear pal, Spike Milligan, was equally irreverent when penning his famous epitaph, “I told you I was ill”! I hope he’d be amused by my tombstone inscription, chosen to reflect my life as a novelist… Finally, a good plot!

The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette

Kathy's wickedly witty novel is out now: Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy are all women at the top of their game; so imagine their surprise when they start to be personally overlooked and professionally pushed aside by less-qualified men. Only they're not going down without a fight. Society might think the women have passed their amuse-by dates but the Revenge Club have other plans.

And speaking of literature, why is it that depressing memoirs, known as ‘misery lit’, constantly win all the prestigious book prizes? It’s so much harder to make people laugh than cry.

I’m going to name my cat Pulitzer, just so I can say that I have one.

My literary pin-ups, Dorothy Parker, Sue Townsend, Nora Ephron and other members of the Cliterati, all mixed wit with grit. Sharp-witted, breezy broads, they shrugged off life’s trials and tribulations with a sly wink, a one-liner and lashings of lip gloss.

The reason that Jackie Collins sold 500 million books is due to her heroines’ ability to shoot from the lip – leaving male cads quivering from quip-lash. In real life, Jackie was just as sassy. Over lunch a few years ago, she told me about being ambushed, aged 15, by a flasher. Jackie’s sanguine response deflated more than his ego. “Cold today, isn’t it?” was her withering put-down.

But what she didn’t tell me that day was that she was suffering from terminal cancer. A true broad, she was on a book tour just two weeks before she died, dolled up in leopard print and dishing out bon mots.

Plagued as we are with wars, climate woes and cost-of-living crises, it’s more important than ever that we remember to find the funny. Our motto? Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you get salt in your cocktail.

Kathy Lette writes her amusing columns on all sorts of topics, from faking orgasms to camaraderie at divorce parties to going makeup-free and why it's easier to be a man. A new column is published in woman&home magazine every month. This one is a gem from the archives!

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the November 2024 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

'I'm so proud to have a Christmas Day baby'

kwillis@email.com (Kim Willis) — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What's the most memorable Christmas you've had? Perhaps you spent one year in a different country, or smitten with a new love, or were gifted the most incredible present.

For some women, Christmas marks the moment they started a new life with their family or met the love of their life.

For Gilly Bell, 62, and her husband Gregory, 64, from the Cotswolds, Christmas Day 1991 was the day their daughter Poppy was born. Gilly tells us how that Christmas 34 years ago changed her life.

Gilly Bell, Gregory, and baby Poppy (Image credit: Gilly Bell)

"On Christmas Eve 1991, I was in labour at the Jessop Hospital For Women in Sheffield, as the maternity nurses speculated on whether I’d have the first Christmas Day baby of the year. I was excited too, but as the 21-hour labour continued, delivering a healthy child was all that was on my mind," remembers Gilly.

"Gregory was by my side, and we both cried when Poppy arrived. He has always been the proudest daddy in the world, even starting his father-of-the-bride wedding speech with, ‘When Poppy entered the world on Christmas Day 1991…’

"She was born at 3am and was actually the sixth birth of the day, but we still made the news. I’d bought Christmas tartan pyjamas for us both and I put make-up on for the local newspaper photographer.

"It felt like a joyous start to Poppy’s life and made me realise how special a Christmas Day baby was."

Gilly in hospital after having Poppy at Christmas (Image credit: Gilly Bell)

"In our family, Christmas and birthdays have always been big events, so I vowed the double day would always be extra special. When she was little, as soon as Poppy had gone to bed on Christmas Eve, I’d start baking her cake and tiptoeing about, putting up birthday banners and balloons.

"When she came downstairs with her stocking on Christmas Day, we’d be ready with the cake, candles lit, singing Happy Birthday.

"Every year, Poppy has a double present-opening ceremony. First, we all open our Christmas gifts, then after breakfast, Poppy opens her birthday presents – and Christmas-themed wrapping paper is strictly forbidden. "

Poppy blowing out her birthday candles on the Xmas turkey (Image credit: Gilly Bell)

"Ten years ago, we celebrated Christmas at my sister’s house and I forgot the birthday cake. We popped the candles in the turkey, which Poppy thought was brilliant. Even though she’s now married to lovely Aidan and living in London, Poppy still comes home for Christmas every year.

"Poppy has always loved being a Christmas Day baby, though when she was younger she’d sometimes get frustrated that she couldn’t see her friends on her birthday. So when she was seven, we started celebrating a half birthday on 25 June and having a party then, that year with seven and a half candles on the cake.

Poppy celebrating her birthday on Christmas Day (Image credit: Gilly Bell)

"As a teenager, Poppy would have a birthday party at our house on New Year’s Eve. Her friends love that they know someone born on Christmas Day and her phone will be buzzing with messages all day long.

"These days, we meet in London each year for a half-birthday shopping spree. Poppy is my only child and best friend too. Having a Christmas Day baby has been magical for us."

We can't get enough of stories about real women over 40, from women cooking for homeless and vulnerable people at Christmas, and volunteering at a food bank, to the woman who trains guide dog puppies and even the 'real' Riot Women gigging through menopause.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

'I decided to take a chance – and fell in love at Christmas'

kwillis@email.com (Kim Willis) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Christmas can be a difficult time to be single, widowed or divorced. Once the parties peter out and friends start shuttering themselves away to celebrate with partners and families, it's easy to feel lonely.

Alison Wainwright, 48, tells us about the Christmas she decided to escape from it all – and ended up meeting her now-husband!

A lonely Christmas post-divorce

"It was Christmas 2016 and I already knew that 2017 was going to be difficult," begins Alison. "My marriage had ended so I took two weeks off work and on 19 December, my mum picked me up from my marital home in Edinburgh and drove me to her house in Yorkshire. She had previously booked a Christmas break in France and I insisted she didn’t cancel, but I had no friends in Yorkshire.

"I spent Christmas Day with my dad and sister, but the rest of the fortnight, I was alone.

"In the new year, I transferred my job as a research librarian to my company’s Leeds office, and in February, moved into a rented flat nearby.

"I promised myself that by the following Christmas I would have my life sorted, but before I knew it, December was looming again and I wasn’t in a better place.

"I was 40, flitting between my parents’ homes and going through a divorce. Plus, dating had been so disappointing, I’d sworn off men."

I yearned to be somewhere else

Alison Wainwright and Helder are now married (Image credit: Alison Wainwright)

"I yearned to be somewhere else. I’d been to Madeira before, and loved the vibrant flowers and hiking paths through mountains and forests, and along the coast. So I saved up and booked a flight for the week before Christmas.

"Settling into my window seat, a handsome man sat down next to me. I remember thinking that he could have all the elbow room he liked!

"He told me his name was Helder, that he worked in hospitality, lived in London and was heading home to Madeira to visit his parents.

"As conversation flowed, he gave me his number. ‘We could meet for coffee,’ he said. This chance encounter changed my life.

"A few days later, I hopped on a bus that happened to head towards Helder’s village and messaged to see if he was free. It was awkward at first, but once we got chatting, it was hard to stop.

(Image credit: Alison Wainwright)

"On 23 December, Helder invited me to a night market. As we strolled through the festive stalls, I felt dizzy with feelings for him and told myself I wasn’t breaking my ‘no men’ rule. This was just a holiday fling. As we said goodnight, I wanted Helder to kiss me, but he was respectfully shy.

"Christmas Day was bliss. I had a glass of fizz with breakfast in the hotel, then swam in the sea as beachside bars played festive songs. It felt empowering and therapeutic.

"Helder sent me a sweet text wishing me a happy Christmas and on Boxing Day, we coincidentally boarded the same flight home. As soon as the seat belt lights went off, Helder moved to sit next to me and when the plane landed, we finally kissed."

A new Christmas tradition

(Image credit: Alison Wainwright)

"For two and a half years, we had a long-distance relationship. We spoke on the phone every day – but that only made us miss each other more. Helder started looking for jobs in Yorkshire and, in May 2020, we moved in together.

"We married in July 2022, and have filled our lives with music festivals, volunteering and hiking.

"Every other Christmas, we return to Madeira and reminisce about how our story began. Hearing festive songs in the sunshine always reminds me of the year I took a chance and fell in love."

✢ Alison writes children’s books to raise money for charities – check out The Exchange Trip and Coco The Cat.

We can't get enough of stories about inspirational women over 40, from women cooking for homeless and vulnerable people at Christmas, and volunteering at a food bank, to the woman who trains guide dog puppies and even the 'real' Riot Women gigging through menopause.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

‘Female friends are human Wonderbras’ our columnist Kathy Lette reminds us

Kathy Lette — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Your female friends are like your favourite, most comfy pair of big knickers – they’ve got your a**e covered. Keeping with the underwear analogy, we’re also one another’s human Wonderbras – uplifting and supportive, making each other look bigger and better.

The power of female friendship is so strong, I find a girls’ night out more therapeutic than a wellness retreat. The only danger of a girls’ night out is being hospitalised from hilarity.

So why the great male myth that women aren’t funny? One of the reasons is that they’re terrified to think what it is we are being humorous about. Some men presume women spend the whole time talking about the length of their members, which is not true... We also talk about the width!

Scientists tell us that laughter is innate; it originates in the oldest part of the brain, the hypothalamus. Biologists maintain that laughter increases our biological fitness. Anthropologists have revealed that Inuits hold laughing competitions and women, in all cultures, laugh more often than men, especially in all-female groups. Why?

Why are women so funny...

In truth, some people are funny and others have funniness thrust upon them. As the butt of God’s biological joke, for the female of the species, it’s a case of laugh or cry. I mean, just think of all the trials women endure.

First off, there’s the shock of menstruation when you discover that you’ll be taken hostage by your hormones once a month.

Then there’s pregnancy, where everything swells to sumo wrestler proportions; followed by childbirth, where you stretch your birth canal the customary, what, five kilometres? Next comes mastitis and, before you know it, the menopause.

Then, just when things go quiet, what happens? You grow a beard! How can that be fair? I could make a macramé hanging basket with what’s sprouting out of my chin right now.

The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette

Still, we don’t whinge about it, do we girls? No. Our only motto is – laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you get salt in your champers!

But without doubt, if I didn’t have the cathartic camaraderie afforded by female friendship, I’d end up hatching abandoned bird eggs in my bra.

... and so eloquent

Men may be physically stronger but women are verbally more dexterous. Numerous studies have revealed that women use hundreds more words than men in our daily vocabularies.

My boyfriend maintains this is because there are only so many ways to say "Yes, dear."

But the fact remains that while most men grope towards a single entendre, women give excellent quip-lash. So, next time a man tells you that women ‘just aren’t funny’, explain the reason women don’t tell jokes is that we marry or work for them.

So, here’s to batting around bon mots with our human Wonderbras. I’m wearing one now and it’s so called because when you take it off, you wonder where your boobs have gone!

But one thing I never have to wonder about is where my friends have gone because I hold my friends close. Including you. So, thank you for being my pen pal.

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This article first appeared in the June 2024 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

'We started a new off-grid life at winter solstice 9 years ago today'

kwillis@email.com (Kim Willis) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Today marks the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the northern hemisphere. For many, it signifies the beginning of the end of darkness – the rebirth of the sun, and therefore of hopes and dreams for the future. It can be a time of reflection and transition.

That was certainly the case for Charis Watkinson, 40, and her husband Matthew, 47. Nine years ago today, they embarked on a new adventure: off-grid living at Beeview Farm, Pembrokeshire.

"In 2016, on the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice, Matthew and I arrived on the land that would become our new home – and our lives brightened. Having longed for the freedom of an off-grid lifestyle, we were desperate to move before Christmas," remembers Charis.

Charis and Matthew Watkinson's children Elsa and Billy are now aged 11 and eight (Image credit: Charis and Matthew Watkinson)

"We wanted to feel peaceful, connected to nature, and away from rent, utility bills and the daily grind.

"Christmas has always been special for us, and we even married on Christmas Eve 2013. When we met in 2008, we were stressed, overworked vets. We dreamt of leaving our jobs and living simply in our own eco-friendly home, with a view of the sea and a mountain behind us.

"In July 2011, we bought four acres of land in Pembrokeshire, and the following April, we moved from Essex to Newport to be nearby. It took until July 2016 for us to gain planning permission, which had a five-year deadline. We’d have to quickly learn to grow and sell our own produce."

‘We dreamt of leaving our jobs and a simple life’

"A month later, we shifted an empty horsebox into one of the fields. We installed a wood burner, and huge sliding windows that gave us incredible sea views. Although it was still primitive, we moved in on that winter solstice, when our eldest, Elsa, was two.

"Gazing across the stunning landscape, I couldn’t believe we were finally living our dream.

(Image credit: Charis and Matthew Watkinson)

"Our priority was keeping Elsa warm with snowsuits, hats and gloves during the day, and woolly socks, hot-water bottles and sleeping bags at night, but she never seemed to notice the cold.

"We had already installed solar panels, so we had electricity and heating, but it felt so cosy and exciting to cuddle up next to the wood burner with our little girl."

"In a bubble of gratitude, we watched the sun set over land we could now call ours."

"That year, we had a tiny Christmas tree and enough power stored from solar panels to watch The Snowman. With a portable gas hob and no oven, Christmas dinner was pies warmed on the wood burner.

"We gave Elsa a second-hand wooden mud kitchen and watched her play with it for hours. We knew we had a lot of hard work ahead, planting trees and setting up vegetable beds, extending the house and keeping chickens, but it was magical.

"In a bubble of gratitude, we watched the sun set over land we could now call ours.

(Image credit: Charis and Matthew Watkinson with their children Elsa and Billy)

"Our son Billy arrived the following Christmas, on 20 December, prompting an extension to the horsebox. We’ve now also added beehives and chickens, a wind turbine, firepit, an outdoor shower and a barrel for a washing machine.

"Last year, we upgraded the solar panels to boost our electricity supply, and bought an electric toaster and kettle. It felt like a luxury after so many years using a grill to toast bread, and waiting 10 minutes for tea!

"The only bill we pay is council tax.

"At Christmas, I make gifts of chutney and a delicious blackberry vinegar. Matthew and I buy charity shop presents for each other. As we keep making improvements, every Christmas is more special than the last.

"But none will ever beat that first year, when we’d just arrived, and were giddy with joy and anticipation for the life we were about to build."

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

With Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s hit DIY show back on TV soon, we spoke to real women doing it for themselves

Kate Puttick — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:42:25 +0000

With Amanda Holden and Alan Carr (fresh from his Celebrity Traitors win) unveiling not one but two new treats from their hit brand of DIY/travel show this week – Amanda & Alan's Spanish Christmas special, plus new series Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, freshly confirmed for early January – we’re getting ready to enjoy more of their reality/comedy exploits from the comfort of our sofas.

If your viewing attitudes have been anything like ours, you may have also thought, “Better them than me” as the pair set about, each series, on their quest to transform a crumbling European building into a gorgeous contemporary palace – with much slapstick chaos ensuing along the way.

And it sounds like the new Greek series will offer more of the same, with the pair admitting in their early press releases that “this was probably the worst [house to start on] yet.”

Amanda added, “It didn’t have stairs inside, it didn’t have windows... oh yes, and there was a message in blood written on the door outside!”

Amanda and Alan mid-discussion over paint shadesBBC/Voltage TV

Amanda and Alan at a stone merchants in Greece. Every series sees the pair don a new 'uniform' – this time white dungarees to accentuate their tansBBC/Voltage TV

In Amanda and Alan's Christmas special of their Spanish Job series they revisit the beautiful green-tiled guesthouse they renovated in the last seriesBBC/Voltage TV

Breaking walls down

Much of the show’s comedy is centred around the notion that, at first glance, Amanda and Alan do not look like your average hearty “get stuck in” types. They play up their lack of skills for laughs, often roping in brawny local tradesmen when disaster strikes.

Essentially, of course, the joke is on them, as a few of the doubters are invited back for the Christmas special to bask in the glory of A’n’A’s actually pretty decent job on their latest home in Spain.

However, the caricature strikes a chord.

Indeed, a survey from earlier this year showed that a worrying 71% of UK women confessed to aligning with the statement “I am not confident at any form of DIY”.

The impact of learning to do it yourself

But what if that didn’t have to be the case? Around the country we found a growing number of DIY 'evening schools' often run by and for women and other groups who are often underrepresented in the DIY world.

Starting by taking a tiling course myself – at London’s magical grotto-like The Good Life Centre in Southwark – I was amusingly told that I was “the muckiest pup in the group.”

But I also took the opportunity to ask the centre's founder, Alison Winfield-Chislett, who is also author of The Girl’s Guide to DIY, whether she’d ever been positively surprised or vindicated by the progress of attendees, particularly women, on her course. Her answer was “absolutely.”

"So this woman came to one of my courses and I asked [the attendees] why they were here. She burst into tears, and it transpired that she and her husband had purchased a retirement house. He had gutted it and then sadly, soon after died. So she was living in a completely gutted house without any skills. She stayed in my mind."

Stories like this are surprisingly common. I've spoken to a range of women who have refused to let the stereotypes win – for a range of reasons we’ll explore here.

A huge independence boost

Claire Bennett says DIY training imbued her with a new set of skills (Image credit: Claire Bennett)

Claire Bennett, 47, is a lecturer in radiography based in Bristol and a mother of two teenagers. When her husband died suddenly in March 2023, she says, “my life suddenly changed in a split second.”

“He did all the DIY, the garden, and stuff. I did all the cooking and cleaning,” she admits. “With all of the traumatic experiences, it took me a long time, but after two and a half years [of seeking help from tradespeople] I thought, 'I'm just paying people to do jobs for me at the moment. But I've got a long time ahead, by myself. And... I need to show [the children] that we can do this. We can do life.' I wanted to be a role model.”

That’s when she decided to do a course at Bristol’s BePractical centre. “I wanted to do a course so I could understand things in the house,” she continues. “But also, then to teach [my kids] because they haven't got their dad any more. I want to be able to give them some skills and make them more independent."

Demystifying houses

Jo Bonwick told us about the days of her joy at her first DIY achievement: plumbing a washing machine (Image credit: Jo Bonwick)

It was a tragically similar story for another Be Practical Centre (Bristol) course alumni, Jo Bonwick, who is a former COO and mother of two from Hampshire.

“I lost my husband a couple of years ago,” she begins. “All of the sorts of things that he did, I just had to get somebody to do.”

“[My husband and I] shared every task in a very 1950s way. Well, not totally, but my husband was in the trade, so naturally if something wanted doing, he'd get the drill out. So I hadn't even lifted the screwdriver.”

Attending the BePractical course “demystified” many of the processes involved with house maintenance, says Jo. “The first thing I did – and anybody that does DIY will go, 'Well, that's not difficult, is it?' – was I plumbed my washing machine in [when I moved into my new house]. I felt just such a massive sense of achievement.”

Build confidence with tradespeople

Caroline Henn is the founder of BePractical (and incidentally cited by many of her students as an inspiration herself). She describes some of the more teeth-clenchingly frustrating anecdotes she has heard from participants.

“I've had customers coming through the door saying that they've had tradespeople working in their street,” she says, “and they have been charged different prices than their neighbours because they're a woman on their own. Which absolutely infuriates me. That should not be happening and should be challenged.”

Among the lessons she most wants to impart is what to do when the course is over: “I do an awful lot of encouraging people to understand how their homes work. And I send them home after my beginner's course with homework to go and identify where their isolation valves are and all their pipework.

"I think knowledge is so powerful and I think it's an area where people feel like it's a bit like magic and we're not going to understand it and it isn't.”

Deploy your patience and creativity

(Image credit: Laura Nicholson)

As head of buying at B&Q, Laura Nicholson was already a dab hand at getting crafty, but even with her credentials she admits to some misgivings when it came to tackling buying her first home: “It marked a turning point. It needed refurbishment and modernising, and I was nervous but excited. Starting out in life, money was tight, so I learned to stretch my resources and my skills.

"I got the basics down: hanging pictures, setting up shelves, doing small gardening jobs.”

The difference, she says, was having some great role models growing up: “I grew up in a single-parent home, where my mum was my first role model for practical living. Her mantra was simple but powerful: ‘Try to do it yourself first.’ Watching her tackle household tasks, I learned that with a little patience and creativity, most problems could be solved with your own two hands.”

When it comes to tackling micro-aggressions, particularly when shopping for tools and DIY materials in B&Q or other hardware stores, Laura advises: “Ask our store teams for guidance, no question is a silly one. Remember you’re more capable than you think.”

In terms of boosting confidence, she also has a few suggestions: “Why not join a DIY group on Facebook and share your projects with your friends who will help boost your confidence with their unwavering love and support? And keep track of your DIY firsts to see how your confidence builds. You can track your progress and treat yourself after each project with a treat or mini celebration.”

Alan Carr, when describing the new BBC series, reflected on how much he and Amanda have achieved and how there's always something more to learn. He says, “What makes this one really special is that even though we’re getting better at DIY, even when we saw the state of house at the beginning my heart genuinely sunk. But the transformation was mind-blowing.”

Amanda & Alan's Spanish Christmas airs on Mon 22 Dec 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job will begin on BBC One on Friday 2 January 2026.

'I cook Michelin-star food on Christmas Day – here's what I've learned about creating exceptional dinners'

Georgia Green — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Whether you’re providing Christmas lunch for the family (plus vegan friends, overbearing in-laws and tantrumming toddlers) or having friends round for nibbles and drinks, it can feel daunting to cook at scale.

From planning dishes to please a crowd to nailing your timings, there's a lot to consider when cooking Christmas dinner and treats. Like the party planner who throws Christmas dos for hundreds of people, someone who knows all about it is Hélène Darroze, chef patron at three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Connaught in London. Hélène serves up Christmas delights to hundreds of diners every December. Here she shares her experiences and words of encouragement with us.

"Our guests make their Christmas Day bookings very early and naturally they want to know what will be on the menu – so Christmas preparations start in July," reveals Hélène, 58, who lives with her daughters Charlotte, 18, and Quiterie, 16.

(Image credit: Justin De Souza)

"At a fine-dining restaurant, nobody expects the traditional festive meal with all the trimmings, so you won’t find a Christmas turkey here. Guests come to us because they love our philosophy of food, so I work with the produce of the season, and we usually do some poultry, oysters, caviar, scallops and lobster."

"I opened Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in 2008 – it wasn’t something I had planned but when I visited the hotel I fell in love with it. I shared many of its values – elegance, a focus on the details and always looking to reach the best for our guests. Now, I get to cook in one of the most beautiful places in London.

"Christmas is a magical time to be at the hotel. It’s decorated beautifully, fires crackle in the hearths and Santa Claus is in the lobby giving out presents. It’s also the busiest service of the year."

Hélène's pro tip for Christmas dinner

The chef's table at the restaurant (Image credit: Jérôme Galland)

"Rely on excellent-quality products that require minimal fuss and preparation to make them taste amazing," advises Hélène. "Top-quality poultry, good country bread, smoked salmon, thick cream… if the products are of high quality, that’s all you need to enjoy a wonderful meal."

Check out the woman&home Christmas food award winners for our top recommendations this year.

How we feed hundreds each day

"We seat more than 80 people for lunch and around 60 for dinner – mostly families and lots of repeat guests who come every year. My team of 25 cooks and serves as usual, but with the pressure turned up!

"On Christmas Day, we have to be more rigorous with our organisation – we can’t prepare anything in advance – but every person knows their job inside out.

"The most challenging part is timings. The lunch guests will often finish later and you can have early customers in the evening, so it can be a rush between the two services to reset the dining room.

"At the end of the day, we celebrate with a glass of champagne."

What I serve at home

The lobby of the Connaught at Christmas (Image credit: The Connaught Hotel)

After a busy Christmas service at The Connaught, Hélène says the food at home is a little more relaxed (though it still sounds stunning). "When I cook for my family on the big day, it’s a far less grand affair, possibly a capon and oysters or scallops, and we’ll play games and go for a walk on the beach.

"Growing up in a family of chefs, I spent many childhood Christmases in the kitchen of my family’s restaurant, L’Auberge Le Relais in the south-west of France, learning how to cook from my father.

"And when they were younger, my daughters Charlotte and Quiterie would also join me at The Connaught. They’d have lunch in my office, and I’d have some food with them and then take them to visit Santa Claus.

"But I thrive in the busyness of a Christmas hosting hundreds of people – the pressure is all just part of the fun!"

The main dining room at Hélène Darroze at The Connaught (Image credit: Jérôme Galland)

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

I've been a professional Christmas party planner for 40 years – here's how I create a night to remember

Georgia Green — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:30:00 +0000

Christmas party season has begun! Are you throwing a Christmas drinks party for the neighbours, or having a dinner and dancing do with work?

Festive hosting can be a massive undertaking. From answering guests' queries about which Christmas party outfit they should wear and where they should park, to ensuring everyone has a full glass and a glad heart, the labour required can be Herculean. Now imagine catering for hundreds, or even thousands, of people – the hostess with the mostest responsibilities!

Liz Taylor, 69, is a professional party planner who throws huge Christmas events for her high-profile clients. From setting up snow machines to flying in Diana Ross, she reveals how she pulls off a cracker of a Christmas – and how you can do it too (don't forget to check out the woman&home Christmas food award winners for a helping hand).

"I love the buzz at Christmas – there are always so many parties to go to, although I prefer organising them to attending," says Liz, who lives in Chester and has two adult daughters, Goldie, 40, and Katie, 39.

"I threw my first ever party at The Midland Hotel in Manchester in 1985. During a chance meeting with the hotel’s director of sales, I discovered they were struggling to find someone to organise a client event.

"I hadn’t done any professional planning before, but I had a natural talent for organisation.

"I knew Chester Harriott (Ainsley Harriott’s dad), who was the resident pianist at a local jazz club, so I got him to play. It was a huge success. Soon I was planning parties for the cast of Coronation Street and Manchester United Football Club.

"In 1996, I established the Taylor Lynn Corporation with my then business partner, Dianne Lynn (I bought Dianne out in 2015). Being based in Manchester, we were big fish in a small tank and our reputation grew fast."

Liz's top Christmas party tip

"You can elevate any soirée with a few simple details," Liz advises us.

"Fairy lights up the pathway; choose a cocktail, like mulled wine, and serve it in creative vessels (think milk bottles or jam jars); and add name places with personal messages to each guest for seated dinners."

Shop party pieces

Twigs

Glitter Glass Charms

Add a touch of festive sparkle with these glittery glass charms, which can double up as party favours or be reused at your next party – especially as the star design isn't exclusively Christmassy.

Anthropologie

Zaza Lustred Martini Glasses (Set of 2)

Treat yourself to these beautiful new pearlescent cocktail glasses that feel elegant and subtly festive for hosting. They'll feel lovely for intimate get-togethers at Christmas, New Year's Eve and beyond.

The White Company

Glow LED Candle – Medium

Sleek and simple, of all the best flameless candles that we've tested, this is the one that tricked most people into thinking it was the real thing – thanks to the real wax outer and warm ivory shade and little touches like its irregular flickering and glowing pattern.

Fruits for Drinks

Freeze Dried Orange Garnish

Don't forget to add a flourish to your festive drinks to show you care. These freeze dried slices of orange make it easy to add decoration and extra flavour to cocktails and mulled wine – no slicing endless oranges this year!

Culinary Concepts London

Emerald Glass Port Decanter With Stopper

This emerald green decanter feels incredibly luxurious, but is currently on sale. Bring it out to serve a tipple with a platter of cheese and charcuterie later in the evening for top hosting brownie points.

Dibor

Vintage Embossed Wine Glasses (set of 4)

We couldn't resist showing you another beautiful set of glasses, because you can never have enough special glasses, can you? Our only reservation about these is that the dopamine-inducing colours and tactile moulded patterns may be too nice to share with friends.

Some of my favourite Christmas parties

You can certainly pick up some Christmas hosting tips from some of Liz's memorable parties – and one lesson she's taught us is to go big at this magical time of year.

"My biggest strength has always been my creativity, and Christmas is a time when I can let my imagination run wild," Liz tells us.

"One year, I was asked to throw a Narnia-themed party – we built a wardrobe full of furry coats to walk through, then guests were greeted by a snow queen and two real huskies, and finally the room was full of icicles and snow machines. It was magnificent."

A post shared by Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC) (@taylorlynncorp)
A photo posted by on

"The more outrageous I can go with the decor, the better.

"For a famous footballer, we did a red mirror bar overflowing with candy canes, ivy and glittery poinsettia.

"Another time, I created a Christmas tree ceiling – it was covered in green foliage and dripping with baubles.

"There’s no such thing as never for me and my team (which includes my eldest daughter Goldie), whether that’s making it snow inside or flying in Diana Ross to perform at a Wicked-themed party at a private estate in Stoke."

Plan the whole experience

"Christmas parties have changed over the years. People want an immersive experience," Liz continues. "These days, I’m more likely to be asked to source street-food vendors, bespoke cocktails and a gospel choir.

And she tells us that, as always, the key to a successful Christmas party lies in the planning and the finer details, such as remembering to include plenty of information on the invites.

"The key to making parties work on a huge scale is thinking of them as a journey. It starts from when the guests receive their invitation and doesn’t finish until you’ve planned how they will get home afterwards," she says.

"People would be blown away by how much administration goes into planning my events. When I’m dealing with 1,000 people in one room, it has to be micro-managed – I split them into four groups of 250 and think of them as four different parties, so that might mean having different entrances and areas of entertainment."

What are Liz's own parties like?

"I love entertaining, but keep my own parties to a smaller scale. I always throw a pre-Christmas dinner party for friends, where I get someone in to make us cocktails.

"But by the time Christmas Day comes, I’m done with hosting – Goldie has her family, and my other daughter, Katie, lives in New York, so I spend my Christmases at the Lone Star Hotel in Barbados. A band I manage plays there and I’m lucky to be invited as their guest each year. It’s the perfect way to unwind – before it all starts again in January."

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

13 ways to spread cheer and do good this Christmas – and 6 of them don't cost a penny

Rachel.Ogden@freelance.ti-media.com (Rachel Ogden) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

'Tis better to give than to receive, as the saying goes. If you’ve been thinking about giving your time at Christmas, or wondering what you could do to help others' lives, this might be just the nudge you need to take action. From hosting a festive charity bake to giving your time to lonely people, there are lots of ways to spread goodwill. Here are 13 ideas – which one will you try today?

1. Donate gifts for sick children

Christmas can be a sad or scary time for a child who’s not at home with their family. Make their festive season joyful by donating to a children’s hospital or hospice: most have advice on their websites as to what gifts you can give. Many ask for vouchers or donations so they can buy specific items, ensuring presents are suited to age (teens are often forgotten).

Some charities appealing for gifts for children in need are:

Action for Children Secret Santa appeal
Centre Point virtual gifts, such as a home-cooked Christmas dinner
Operation Christmas Child filled shoebox appeal
Salvation Army Christmas present appeal

Bonus points if you buy the gifts through a charity shop, such as the ones below.

2. Shop at charity shops

Buying your cards, wrapping paper, gifts and hosting essentials from charity shops, wherever possible

Barnado's

Winter Woodland Hare Design Filled Cushion

Children's charity Barnardo's has an online shop and an eBay shop stacked with beautiful new and preloved treasures, such as these gorgeous cushions.

Marie Curie

Light Up Baby Reindeer

Hospice charity Marie Curie also has some delightful gifts and more in its online shop, for children and grown-ups.

Shelter

Green Vintage Wrapping Paper - 4 Sheets

Support housing and homelessness charity Shelter by stocking up on wrapping paper, cards and more in its online shop.

3. Try a random act of kindness

Why not drop off an anonymous present at your neighbour’s door, or you could tape 50p pieces to a toy vending machine to delight the next little customer? Buy a coffee for the person behind you in the queue and soak up their smile.

4. Support your local food bank

Donate non-perishable foods, toiletries and other items at the food bank collection point in your local supermarket – check the BankTheFood app for details of what’s in short supply near you. Want to do more? Host a collection for your food bank at your work or school. Or you could volunteer at a food bank.

5. Send cards to a nursing home

A jolly robin or Christmas tree card will brighten someone’s day. Get in touch with the home beforehand, then recruit others, including the kids, and get writing. Introduce yourself and share a favourite festive memory.

Here are some lovely charity Christmas cards to raise a smile:

Marie Curie

Festive Puffins Christmas Cards - 10 Pack

An unusual but beautiful card design.

Marie Curie

Robin Christmas Cards - 10 Pack

You can't go wrong with a robin – we love the colours in this one.

Barnardo's

Stained Glass Bethlehem Scene Cards – 10 Pack

A twist on a traditional nativity scene in this pop-out card that feels really special.

Barnardo's

Frosted Winter Tree Christmas Cards – 10 Pack

A simply magical snowy tree woodland scene.

Marie Curie

Mince Spies Christmas Cards - 10 Pack

A nice tongue-in-cheek option that will make people smile.

Oxfam

Cats Christmas Card – 8 Pack

Brilliant and so much fun for any cat lovers.

6. Hold a charity bake sale

You could do this at your workplace, after an evening class or from your garden gate. Recruit some fellow bakers and advertise your sale in advance. Don’t forget to cater for dietary requirements for wider appeal.

7. Join Christmas Jumper Day

Get your work, school or circle of friends involved in fundraising while dressing up. Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day is on Thursday 11 December. Sign up online and encourage others to wear their silly sweater (or a chic Christmas jumper, if you prefer) – at a price!

8. Visit your elderly neighbour

It doesn’t take much time to check that an older person is safe, warm and well. Make sure they have essentials, such as bread and milk, and knock at their door when you can – you may be the only person they’ve spoken to in days.

9. Donate and make a big difference

Why not donate money to your favourite charity – or find a new cause that’s close to your heart? If funds are low, have a wardrobe clear-out and take some winter clothing to your nearest charity. Or sign up to give blood – each donation could save or improve up to three lives.

10. Adopt an animal

The perfect way to help wildlife, most charities send updates throughout the year, so it’s a gift that keeps on giving. As well as exotic or endangered creatures, ask local shelters if they offer an adoption scheme, or care for nature in the UK. The Wildlife Trusts offers adoption for otters, bats, red squirrels and more.

11. Support a charity sport event

Look up your local Santa fun run or, if you’re near the capital, Santa in the City takes place 2-4 December. Last year, over 3,000 Father Christmases walked or ran through London’s financial district.

12. Volunteer

All sorts of charitable organisations will be glad of your time at Christmas, when many of them are busier than ever. Why not explore cooking at a soup kitchen to ensure vulnerable and homeless people have a hot meal over the winter.

Or give your time to Crisis at Christmas and you could be doing anything from welcoming those looking for support, to delivering festive hampers in the community.

13. Compliment everyone

Don’t overthink this. Simply say something nice about someone’s earrings, their smile, their shirt or how good they are at making coffee. Make it a genuine compliment and leave them feeling warm and fuzzy. Warning: you may enjoy doing this so much you carry it on into 2026.

We can't get enough of stories about inspirational women over 40, from the woman who trains guide dog puppies to the 'real' Riot Women gigging through menopause to the foster carer foregoing retirement to help vulnerable children.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

'I cook Christmas dinner for homeless and vulnerable people'

Rachel.Ogden@freelance.ti-media.com (Rachel Ogden) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:22:01 +0000

That fuzzy festive feeling is all around us. From a weepy TV ad to the shop windows packed with objects of desire, Christmas is a time of family togetherness, joy and abundance. But it’s also a day when people who rely on support from others may need an extra helping hand.

Thanks to millions of volunteers across the country who generously give their time, Christmas can be a season of hope and cheer, as well as reassurance, for the most vulnerable.

Nikki Harris, 44, from Hexham, Northumberland, is one such volunteer, doing good at Christmas by putting her own celebrations on hold to cook Christmas dinner for homeless and vulnerable people in her local area.

(Image credit: Salvation Army)

Nikki says, "Last year I cooked a three-course Christmas feast for 30 people at The Salvation Army in Consett, County Durham. Community members were invited to spend their day with us enjoying dinner, a service, games and the Royal Christmas message.

"My partner Martyn, 65, and I thought it was important to be there for anyone who needed us. I was a baby when I first attended a Salvation Army service with my parents, and I’ve been an active member for many years, running the parent and toddler group.

"Seeing others happy and spreading a little love makes me feel on top of the world."

"People know if they come to The Salvation Army they don’t get judged. They are taken as they are, and given lots of love. One couple cried when they were invited last year because they didn’t think it was for them, but it’s for everyone. I could weep myself when I hear some of the personal stories.

"Another volunteer told me that she’d lost her brother just two days before – she had still come so she didn’t let anybody down. We talked and embraced, and just had that moment.

"On Boxing Day I cook another full dinner and we have our family celebrations, sharing our experiences of the day before. I wouldn’t swap it for anything and I’ll definitely be volunteering again this Christmas."

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the December 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe today.

'Volunteering at a food bank has given my retirement purpose and value'

kwillis@email.com (Kim Willis) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

We've all seen news stories about the huge numbers of households that are finding themselves turning to food banks in recent years, and you may have wondered what you can do to help.

Trussell Trust 2025 statistics show a 51% increase in food bank usage in the past five years. Trussell food banks distributed 2.9 million emergency food parcels between April 2024 and March 2025 – with 1.02 million of these going to children.

This increase in those needing food banks has meant donations are in constant demand, especially at Christmas. You can do good at Christmas by donating items at your local supermarket – check the BankTheFood app for details of what’s in short supply near you. Want to do more? Host a collection for your food bank at your work or school. Or you could volunteer at a food bank. But what does a food bank volunteer actually do, and what's it like?

Sally Lamb, 69, is a retired primary school head teacher who volunteers two days a week at FareShare Greater Manchester. She lives in Stockport with her husband Steve, 70. She explains, "The school I worked at was in a challenging area, and I saw first-hand the impact of food insecurity on children. Hungry kids can’t concentrate. They worry about their parents and where their next meal is coming from. They can be stressed and distressed.

"I was grateful for FareShare, which fights hunger and food waste by redistributing surplus food to frontline charities, as it helped our local food bank – a lifeline for many local families.

"So when I retired in July 2020, I signed up as a volunteer. I’ve been at FareShare’s Greater Manchester warehouse for over four years now, sorting and packing food for its network of 8,000 charities, such as school breakfast clubs, homeless shelters and community cafes."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"It’s a huge operation and it’s humbling to be part of it. We’re one of the wealthiest countries in the world yet people still go hungry – it shouldn’t be happening.

"Volunteering has given my retirement purpose and value. I’ve used my teaching skills to support and mentor new volunteers, and I’ve learnt new skills, such as food safety and hygiene. Plus, moving kilo bags of food has been great for my core strength!

"I lead a busy retirement, but I’ve always thought that if you can volunteer, you should. If you’ve got the time, give it away, because time is the most precious gift we can give."

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We can't get enough of stories about inspirational women over 40, from the woman who trains guide dog puppies to the 'real' Riot Women gigging through menopause to the woman helping others find menopause-friendly products to the foster carer foregoing retirement to help vulnerable children.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

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This article first appeared in the June 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Buy a copy or subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

'I threw the javelin that struck my friend's head – and only forgave myself decades later'

Helen Renshaw — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Forgiving yourself can often be more difficult than forgiving other people, but it's an vital step in helping us move forward.

Lis Cashin, 55, from Buckinghamshire, is an author and mental health consultant. Her memoir This is Me is out now. Lis spent decades feeling responsible for the death of her friend, after she threw the javelin that hit her, and shares her journey to forgiveness here.

"As a 13-year-old, my teenage life was far from easy. I didn’t get on with my stepdad and was bullied at my girls’ grammar school. But on 15 July 1983, it was sports day and I was proud to have been picked to throw javelin for my house team, and determined to win a medal," Lis remembers.

This Is Me: My Journey to Mental Wellbeing

Lis' book discusses Sammy's tragic accident and its affect on her, and offers insights she has gained and practices she has learned that can give support and a roadmap to others who want to transform their own mental wellbeing and live happier and more fulfilled lives.

"When it was my turn to throw the javelin, I stood behind the line and waited, just as I’d been told. The whistle blew, I took my run-up and threw with all my might. The javelin flew straight at first, then veered towards my good friend Sammy, who was measuring distances.

"She seemed to see it, and there was a fleeting moment of relief as I felt sure she would duck out of the way. But it struck her head and she collapsed.

"The shock was overwhelming – I screamed and fell to my knees, my head in my hands. Teachers kept telling me that everything would be all right. But deep down, I already knew that life would never be the same again."

Lis aged 13 (Image credit: Lis Cashin)

After the accident

"Later, my mum drove me to the hospital to see Sammy, but she had been transferred to a neurological hospital. Sammy died there four days later – my mum took the call and my worst fears became reality.

"I was interviewed by the police, and one of them asked if I’d argued with Sammy that morning. It seemed as if they thought I’d done it on purpose, and I was terrified of going to prison. I never did, of course – it was an awful, tragic accident.

"But I spent the next three decades punishing myself every single day.

"Back at school, I felt everyone’s eyes on me. The bullying stopped and no one directly accused me of killing Sammy. Instead, everyone kept me at arm’s length. I became an outsider.

"At home, my stepfather forbade anyone from talking about what had happened.

"My older sister was supportive but the repercussions of the accident had affected her too. Although Sammy’s parents never blamed me and were incredibly compassionate, I retreated into what felt like a glass cage – life was happening all around me but I was trapped inside, looking out.

"There was no counselling, and I felt completely responsible for Sammy’s death and internalised the belief that I was evil.

"I buried myself in my studies and went to university, where I started to unravel. I self-medicated with drugs and got heavily into the clubbing scene – it gave me a sense of belonging.

"I was missing lectures and when my tutor called me, I started crying and couldn’t stop. She was supportive but I was let down by the medical profession. The doctor I spoke to was unsympathetic, but I did manage to continue at uni and obtain my degree."

Lis teaching in India (Image credit: Lis Cashin)

Suffering flashbacks

"During my 20s, I managed to hold down a job in sales but indulged in increasingly self-destructive behaviour. My drug use intensified and I was drawn to abusive men.

"I put on a confident front and didn’t talk to friends about what had happened. But I lived with the accident every day of my life, suffering flashbacks, nightmares, panic and rage. Now, I know I was living with undiagnosed PTSD but in my head, I was a bad person who deserved it all.

"In my late 20s, I realised my lifestyle was leading to disaster. I left London and spent much of my 30s travelling in India and Sri Lanka. I stopped taking drugs and explored meditation.

"Back in the UK, I retrained as a life coach, using techniques like mindfulness, and started learning to manage my trauma and apply self-compassion.

"But it wasn’t until my PTSD diagnosis at 46 that I began to heal properly. Trauma therapy took me back to the day of the accident and helped me to view it through a new, compassionate lens. I’d been terrified of looking inside myself because I thought I’d find a monster.

"Instead, I found a traumatised young girl, and began to understand that the responsibility for Sammy’s death did not lie with me but with the school. They should never have put a 13-year-old girl on the school field to measure the throws – it was against health and safety guidance. I was just an innocent teenager doing what I was told. Sammy and I were both victims that day."

Finding fulfilment

(Image credit: Lis Cashin)

"I’m still impacted by what happened but now, life is good. I never had a family of my own because I spent so many years believing some terrible retribution would happen if I did.

"But I have amazing friends and family, and find fulfilment working as a mental wellbeing consultant. I do a lot of public speaking, drawing on my personal experience, often in support of The Forgiveness Project, which shares stories of transformation to help others cope with pain and trauma in their own lives.

"Six years ago, I wrote a memoir called This is Me, which was an Amazon bestseller.

"I met with Sammy’s mum and told her I’d written the book in honour of Sammy’s life. I was so moved when she said, ‘Lis, you really need to live your life for you now. I have always wanted you to be happy.’

"I can finally say that I’ve forgiven myself. Yes, I threw the javelin but I no longer carry the blame. Looking back at 13-year-old me, I wonder how I found the strength to survive the trauma. It’s been a long road but I’m proud of who I am today."

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This article first appeared in the May 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

The true story behind My Secret Sister: 'she was that lost jigsaw piece'

Ellie Fennell — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Retired professional golfer Jenny Lucas (née Jenny Lee Smith), 76, was 54 when she discovered she had a twin sister, Helen Edwards. The sisters had been separated shortly after birth, with Jenny being sent to live with adoptive parents and Helen remaining with their birth mother and a stepfather who was verbally and physically abusive.

Unlike rekindling a teenage summer romance or reconnecting with a great friend after 20 years, the sisters had no shared history so have had to gradually fill in the gaps, remembering painful experiences and unearthing striking coincidences along the way.

Here, Jenny tells woman&home how the twins found out they were so closely related, how they developed a relationship, and came to write the bestselling book My Secret Sister about their experiences.

Pan

My Secret Sister by Helen Edwards and Jenny Lee Smith

Helen grew up in a pit village in Tyneside in the post-war years, with her neglectful mother and violent father. Sometimes she talked to an imaginary sister, the only one who understood her pain. Jenny was adopted at six weeks and grew up in Newcastle. An only child, she knew she was loved, and with the support of her parents she went on to become a golfing champion, but still she felt that something was missing... Neither woman knew of the other's existence until, in her 50s, Jenny went looking for her birth family and found her sister Helen. Together they searched for the truth about Jenny's birth – and uncovered a legacy of secrets that overturned everything Helen thought she knew about her family.

"For many years, I considered myself an only child. With cousins living just around the corner and loving parents, I had a wonderful childhood in Newcastle," begins Jenny. "Then, soon after my dad Syd died when I was 12, I discovered I was adopted. It wasn’t something my mum, Connie, wanted to discuss, so for years I just let it lie.

"My husband Sam and I eventually tracked down my birth mother, Mercia, in 2003. She welcomed us into her home and it was an emotional meeting where I discovered I had a sister called Helen Edwards, who knew nothing of me.

"Keen to find Helen, I posted on a website called Genes Reunited. Melanie, an unknown cousin, replied to say Helen was living in Texas with her husband Dennis and gave me her email address. I drafted a carefully worded message and I was ecstatic when she replied."

Jenny Lucas aged 18 months at the beach with her adoptive parents (Image credit: Jenny Lucas)

"Our stilted early interactions soon became friendly, sharing stories and chatting regularly on the phone. We discovered our childhoods had been hugely different. In contrast to me, Helen had not enjoyed a happy home life with Mercia and her stepfather.

"Amazingly, our paths had almost crossed many times. We had both spent a lot of time as children swimming in Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, and I’d had surgery in the same hospital where Helen worked as a nurse."

First meeting

"I was delighted when Helen told me she was returning to live in the UK, enabling us to finally meet in 2007, aged 58, at a hotel in Gosforth. It was surreal, with lots of hugs and tears. At this stage, we believed we were half-sisters, Helen having been told her birthday was 18 months after mine.

"We couldn’t believe how alike we were – from mannerisms, like how we talk and hold our coffee cups, to shared allergies and both owning chihuahuas.

"The results of a DNA test soon after we met were so similar that we were advised to take a specific twin test. It showed that we were not just half-sisters but twins, born to Mercia in 1948.

"I remember squealing with delight when Helen called me very early one morning to break the news – I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

"By this time, Mercia had passed away but after more research, we discovered we had been separated when we were six weeks old, as we think Mercia was just unable to cope with two babies."

(Image credit: SWNS Group)

"It’s been wonderful to spend time with Helen and my extended biological family. In 2018, we had a joint 70th birthday party in Newcastle, and it was so special seeing my grown-up children Katie, Ben and Josh with all their aunts, uncles and cousins.

"We live 350 miles away from each other – Helen is in the north east of England and I’m in Kent in the south east – so we don’t meet up as often as we’d like, but we phone or text all the time, and still have so much to chat about.

"Despite so many years apart, we have such a strong bond. I’d always felt there was something missing in my life; little did I know it was my twin sister! Helen was that lost jigsaw piece and I’m so glad I found her."

Helen Edwards aged 2 sitting in a garden with stepdad Tommy (Image credit: Helen Edwards)

Helen says of their story, "Learning I had a sister was both shocking and joyful. At times I’ve felt anger and resentment that we weren’t told but the book we wrote together, My Secret Sister, was cathartic.

"There were laughs and tears, but it helped lay many ghosts to rest, creating a strong foundation for our future.

"We’ve missed decades of each other’s lives and still regret that we never met our father, but we’ve come through it all stronger, happier and, most of all, together."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the June 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

'They're intelligent, curious, loving' – what it's like to train guide dog puppies

kwillis@email.com (Kim Willis) — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We're a nation of animal and dog lovers, and can't get enough of our loyal, clever and downright gorgeous four-legged friends.

We also know that when thinking about the challenges disabled people face, assistance dogs and guide dogs can greatly enhance a person's quality of life. So what's it like to work as a puppy trainer, helping dogs to develop the skills they need to become trusted assistants?

"It’s hard work – puppies have sharp teeth and like to gnaw, and they don’t arrive toilet-trained. However, it’s also fun and rewarding," says Wendy Hackles, 57, who has been a volunteer Guide Dogs puppy raiser for 27 years. She lives in Sunderland, UK, with her husband Carl, 57. Here she tells us how she became a guide dog puppy raiser.

"It’s hard work but also fun and rewarding," says Wendy (Image credit: Katie@Bonny Dog Photography)

"Cradling my baby in my arms, I started chatting to another mum at a baby group. It was 1988 and I was fascinated by her because she was able to be a confident, brilliant mum thanks to Yvette, the Labrador guide dog at her side.

"Inspired, when our children were seven, five and three, in 1997, Carl and I took in our first Guide Dogs puppy, Zola.

"I think I read about puppy raising in a magazine, although back then it was called puppy walking. We have since looked after nine puppies."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"They come to us at eight weeks old and we teach them basic commands, such as how to sit, wait, stay and lie down.

"The charity covers all essential costs, and provides ongoing support and training.

"These intelligent, curious, loving animals are destined to change someone’s life."

(Image credit: Katie@Bonny Dog Photography)

"At around 13 months, they leave for the next stage of training. It breaks my heart when they go.

"But I don’t need to convince myself to do it all again. I hear about people going blind in adulthood and becoming housebound for years, but a guide dog can give them their freedom.

"They become someone’s eyes – and being part of their journey is my honour."

We can't get enough of stories about inspirational women over 40, from the 'real' Riot Women gigging through menopause to a flexible working activist to the woman helping others find menopause-friendly products to the foster carer foregoing retirement to help vulnerable children.

Find their stories and many more in our Inspirational Women pages, and in woman&home magazine.

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the June 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

Meet the 'real' Riot Women: the band gigging through menopause

Wendy Rigg — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

BBC1’s six-part drama Riot Women is sure to have us all glued to our screens – not least because it’s written by Happy Valley’s Sally Wainwright.

Actors Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne and Amelia Bullmore play five older women who form a punk band in a moving story of the power of female friendship, resilience and midlife. The show is a work of fiction, rather than based on a particular true story or one particular band – though some of Sally Wainwright's real experiences inspired the series.

That being said, there are real women over 50 rocking out in bands across the country. We met a five-piece, all-female group called The Ukadelix to find out what its like.

(Image credit: Ukadelix)

Just like the Riot Women, The Ukadelix spend their evenings playing live to crowded venues – though unlike the Hebden Bridge-based Riot Women, The Ukedelix gig around their home turf of London, where they’ve built up quite a following. Some fans come to almost every gig and the hardcore ones call themselves the Groupadelix. In 2020, the band also released a self-titled CD.

While the band was conceived in 2015, its roots were planted five years earlier when harmonica and ukulele player Gill Abela met Heather Gilmore, an accordion and fellow ukulele player, in a pub and was invited to play in a band she was part of. When that fell apart, Gill suggested that they start their own group.

Next to join was Gill’s friend Kirsty McNeil, who plays ukulele and drums. Kirsty knew Gill’s ex-partner and at Gill’s 35th birthday party, they met for the first time. The final two members were Heather’s neighbour, Michele Petit-Jean, who also plays the ukulele, and her flatmate, bass guitarist Angie Bain.

For all five members, music is a way of life and they aren’t showing signs of slowing down any time soon.

‘I STARTED THE BAND WHEN I WAS 55’

"It’s incredible when the crowd sings along to songs we’ve written" says Gill Abela, one of the band's songwriters (Image credit: Ukadelix)

Gill Abela, 65, plays harmonica and ukulele, and is a music specialist who teaches adults with learning difficulties. She has a son, Oscar, 30, who is a sound engineer. "The Ukadelix started off as a ukulele band," Gill explains.

"We had a bit of percussion, but gradually introduced the other instruments. It’s not really a ukulele band any more, but the name stuck.

"Today, Angie is the perfectionist, Heather is the organiser, Michele is the cheeky one and Kirsty does the band’s social media. We all sing and pick songs, then Angie and Heather work out the arrangements. Michele and I are the songwriters, and we have a brilliant sound engineer called Martin.

"When we hear the crowd singing along to the music we’ve written ourselves, it’s incredible.

"I had learnt to play the guitar at 14, and was in bands through my teens and 20s, but hadn’t played seriously since my son was born. When I hit 50, I thought, if I don’t take it back up now, I never will. I’m a music teacher and travel by bike to visit my students, so a ukulele was an easy instrument to transport with me.

"In the early days, it was just me, Heather and Kirsty. We hadn’t been playing together long when Heather landed us our first gig at a festival in a local park. But things didn’t take off until 2019, when we found our style.

"I had heard someone playing harmonica at a party and thought, ‘I’d love to play that,’ so I had lessons, then continued teaching myself through videos. Then Kirsty brought in percussion.

"The only real row we’ve had was picking a photo for the CD. No one liked any of them, so we ended up using a picture of Michele’s dog.

"I’m not going to pretend being in a band is easy, though. You don’t get to this stage in life without things going wrong. I have carpal tunnel, which causes pain in my hand and fingers, but I won’t stop playing.

"Music helps you heal. I don’t know what I’d do without it."

‘CARVING OUT THAT TIME FOR MYSELF WAS PRECIOUS’

"I once froze onstage, in front of a big a audience," says Kirsty McNeil, the band's drummer (Image credit: Ukadelix)

Kirsty McNeil, 57, is the band’s drummer. She’s a journalist and lives in Walthamstow with her husband Pete, an actor, and their daughter Carmel, who’s 19. "I managed bands in my 20s, but I was so used to being behind the scenes that when Gill suggested I join The Ukadelix as a ukulele player shortly before my 50th birthday, it took me ages to agree," says Kirsty.

"However, after a lot of thought, I decided to give it a go. While I loved the ukulele, I’d always had a penchant for percussion. When we decided to diversify, drums seemed like the perfect transition.

"For my 50th, the band bought me a snare drum, then I added to it. As the drummer, I have the most kit, so lots of lifting, which is good for the bingo wings!

"When the band started, my daughter Carmel was only 10, so the time I carved out for myself was precious. Now she’s older, but I’m still busy. Yet whatever is going on, we get together and play.

"Of course, there have been times when life has become overwhelming, such as when my mum had a fall and needed more care. I fell apart for a while during perimenopause and menopause: sometimes I would leave essential bits of kit at home and have to dash off. I even froze in the middle of a song in front of a big audience.

"Gigging isn’t easy, especially if I’ve travelled miles in traffic only to play for 20 minutes. At times like these, I’ve considered leaving, but I have always stopped myself. All of the hard stuff in life gets offset by being in the band.

"We have been blown away by the support we get. Heather once said, ‘Every time we step onstage, we’re making a political statement.’ I think that’s so true because we are older women, doing what we love, in a traditionally male-dominated business."

‘LOTS OF WOMEN ASK US HOW TO GET STARTED. I SAY: JUST PLAY’

"Make it up and you will find the magic happening," says Michele Petit-Jean, who plays ukelele and guitar and co-writes the band's songs with Gill (Image credit: Ukadelix)

Michele Petit-Jean, 71, plays the ukulele and, as an illustrator, creates the artwork for the band. She divides her life between Hastings and London, and has a dog called Dulcie. "Growing up, there was always music at home. My mum and grandma played the piano, and the latter gave me a ukulele when I was eight," she says.

"For my 15th birthday, I received an acoustic guitar. In my 20s, I headed off to the big smoke, and met Angie. We ended up in a couple of bands together, playing the pub circuit.

"Years ago, I donated two of my old ukuleles to a charity shop and, shortly after, Heather brought Gill round for a ukulele lesson. To my surprise, Gill had my two ukuleles! She had been thrilled to have found them for a fiver each. We couldn’t stop laughing at the coincidence.

"I’m the oldest member of the band, so I have a few health problems, such as arthritis in my fingers and toes. Performing helps, as it loosens them up, and rehearsals are a lot of fun.

"Lots of women ask us how to get started in their own bands, and I say to them, just play. Make it up and you will find the magic happening."

‘THE BAND HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER’

"The impact our music can have is amazing," says Angie Bain, the bass guitar player (Image credit: Ukadelix)

Angie Bain, 66, plays bass guitar, and is an actor. Her partner Ged is also an actor, and she shares a flat with Ukadelix band member Michele.

"When I was 10, I formed a band with my friends called the Melody Makers. Later, at drama school, being able to play the clarinet snagged me my first job, taking care of the music on a folk country show. My acting work now is varied, ranging from musical theatre to film and TV roles.

"Through Covid and periods of unemployment, being in The Ukadelix has been an absolute lifesaver. During lockdown, each of us would practise at home using recordings and, when we could, we’d get together in a park.

"The impact our music can have is amazing. After a show once, a woman told me she was having a difficult time caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease. She said, ‘It bucks me up when I come and see you, and makes me feel good about the world.’ That stayed with me. It makes all the hard work worthwhile."

‘I push the others – we don’t want it to get stale’

"I’ve always loved harmonies," says Heather Gilmore, who plays accordion, ukulele and melodica (Image credit: Ukadelix)

Heather Gilmore, 69, plays accordion, ukulele and melodica, and is an actor. She has a daughter, Jazz, who’s 30. She says, "I’ve always loved harmonies. As a child, I’d sing along to songs and learnt the piano. Then at college, I played clarinet and keyboard.

"After working as a PA for a few years, at 27, I decided to do a community theatre arts degree.

"I first experimented with the accordion when I was working at a community arts group.

"In The Ukadelix, I am the one who pushes everything. I’ll sort out rehearsals and nudge people to be working on new songs because we don’t want it to get stale.

"There are challenges, as I have an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa. It’s been a slow, degenerative process, and now I have around 5% of my sight left. In one eye, all I see is light. I’ve had to develop ways of coping. I can’t glance at chord sheets like everyone else, so I write them out in massive letters.

"Stage set-ups can be tricky, but the girls know not to move anything. If I know where everything is, I can stay independent.

"I very much appreciate the band’s support, especially in getting me and my gear to and from gigs – that’s a favour I can never return!"

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

Why this photo of Red Roses star Abbie Ward and her daughter hits so hard

heidi.scrimgeour@futurenet.com (Heidi Scrimgeour) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:19:57 +0000

I’d hardly finished my coffee or opened my emails this morning, when my editor emailed me an image that she said had “undone” her. I clicked: Abbie Ward, of the England women’s rugby team, celebrating the World Cup win at Twickenham with her two-year-old daughter, Hallie, in her arms, taking it all in.

I could instantly see why my editor was moved. You don’t have to be a rugby fan to find this image powerful - it's another milestone for women’s sport, every bit as iconic as the image of Chloe Kelly swinging her shirt around her head after scoring the winning goal for England against Germany in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final.

It's not just a photograph of a little girl watching her mother lift a trophy in front of a record-breaking crowd - it's a snapshot of a world in which your mum playing rugby for England is normal.

Of course, it's important not to over-celebrate what should never have been a big deal in the first place. Women excelling at the highest levels in sport should be standard, not something that makes me sob into my Monday morning coffee. But that’s exactly why my editor was so moved; for two-year-old Hallie Ward and an entire generation of girls and boys, this is the norm. They'll never know a world in which girls don't play the same sports as men.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Having grown up in the '80s and '90s as a distinctly un-sporty kid, I'm now the mother of a 12-year-old girl who lives for football and is part of a national development squad for talented youth players. So I relish every image that rewrites the toxic messages I grew up accepting - that girls who want to play boys' sports are 'unladylike' (yes, really, those exact words) or trying to be something they’re not. We heard that message loud and clear. My daughter, on the other hand, finds the idea of girls not playing football as laughable as the fact that the only phone I had growing up was fixed to the kitchen wall.

As the first contracted Red Roses player to have a baby since the team went professional in 2019, Ward famously returned to elite rugby just 17 weeks after giving birth. She's spoken passionately about motherhood in sport, and says picturing Hallie helps her to persevere in the toughest of training sessions.

I'm not about to reduce Abbie Ward's accomplishments to the how-does-she-juggle-it-all trope that, incidentally, we never trot out for male athletes when they're pictured on the sports pitch with their kids. I’m not even here to say how grateful I am that no one asked her, after that World Cup win, how she manages to combine motherhood with a world-class sporting career - because that's not a question female athletes should ever have to fend off. But I am here to celebrate the fact that we're finally seeing it as unremarkable that a woman can help lead her country to victory on the rugby pitch at the same time as raising her child.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

There was another image from the World Cup final that really spoke to me. This was a fleeting moment captured in the stands. A young girl was swept into her dad’s arms as the crowd, who broke the world record for attendance at a women's rugby match, leapt to their feet to celebrate the Red Roses making history. Father and daughter wore identical expressions of total joy. He only stopped pumping the air long enough to wipe away a tear.

If this sounds like sentimentality, it's not. I was at university in Twickenham in the late ’90s, so rugby fixtures dictated every aspect of our student life, from what time we headed out for the night to how rowdy public transport would be. But the idea of a professional England women’s team playing there, never mind a sell-out World Cup final, was something I never imagined could happen. Yet here we are; England's women's squad are the rugby world champions.

Best of all, Hallie Ward won't ever be told that rugby isn't ladylike, or even know a time when women aren't competing at the highest levels, filling stadiums, and breaking world records. That's not just a win for rugby or even for women in sport; it's a remarkable victory for every one of us.

“I became an accidental activist" says Anna Whitehouse. "We’re closer to the future my daughters deserve, but the job isn't done"

Ellie Fennell — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

“I can remember the moment, in March 2015, when I decided to stop saying ‘sorry’ for being a stressed working mum trying to juggle everything and to start speaking out about the injustice of it all,” recalls Anna Whitehouse, mother to three biological daughters and two stepchildren.

“On that depressing commute from my job at L’Oreal, I’d apologised to my boss for zooming out of work in a rush. I was sitting on a miniature primary coloured chair in my daughter’s nursery, apologising to her carer for being 12 minutes late.

"Then I spent the journey home apologising to my uncomprehending nine-month-old strapped to her Paw Patrol backpack that I’d not been there on time for her.”

A flawed system

“I realised it wasn’t me that was broken and failing; it was the system. From that moment, I became something of an accidental activist and influencer.

"I’d tried pitching pieces on the topic to magazines and newspapers, but no one really wanted to write about burned-out mums wanting more flexibility at work, so I decided to mix things up on social media.

“The little squares of happiness I was posting to my 62 followers on Instagram at the time weren’t remotely reflecting what was going on in my life. My reality was that my career had stalled, I eventually lost my job for asking to work flexibly, I was losing my hair post-partum, and I was losing my identity, too.”

Speaking out for women

Anna decided to start posting about her candid experience of motherhood on Instagram (Image credit: Charlotte Gray)

“Instead of my usual happy family pics, I decided to post an honest account of how hacked off I was, asking if anyone else felt the same and questioning how other mums tried to make it work.

“It seemed to open a portal to other women’s rage. There was such a strong, shared feeling of unfairness and anger from all these women sitting in maternal purgatory – desperately wanting to be there for their kids, needing to work for the family finances and driving themselves into the ground trying to do both.

“It became clear to me that the only way forward was flexible working so that mothers, fathers and carers would be able to do what was needed for their loved ones and hold down meaningful jobs.”

Grassroots launch

In 2015, Anna launched the 'Flex Appeal’ with a flash mob in Trafalgar Square, London (Image credit: Charlotte Gray )

“By summer 2015, the huge engagement on social media showed me how much others believed in what I was saying, and I decided to launch ‘Flex Appeal’ with a flash mob in Trafalgar Square, London. Having printed 400 t-shirts, I was terrified no one would turn up, but 385 mums (and two dads!) came along. It was a breakthrough moment.

“The One Show reported on it, MPs became interested and suddenly the doors I was knocking on in Whitehall started to open.

“When we set out, Flex Appeal was all about writing women back in and giving women a choice on how, when and where we work. I could see how we women were trying to do it all – producing the babies, carrying the full domestic load in many cases and then carrying on with our jobs – and were utterly burning out in the process.

“But as the campaign grew, I realised that it was important for flexible working to become the norm for all employees, not just working mums.”

Downing street sessions

“What was needed was legislative change to give everyone a legal framework to put Flexible Working requests forward and make it a right in law. Despite getting so much support from other groups such as The Fawcett Society, Pregnant then Screwed and The Fatherhood Institute, it was a huge uphill battle.

“There were so many meetings, including roundtable summits at Downing Street, but I often feared it was just hot air and that little progress was being made.

“In those moments, my social media community proved invaluable. Their messages of desperation and frustration spurred me on, and they also served as a real-time focus group where the government and civil servants could see the level of engagement with the issue.

“After nine hard years of campaigning and with the help of four top female employment barristers from Old Square Chambers, the Flexible Working Bill was finally made law in 2024.

“It was a seismic achievement, and it’s great to feel all my work has not been for nothing. I have moments of holding my girls tighter, knowing we're closer to a future they deserve, but the job is by no means done.”

Delivering real change

Anna's dress is from Attique Studio; all sales of the 'Love, Anna' dress go to Tommy's, an important charity that supports women who have suffered miscarriage (Image credit: Charlotte Gray )

“Flexible working needs to be proactively made available by employers to men and women of all ages. I’m joining up with The Dad Shift next May to launch the world’s biggest parents strike on 28 May to help shine a light on the importance of men getting to work flexibly too.

“I’ve also recently written a novel, Influenced, which brings to life how isolating and soul-destroying the menopause can be from a working perspective and how women need to fight back in that period of their lives where so many feel sidelined and ignored.

“I believe the future will be different for my girls. It would be incredible if my daughters and their families had a choice whether to stay home to raise their children or to pursue a career and still be able to have a family without it costing them their minds and financial security.

“My mum, my grandmother and I didn't have that choice. I’m passionate that by the time I pass the baton on to the next generation, that choice will be the norm.”

"We needed to make menopause the new vegan" says MTick founder, confessing she was "totally unprepared for perimenopause"

Kathryn Lewsey — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:29:14 +0000

"When I had a meltdown in Sainsbury’s at the age of 45 because they didn’t have the strawberry yoghurt that I wanted, I had no idea that it was actually down to perimenopause,” says MTick founder Heather Jackson, now age 56.

"It was a weird time. I’d sold my previous business, the kids had gone to uni, and I was finally free to start ticking things off my bucket list. I should have been excited and happy, but instead, I was experiencing daily heart palpitations and feeling utterly exhausted.

"Minor insignificant things in life became a big problem, and I was suffering from a bad shoulder ache. Over the next few years, I saw my doctor multiple times. He suggested it could be depression and even tested my thyroid, but nothing seemed to be the right diagnosis.

"‘The kids have gone and you’ve sold your business, maybe you’ve lost your purpose?’ one friend suggested. But I knew that wasn’t the case; working towards this moment had been my purpose.

“So why was I feeling this way?”

Finding the answer

"Speaking about it with my friend and eventual co-founder, Sam, she said, ‘I don’t think you’re depressed, you’re experiencing perimenopause symptoms. I’m going through it too.’

"Typing it into Google, I saw that everything I’d been facing was a sign of perimenopause. It made sense. Finally, I had answers, and now that I knew what it was, I thought I could get on with my life. Little did I know it wasn’t the case at all…

"I needed advice to help me with my signs, but there was hardly anything out there. Whether it was sourcing cooling bed sheets to help with the night sweats or haircare products to support my thinning hair, finding the right products was incredibly hard. Brands that I’d trusted my whole life were now letting me down.

"And when I searched the word menopause on the internet, it was underwhelming. There was little to no information. Surely I wasn’t the only woman going through this?

"‘We need to build a one-stop shop with items specifically for menopause,’ I told Sam. She agreed."

Making a change

(Image credit: MTick)

"Thinking about it more, I realised that we needed to make menopause the new veganism. Just like the universal ‘V’ for vegan products, I wanted to create an ‘M’ symbol for menopause-friendly products.

"We commissioned an independent report, The Invisibility Report, to find out if women in the UK really needed help with this stage of their life. It turns out they did – a shocking 87% of menopausal women felt invisible and let down by society and brands.

"Sam and I decided we needed to do something about this. So, we created GenM, a movement dedicated to helping women as they go through menopause, ensuring that their experiences are better.

"I knew we had to take the fear out of the menopause and encourage women to thrive during this time.

"We started meeting with retailers, explaining that there was a commercial problem when it came to menopause-friendly products. During a conversation with Boots, I floated my idea of adding a symbol to products that have been verified as being menopause-friendly.

"Sketching out an M with a tick on it, I told them that this was the future, calling it the MTick. They loved the idea and agreed to test the symbol on thousands of their products.

"It was a huge success, and now, they have specific categories on their website showcasing menopause-friendly products."

A symbol of trust

(Image credit: MTick)

"Since then, we’ve collaborated with hundreds of brands and retailers to showcase the MTick, the universal shopping symbol for menopause-friendly products – empowering women to search, source and shop with confidence, to find products that ease or relieve one or more of the 48 symptoms of menopause.

"Every single product that gets the MTick certification goes through a rigorous process first. We have a compliance team that will review the product against our MTick menopause-friendly criteria, created alongside Boots’ legal and pharmacy teams, to make sure the products have evidence to support how they can help support one or more of the multiple menopause signs.

"We also ensure our brand partners are in adherence with the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) to ensure that it’s accurate when products are marketed as menopause-friendly.

"Whether it’s cream for itchy skin or toothpaste for receding gums. Our symbol is one of real trust, and we’re encouraging retailers to lead differently, giving women the change that they need and deserve.

"The response from retailers and brands has been incredible – and it’s not hard to see why."

Shop MTick bestsellers

Boots Menopause & Me Instant Cooling Packs

Snap-to-activate instant cooling gel packs

No7 X Embr Wave Cooling Bracelet

A bracelet that helps you cool down at the press of a button

Wellwoman Plus Omega 3.6.9

Super Strength Omega-3, 6 and 9 capsule containing Evening Primrose Oil, Starflower Oil and Olive Oil

No7 Menopause Skincare Nourishing Overnight Cream

Daily-use night cream with lipids and ceramides, soy isoflavones and hydrating hyaluronic acid.

Jude Washable Absorbent Pants High Brief Black

Designed for light bladder leaks and periods, these knickers absorb up to 40ml – equivalent to 8 panty liners – and are available in sizes S to XXXL.

Luna Daily the Everywhere Wash Hydrating

This body wash is pH balanced so you really can use it everywhere, even in intimate areas.

'After a sudden stroke at 45, I wasn't sure I'd ever speak again. Now I'm back broadcasting F1' – Jennie Gow opens up on her battle

Ellie Fennell — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

“'You need to fight.' Those words, whispered by my husband Jamie as I came around from the operation to remove the clot in my brain, will always stick in my mind,” recalls Jennie Gow, who suffered a sudden stroke at the age of 45, while at the height of her career – having just completed the Formula 1 season filming for Drive to Survive on Netflix, and for the BBC.

Jennie continues, “I was still unclear about what had happened, but, lying there unable to speak and or move my right side, I quickly knew I had a huge fight ahead of me.

“My stroke occurred out of nowhere in December 2022. I had no health issues and was relaxing at home after Christmas with my husband and daughter, Isabelle, then aged six, when Jamie heard me collapse. Very quickly, he called for an ambulance which whisked the three of us to hospital in around 20 minutes.”

Jennie speaking to David Beckham in her role as a Formula 1 broadcaster (Image credit: Jennie Gow)

Urgent surgery

“My symptoms – a drooping face, inability to move my arms and being unable to speak – indicated I was experiencing a stroke. After initial tests, it became clear I needed a thrombectomy to remove the clot and I was rushed up to St Thomas’s Hospital in London. Thankfully, my father-in-law arrived to take Isabelle back to be with family, as the whole experience was extremely traumatic.

“The surgery went well but those five days in hospital were my lowest point. I still remember watching the fireworks over London out of the window on New Year’s Eve, feeling so desperately alone, isolated and helpless.

“To go from being a fully fit working mum to being brain-damaged and disabled overnight felt completely dehumanising. It was like being a baby again, but in an adult’s body. I had to relearn how to do everything from walking and talking to reading and writing.

“I couldn’t even tell the time, and the nurses even had to teach me how to eat and swallow. I was also unable to communicate at all, which was terrible, given that communication was my life.”

Finding my inner rage

Jennie had to relearn how to write (Image credit: Jennie Gow)

“Some memorable advice from a wonderful nurse at St Thomas’ proved to be a turning point. She could see how frustrated I was and said my first goal should be just to make a noise, any noise; even just an ‘a’ or an ‘oh’ was progress.

“Her advice was to get angry. Rage is apparently the most vivid emotion one can tap into, and she encouraged me to use that rage to find words. It worked – if it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure I’d be speaking now.

“Every stroke is different so it’s impossible for medics to give an accurate prognosis of how, when or if a patient will recover. The affected brain cells cannot regenerate, so it’s all about rewiring your brain and developing new pathways.

“Whilst that was in some ways scary, I chose to cope by living minute by minute. In Formula 1, they often talk about marginal gains being key to success, and that’s the way I decided to look at my recovery.”

The long road back to health

Jennie is now back on the F1 Circuit (Image credit: Jennie Gow)

“A week after the stroke, I was able to walk (albeit with a wobble) and make some basic sounds, but it was incredibly hard for people to understand what I was saying. I was so happy to get home but was incredibly frustrated when it took me 45 minutes simply to ask Jamie if he was okay.

“Jamie’s employer, Sky, was amazing, giving him six months off to look after Isabelle and me. That enabled me both to rest (as a brain injury requires a lot of sleep to aid recovery) and to get seriously into my rehabilitation alongside a wonderful team of therapists.

“Determined to do everything in my power to get back to the old me, for Isabelle as much as for myself, I worked so hard doing six hours of rehab every day when I wasn’t sleeping.

“Slowly, things started to improve and about three months after the stroke, and after much preparation, I managed my first 30-second link for the BBC’s F1:Chequered Flag podcast. By August 2023, I was delighted and nervous to get back to presenting live at the Dutch Grand Prix, where I was able to thank many of the drivers and teams for the incredible support I’d received.

“Writing my book How to Read F1 also helped with my therapy, forcing me to learn to type again and structure my thinking clearly.”

Returning to racing

A post shared by BBC 5 Live Sport (@5livesport)
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“I’m now about 90% recovered, although I can hear my voice is not as it was, and I still struggle to find words occasionally. It’s great to be back in my happy place on the F1 circuit but weekends away like the Grand Prix in Monza do take it out of me.

“Strokes and the brain injuries they cause still seem a taboo subject, so I hope that by talking about my experience, I can raise awareness of both the symptoms and the importance of acting early. During a stroke, 32,000 brain cells are lost every second, causing irreversible damage, so getting rapid help makes a huge difference to someone’s chances of recovery.

“I’m forever thankful that Jamie and Isabelle got me in that ambulance so quickly. Together with the brilliant medics, they gave me the chance to get back to being the person I always was, doing the job I love. I’ll never take that for granted.”

Be Fast: How to recognise the signs of a stroke

The FAST test highlights the most common signs of a stroke in an easy-to-remember acronym.

If you, or someone else, experiences the following symptoms, call 999 right away.

Face weakness – Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm weakness – Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
Speech problems – Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
Time – to call 999 if you see any one of these signs

While these are the most common symptoms, also look out for sudden weakness on one side of the body, difficulty finding words, blurred or loss of vision, sudden memory loss, dizziness, or a sudden or severe headache.

“How I became a winefluencer and unexpected TV star in the male-dominated world of wine”

Ellie Fennell — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000

“There’s no big secret to my success in the world of wine. Whether I’m writing or presenting on TV, I just speak to my audience as if they were my girlfriends and it seems to strike a chord,” reflects Helen McGinn, 53,.

“My love affair with wine started when I joined the Wine Society at Exeter University. It began as a bit of a joke and a cost-effective way to get a few drinks. But I soon found I loved meeting the winemakers, learning about the grapes and wine regions and how much more there was to wine than just the contents of my glass.

“Once I left university in 1995, I knew it was the field in which I wanted to work. Whilst relatively rare for a woman to be a wine expert at that time, I was fortunate that the head Tesco wine buyer was a brilliant woman called Anne Marie Bostock, and her team was 75% female.

"I jumped at the chance when I was offered a junior buyer role there and it was a wonderful job; writing the copy on the labels, selecting our range and visiting wineries all around the world.

“There were occasions when male vineyard owners would take a while to realise that I was indeed the buyer and that there wasn’t some senior chap about to turn up behind me. But, once we got talking, it never proved too much of an issue.”

Knackered mum inspiration

Helen has made appearances on national TV shows such as This Morning with Cat Deeley (Image credit: Helen McGinn )

“After about 10 years at Tesco, I moved to work for a wine start-up at home, having had the first of my three children. By far my busiest time was 4pm every Friday when my phone would light up with friends and family, especially my girlfriends, standing in the wine aisles with no idea what to buy.

"Knowing how much they loved a decent glass at the end of a long week, I decided to start a blog.

“I still remember the Tuesday night when it all started in 2009. I’d just got my daughter to bed and wrote my first post recommending a couple of wines and explaining why I thought they were worth a try. Without a huge amount of thought, I called it The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club – a name which has stuck and I still use on Instagram.

“Initially, my following was just friends and family but slowly it grew, and I enjoyed writing my fun weekly posts, encouraging people to experiment beyond the tried and tested Pinot Grigio."

An unexpected publishing deal

Helen behind the scenes of TV show Saturday Kitchen, alongside Stanley Tucci (Image credit: Helen McGinn )

“I thought it was a joke when, a few years later, I received an email from an editor at Pan Macmillan saying she’d read the blog and wanted to turn it into a book. My wonderful publisher, Liz Gough, had realised that many women were intimidated by wine as a category, that often male sommeliers didn’t help make it any less scary and she said she loved my chatty, down-to-earth approach.

“So, in 2013 The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide was published – a conversational read, not full of maps and science but describing wines that were worth trying to readers, just like I would to a friend.

“After the success of the book, I started a wine column in the Daily Mail and no one was more surprised than me when soon afterwards I was approached to be the wine expert on Alan Titchmarsh’s daytime TV chat show.

"Right up until the moment we went on air, I thought someone was going to check whether I had any TV experience. They didn’t and so I just got on with it!

“Thankfully, it went well, and I soon also began appearing on This Morning and, eventually, Saturday Kitchen Live.”

Rosé with Idris Elba

Meeting Idris Elba was a "pinch me" moment (Image credit: Helen McGinn )

“I’m so glad that this broadcast stage of my career came along a bit later in life for me. If I’d been younger, I think I’d have overthought it and worried too much that I didn’t know what I was doing, whereas now I just enjoy every moment – especially the hair and make-up!

“I still have 'pinch me' moments when I find myself on Saturday Kitchen squeezed next to actual Idris Elba around the ‘kitchen table’ helping him choose the best wine to accompany someone like chef Marcus Wareing's delicious dishes but it’s an absolute joy to work on.

“I also write fiction (five novels to date), and wine is still a key feature. My latest, Under a Riviera Moon was set in Provence, inspired in part by the beautiful Domaine Mirabeau and there are plentiful rosé recommendations not-so-secretly planted throughout!”

The joy of a good wine list

Helen has also published five novels (Image credit: Helen McGinn)

“I had no real career plan when I set out, but each step I’ve taken has helped open a door to a new opportunity. I love that my WhatsApp still pings like crazy most weekends with photos coming in from friends in restaurants asking me what wine they should order.

“A good wine list is up there with my favourite literature, although my family has now set a time limit on how long I’m allowed to read one before I make my selection. Sometimes I go online prior to meals out to indulge myself with a good, long look at the options before we arrive.

“Ultimately, wine is such a personal taste experience. There’s no right or wrong, so I always encourage people to experiment with all sorts of grapes and price points. As I’ve got older, I’m drinking a bit less than I used to and life’s simply too short to drink bad wine, so I like to make each glass count!”

‘It’s not as glamorous as you might think!’ Meet the women bringing London Fashion Week to life

Ellie Fennell — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

For a heady mix of beauty, imagination and style, it’s hard to top London Fashion Week. Since its low-key launch in a west London car park in 1984, LFW has grown into a must-see event for the international fashion crowd, renowned for its creativity and cultural diversity.

While many of us are just getting to grips with the autumn/winter fashion colour trends 2025 and autumn/winter shoe trends 2025, from 18-22 September 2025, catwalks will pop up all over the city, hosting a huge range of designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2026 collections across traditional runways, digital platforms and immersive installations.

Fashion is a vital part of our creative economy, generating a staggering £60 billion every year. So giving a platform to established designers and some of the best British clothing brands as well as emerging talent is key, with the British Fashion Council curating the biannual LFW for both the February and September events.

(Image credit: Fleur Mandeville)

But the glamour doesn’t come cheap. The biggest shows cost up to £500,000, covering venue hire, set build, lighting, choreography, music and models. Very few shows attract enough sponsorship to make money – it’s all about creating a buzz to drive future sales.

LFW features around 100 shows across the five days, with events running from 9am until well into the night. But what does it take to put all this together? We take a look behind the scenes.

The stylist

Fleur Mandeville (right) with Vogue Williams (Image credit: Fleur Mandeville)

Personal stylist Fleur Mandeville, 48, from Tunbridge Wells, has worked as a dresser at London Fashion Week for many seasons.

"Each model walking in Fashion Week has one or two dressers backstage, making sure they are immaculate. Every girl usually has three or four different looks, so it’s full-on, delivering super-fast outfit changes," says Fleur.

The backstage army of dressers and runners includes many fashion students working to build valuable contacts and experience.

"The clothes, shoes and accessories are all carefully racked, with pictures of the finished looks attached. Even so, there’s lots of rushing around with last-minute hair, make-up and outfit tweaks.

There’s usually a two-hour window for hair, make-up and dressing, then 15 minutes to get the models lined up before an eight-to 10-minute show.

"Latex is the bane of a dresser’s life, as there’s no fast way to pull it on and off, and zips can also be tricky. Shoes often don’t fit, but you learn to stuff pointed toes with toilet paper and to pin together troublesome clasps.

"The models themselves are brilliant. On a Julien Macdonald show, the intricate clothes were like works of art, with cut-outs and diamanté details, and adorned with feathers and pearls. Ultimately, the models’ success depends on dressers making them look the part, so we all work as a team.

"I like to get in super early, but despite the long days, I love the buzz of being backstage and the party atmosphere at the end of a great show. I also see the newest trends months before they hit the high street."

The Casting Director

Sarah Bunter (middle) at a casting at London Fashion Week (Image credit: courtesy Bunter Casting)

Sarah Bunter, 45, from Brighton, runs Bunter Casting, selecting models for London Fashion Week shows.

"Fashion Week is a crazy, wonderful, exhausting few days. With many models only flying in to London the week before, we usually have just one or two days to see our shortlist," Sarah says.

"As a casting director, I’ll get my brief about a month beforehand, then liaise between modelling agencies and designers. Models work globally, so I need to know who will be in London as well as who has the right look.

"We gradually turn our list of possibles into Yes and Maybe boards, moving photos around like a jigsaw until we have the right line-up. Even then, it’s rarely certain. A First Option means an agency definitely wants the model in your show. However, a Second Option leaves you second in line behind a bigger brand, so you might not confirm a model until just before call time.

"Backstage can feel like chasing chickens. At one rehearsal, the delicious lunch arrived just as we were getting the male models in line for the finale and proved too tempting to wait for. Suddenly, no one was there – they eventually fell on to the catwalk with cheeks stuffed full of sandwiches!

"My job is not as glamorous as one might think. I spend much of Fashion Week on a folding chair with my laptop, grabbing a bite to eat when I can and dealing with last-minute glitches. I’m always armed with back-up plans in case the models are delayed in a fitting or get stuck in traffic.

"I love the energy of the shows, but I don’t hit many of the big parties any more. Usually it’s just after-show drinks with the team, then an early night, ready to go again the next day."

The Creative director

Sara Blonstein is a creative director (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sara Blonstein, 59, from London, is the creative director of production company Blonstein.

"Since founding my business in 1989, I have produced hundreds of LFW shows. My job is to understand a designer’s vision, then work on the practicalities of bringing it to life," Sarah explains.

"This year we’re working with the British Fashion Council again on its NEWGEN initiative, creating a shared runway for up-and-coming designers. Planning begins five months in advance, with the build starting five days beforehand. We’ll have up to 100 people working in each venue.

"With just a one-hour rehearsal before we go live, everyone must step up. Thankfully, I work with a brilliant team of experts."

"Queen Elizabeth II smiled throughout our show" says Sara (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Even the best-laid plans change if front row guests turn up late, but we try to wait if it’s someone high profile. The front row often includes journalists, influencers and celebrities, usually wearing the designer’s clothes – it’s important to get them all there for maximum coverage.

"In 2018, after signing a non-disclosure agreement a few hours before Richard Quinn’s show, I was told that Queen Elizabeth II would be attending with Anna Wintour. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone.

"My team couldn’t understand why I was suddenly so concerned about lowering the volume of our thrash-metal accompaniment. Their gasps were priceless as the Queen entered, minutes before models in gimp masks took to the catwalk, but the show was a huge success, with the Queen smiling throughout.

"I can’t explain the relief afterwards as we all collapsed in a happy heap!"

The designer

Anna Foster, designer of E.L.V. DENIM (centre), at her LFW show in February 2025 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Anna Foster, 51, from Hackney, is a former stylist turned fashion designer. She created her brand E.L.V. DENIM in 2018, upcycling discarded materials to make her clothes.

"Presenting my first E.L.V. DENIM show at LFW in February 2025 was a leap of faith. I was nervous, but I felt it was time people saw what incredible clothes it’s possible to create by upcycling.

"Our look combines modern flattering cuts with the unique character of upcycled denim to create timeless pieces that feel both effortless and thoughtfully made.

London Fashion Week in numbers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

✢ The event supports more than 250 British and international designers.

✢ Each LFW event attracts over 5,000 guests.

✢ Some major shows use up to 40 models to showcase a collection.

✢ More than 400 hairstylists and make-up artists are employed across venues.

✢ An estimated 50,000 glasses of champagne are drunk!

"There were moments of thinking it was madness – a week before the show, we still didn’t have a venue. But having worked at LFW as a stylist for over 20 years, I was used to the chaos. I’m delighted that it all came together so well and that we got people talking about sustainable fashion.

"We chose to do an immersive installation in an empty shop on Regent Street. Our behind-the-scenes experience showed PRs, journalists, influencers and stylists the journey our clothes take from discarded jeans to finished pieces. It was a huge, expensive undertaking, but we’ve achieved what many said couldn’t be done – creating an upcycling business model at scale.

"From a single piece made in my kitchen to a full, ready-to-wear collection, I couldn’t be prouder of the brand and my team."

"Let’s be honest: women have been enduring for centuries" – inside the rise of female endurance athletes

Lauren Crosby Medlicott — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000

At the end of a marathon, the first runners crossing the finish line are most likely going to be men. In fact, men tend to outperform women by 10-12% in regular marathons.

However, research shows that in ultra-distance competitions that last longer than six hours, the disparity can be as small as 4%, and for races above 195 miles, women were recorded as 0.6% faster than men.

In other words, the longer the race, the more likely we are to see women coming in at the front of the pack. And while it’s traditionally a male-dominated area, more women are taking up endurance sports, particularly in later life.

“Let’s be honest: women have been enduring for centuries, whether it’s childbirth, caring responsibilities, or battling through barriers society has put in our way. Maybe it’s no surprise that we’re pretty good at endurance when it comes to sport too,” says Sally Orange, 51, who has completed over 500 different endurance events.

Sally's long list of achievements includes finishing 85 marathons, the world’s toughest cycle race - the Race Across America, eight Ironman triathlons, two swims across the English Channel, a 100-mile run across a frozen lake in Mongolia, a run across Iceland, cycles the length of the UK and New Zealand, and the Everest marathon.

Lily Canter, 46, now a freelance running journalist and author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport, “accidentally” got into endurance sport. Following her first ultramarathon, she started signing up for ultra races – 28 miles, then 35, and then multi-stage races such as 100k over two days.

“My biggest event was in 2023: Ultra X Tanzania, 250 kilometers across five days with about 5000 meters of elevation,” Lily says. “It was an amazing experience. I trained hard, enjoyed the event, loved the country, and was proud of what my body could achieve. After that, I wanted to do more, to go further and longer.”

Marie Leautey (who goes by Lootie), 48, began the biggest adventure of her life in December 2019: running around the world. “I ran across Europe (Lisbon to Istanbul), Australia (Perth to Sydney), North America (Seattle to New York), and South America (Patagonia to Buenos Aires),” she says. “A total of 28,500 km, or roughly 700 marathons, over 2.5 years.

“I became the second woman ever (and the fastest) to complete this feat. I’m now a member of the World Runners Association, one of the smallest running clubs in the world, with just seven members. It felt like living life at its fullest — every day was an adventure filled with joy and discovery.”

Lootie has since written about her remarkable world tour in her book, Lootie's World Run: The Extraordinary True Story of the Fastest Woman to Have Run Around the World.

"It started as a short run"

Lily started running in her 30s (Image credit: Lily Canter)

Many women don’t start out thinking they will one day be ultra-athletes – they just start moving, and one 20-minute session eventually leads to a 15-hour one.

“I was never really that sporty,” Lily tells us. “I played netball on and off throughout my whole life, but I never really did any running. In my 30s, I started doing short runs, maybe 5k, to try and get fitter for netball. I gradually ran a bit further, but I found it really boring.”

Friends convinced her to join a triathlon club, which she didn’t enjoy, but through the club, she met a running coach who showed her how to vary her training and improve.

“I did a half-marathon, then a 20-mile race, and became curious to see if I could reach the marathon distance. I entered a looped race where you could run as many 5k loops as you liked in six hours. I went intending to do about 23 miles, but ended up running 30. I realized it was more enjoyable and relaxed than road running, and I liked testing myself in terms of how far I could go rather than how fast.

“Running became about having a lovely day out on the trails in nature.”

When Lootie was 26, living in Greece for work, friends invited her to go on a 5k run by the sea.

“At the time, I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and was more interested in parties than exercise,” she tells us. “That first run was a shock — I couldn’t even keep up for 500 meters. Out of breath, with my lungs on fire, I felt humiliated and angry with myself.

“That day changed everything. I quit smoking, bought a bike to commute everywhere, and started running daily. Nine months later, I ran my first marathon. Everything escalated from there.”

Sally, a motivational speaker from Salisbury, remembers sitting in front of her TV watching the London Marathon aged seven, thinking she’d love to run the race one day.

“It just took me another 27 years to pluck up the courage to actually do it,” she tells us. “For a long time, I thought marathons were for ‘other people’ - super fit, elite types, not me. But eventually I reached a point where I thought, why not me?”

Once she’d decided to start running and training at 34, she had no idea if she’d ever manage to work up to a marathon.

“Just running a few miles was tough, and I often doubted myself. But with each small milestone, running 5k, then 10k, then my first half-marathon, I started to believe it might just be possible. When I finally crossed the finish line of my first marathon, I was exhausted, but also absolutely over the moon.”

Sally tells us that for nearly every event, she dressed up as a piece of fruit. “It might sound silly, but it’s my way of making people smile, breaking down barriers, and encouraging conversations around mental health,” she says.

“Each event has felt special in its own way, but honestly, it’s not always the medals or records that feel like the biggest achievements; it’s the fact that I’ve completed them whilst battling with severe depression and crippling anxiety and more recently, breast cancer.

“For me, the real achievement is proving to myself, and hopefully showing others, that mental health challenges and cancer don’t define what you can do.”

Benefits in everyday life

Lootie has run around the world (Image credit: Marie Leautey)

Endurance sport will no doubt have an impact on how your body feels and functions, but what positive impact does that have in everyday life?

While Sally’s body has gotten stronger, adapting in ways she never thought possible, due to endurance racing, it’s the impact on her mental health she’s most grateful for.

“I was medically discharged from the Army due to mental illness, and for a long time I felt broken, like I’d lost my identity,” she says.

“Endurance sport gave me something positive to focus on, a way to process my emotions, and a reminder that I’m more resilient than I give myself credit for.

"Every setback teaches me something – patience, resilience, or simply how to laugh at myself in a ridiculous fruit costume when things don’t go to plan.”

During her years of running, Lily’s body has changed, becoming bigger and stronger.

“I care less about aesthetics and more about what my body can do,” she says. “Endurance sport has shown me that the only limits we really have are the ones we put on ourselves. I have had injuries, but strength training has helped me overcome them.

“I have become more carefree, more willing to try new things, and more confident in pushing myself.”

Changing the face of endurance sport for women

Endurance racing has drastically improved Sally's mental health (Image credit: Sally Orange)

There is a lot of speculation as to why women’s race times at longer distances beat men’s. Men tend to have muscle fibers that are good for high-power sports, whereas women have muscle fibers that produce less force but are more resistant to fatigue. Some say women’s bodies burn fat for fuel more efficiently than men, meaning they don’t hit a wall once their glycogen is depleted. And it could be that women are more likely to move at a consistent pace, rather than pushing too hard too early.

Indeed, when researching this article, we heard from several other women pushing their minds and bodies to their limits to achieve their goals in endurance sports, including the following.

Jen Benson, a lifelong runner, has completed more than 50 marathons and ultramarathons, achieving top-three positions in several races, says she uses running as a means to cope with "everything."
Jasmin Paris, who won the 268-mile winter Spine Race, beating her nearest male competitor by 15 hours, even stopped along the way to express milk for her baby daughter.
Louise Goddard, a 58-year-old ultra runner who, alongside running, owns her own business and parents two teenage girls, trains and coaches other menopausal women to challenge themselves and the social stigma around older women.

But instead of celebrating women’s achievements in endurance sports as compared to men’s, Lily wants her achievements and those of other women athletes to be celebrated on their own terms.

“Men should not be the benchmark. What matters is making the sport more equitable – through race access, media coverage, equal pay, pregnancy deferral policies, and the adoption of SheRaces guidelines as standard.”

Sally is excited that more women are not just taking part, but excelling in events that used to be male-dominated. “When I first started, I didn’t really see many role models who looked like me in endurance sports. Now, being part of that change feels really special.”

"I created World Childless Week to help women just like me"

Kathryn Lewsey — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

“When I found out that I wasn’t going to be a mum, it felt like I couldn’t escape kids and families. From adverts to walking on the street, everywhere I looked, I was reminded of the one thing I couldn’t have,” says Stephanie Phillips, 58, founder of World Childless Week (15-21 September).

“I was 37 years old when I started trying to have a baby with my husband, Tim*. We didn’t tell friends or family that we were trying to conceive. As the months passed without any luck, I put on a brave face, celebrating loved ones as they announced their pregnancies.

“It felt like everyone around me was living my dream. ‘If it’s my fault, will you leave me?’ I asked Tim one evening. ‘Of course not,’ he cried, hugging me.

“After two painful years, we saw a doctor and the results confirmed that I was infertile. We were both devastated.

“Although we were offered IVF as an option, I knew that by the time all of the tests and procedures had been carried out, I’d be 40, which was the cut-off age for IVF at the time.”

Navigating the pain

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“Trying to come to terms with the fact that I’d never be a mum was incredibly tough. Neither Tim nor I knew how to cope with the situation. I felt like a failure – there wasn’t anyone talking about being childless not by choice. I felt so unseen by society.

“I finally found my people through various Facebook support groups. Using it as an outlet for my grief, I connected to women who were just like me. The connection was invaluable. I had others who were validating my emotions and pain and I no longer felt alone.

“I found my voice and confidence in these groups, forming special friendships with women all over the world.

“I continued chatting on the groups regularly and over the years, things became a little easier.

"One day in 2017, I noticed that there was a fertility awareness week in the US and UK. I kept an eye on the website and social media each day, waiting to see some information about those who would remain childless for life, but there was nothing. It was just discussing different options for those wanting to become parents.”

Creating a movement

(Image credit: Stephanie Phillips)

“So, I decided to create a day dedicated to those who are childless not by choice. Picking a date was hard – I wanted to avoid months like March and June due to Mother’s and Father’s Days.

"Online, I found out that 16 September is the most common birthday, so I figured out this would also be the most common date for people who were due to give birth, but didn’t end up doing so. They would be grieving.

“As I got the ball rolling, I quickly realised one day wouldn’t be enough, so I turned it into World Childless Week, making sure it would fall on the week whenever 16 September is.

“Reaching out to people in the community, I asked them to submit something – a piece of art, a poem or a story – about their own experience of being childless. ‘This is your chance to share without the repercussions of fear or shame,’ I wrote. Within the first week, I had over 100 submissions!

“The week went incredibly well. Each day, I wrote about a different topic related to being childless, posting them on our Facebook page. It felt good to start up topical conversations online for the world to see – and to raise awareness of our community, which we often felt was invisible."

An overwhelming response

“The response was overwhelming. Women in their 70s and 80s were messaging, saying that this was the first time they realised they existed. ‘I’ve been grieving alone for so many years,’ one wrote. ‘I finally feel understood,’ another said.

“Tim, my number one supporter, was by my side for it all, telling me how proud he was.

“I knew how important this movement was for the entire community. It gave glimmers of hope to those navigating their childless journey, reminding them that they’re about to embark on wonderful new chapters and experiences that don’t involve being a parent.”

Posted by WorldChildlessWeek on

Success and acceptance

“In the second year, someone from the community built a website for us, allowing us to spread the word further. Each year, World Childless Week has grown bigger and it now reaches over 100 countries. Now in its ninth year, I’m so proud of how it has evolved and it feels quite surreal to know that I’m the one behind it all.

“Being childless needs to be normalised. I’ve met so many wonderful people through the community who have given me the strength to get through the dark days and I hope I’m passing that courage on to others like me.

“I definitely have more of an acceptance and understanding of being childless. It’s something I’ll never be fully over, but I’ve ventured on different paths that are just as rich and joyful.”

* Tim’s name has been changed for his privacy

Meet Britain's most amazing women

sclarkson@dummyemail.com (Steph Clarkson) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

We’re delighted to announce the exceptional winners of our Amazing Women Awards 2025, in partnership with NHS Charities Together.

This year, our judging panel, including columnist Anna Richardson, was blown away by the quality of candidates shortlisted. Throughout the UK, these women are making the world a better place in so many different ways.

From healthcare to the environment and business to charity, our winners are pushing boundaries, trailblazing and helping others stand tall. We hope you enjoy reading about their achievements, what inspires and motivates them, as well as their future plans and dreams. And if you know an Amazing Woman who deserves to be in the spotlight next year, do let us know at whmail@futurenet.com.

Championing NHS Charities Together

All our lives are touched by the NHS, and its vital work is supported throughout the country by NHS Charities Together, the national charity caring for the NHS. It’s improving experiences for both patients and staff across the NHS, and breaking down barriers that make it hard for people to access services and live healthy lifestyles.

Celebrity doing good: Giovanna Fletcher

(Image credit: Future)

Actor, author and podcast host Giovanna Fletcher, 40, is a patron of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, the UK’s only youth-focused breast cancer awareness charity.

For the past eight years, Giovanna has supported CoppaFeel!’s mission to educate young people on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Through the CoppaTrek with Gi series, she has personally captained extraordinary and life-changing treks all over the UK and walked hundreds of miles. This has helped the charity raise more than £6.5 million and, importantly, get the message out to 18-24 year olds to check their breasts regularly and contact their GP if they spot anything unusual.

What does this award mean to you?

CoppaFeel! is the first thing in my diary each year. It’s a huge part of my life so the fact that’s been recognised is an honour. This year alone, we’re doing five treks from the Cotswolds to the Sahara and I’ll be on all of them. Our Isle of Skye five-day trek in June was especially tough as the weather was against us, but it’s always amazing seeing a group of strangers come together to help support one another. The most special times are when you meet someone who has caught their cancer early, having been made aware of what to look out for through the CoppaFeel! campaigns.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

There have been many, but touring the stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ novel The Girl on the Train this year has felt really special. Leading a company, working with such a great cast and to be trusted to play the lead role of Rachel Watson has been amazing. There’s something so freeing about playing her.

Which woman inspires you?

My nonna, who sadly passed away in 2017. She raised four kids on her own in the mountains in Italy, and had such drive, resilience and an amazing work ethic. Even into her 90s, she remained focused on and respected by her family and community.

What do you do for fun?

I love gardening. I enjoy the feeling of having my hands in the soil. I’ve gone a bit mad this year, growing every vegetable you can think of including strawberries and tomatoes that I tend to go around picking and eating on the spot. It’s so therapeutic and life-affirming having the patience to see something germinate. My family all get involved and we eat what we grow.

What would you tell your younger self?

It’s okay for people not to like you. Not everyone will – but that’s fine, keep doing you. You won’t find happiness through others' approval.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My husband, Tom. We’ve known each other for over two thirds of our lives - since we were 13. We’ve seen each other through a lot. Whenever I doubted myself, he was there saying ‘of course you can do it’. Nothing is out of my reach with him cheering me on.

What’s your shout out to midlife women?

To be confident in who you are. Women in mid-life know what’s important - we don’t need to get bogged down with the silly and ridiculous. Entering my 40s, I am much happier than I was in my 20s.

Environmental Gamechanger: Alison Westwood

(Image credit: Future)

Alison Westwood, 63, from Bridgend in Wales is the co-founder of the Community Pantry project Baobab-Bach.

When the 2020 pandemic hit rural communities hard, Alison and her husband John developed a Community Pantry pilot project to give people access to affordable food, by tapping into a supply of surplus produce that would otherwise go to landfill. Four pantries were opened in community venues in Bridgend Valley locations in 2020, offering large bags of mixed foods for just £5. The current cost of living crisis means the organisation has continued to grow, supporting 13 pantries throughout the county with a further three planned in addition to wellbeing cafes.

What does this award mean to you?

I’m hugely grateful because it’s a recognition of the hard work and dedication of my whole team and everyone who supports us, from our staff and volunteers to the funders and donors.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

I’m extremely proud of our sustainability credentials. To date, we have saved approximately 400 tonnes of good, edible food from landfill. As a result have supplied over 48,000 households across three counties of South Wales with bags of affordable food. There’s a wonderful feeling of satisfaction that comes with knowing we fulfil a genuine need in our community.

What would you most like to achieve next?

I want to focus on making our organisation even more sustainable. Encouraging cooking from scratch, growing fruit and vegetables and other ways of achieving inexpensive balanced nutrition in the community are all priorities for Baobab Bach.

Which woman inspires you?

My mother, who was always very kind and focused on the needs of others. I’m also drawn to strong, determined women like sailor Ellen MacArthur. Having had setbacks in my own life – prolonged illness following a bout of meningitis – I’m inspired by those who overcome adversity through perseverance and determination.

What do you do for fun?

I’m a crafter, I love knitting and crochet, I play the piano and I run. I live by the sea, so I enjoy getting out there in my trainers, feeling the wind in my hair and leaving the day behind.

What would you tell your younger self?

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because we learn much more from those than from the things we do well.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My husband John, with whom I co-founded Baobab, is a constant support, giving me confidence and reassurance. We don’t always see eye to eye, but we share common goals and qualities. We’re both hardworking and dedicated, and we love interacting with people. We’re a team at home and at work. He’s a true life partner in every way.

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

Never let your age define you or hold you back. Life experience is a very valuable thing. You have such a lot to give, so remember your worth.

Arts Ambassador: YolanDa Brown

(Image credit: Future)

YolanDa Brown, OBE DL, 42, from Essex, is an award-winning saxophonist, composer and broadcaster.

Awarded an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting, YolanDa is passionate about providing access, support and encouragement to those who would otherwise have limited opportunity to engage with the arts. She is a national council member for Arts Council England, Chair of the British Phonographic Industry, and Chair of Youth Music. She is also involved in the Drake YolanDa Award, which supports emerging UK artists on their musical journey.

What does this award mean to you?

It’s incredibly humbling and deeply affirming. As a woman who wears many hats: musician, broadcaster, composer, mother, I often just keep going, driven by passion and purpose. To be recognised as an Amazing Woman by woman&home is a beautiful reminder that the journey matters and people are inspired by it. I’m honoured to stand alongside so many incredible women who are shaping the world in their own ways.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

There have been many moments I treasure, from being awarded an OBE, to playing the Royal Albert Hall, Henley Festival and performing to the King. However, I’m especially proud of staying true to myself and my principles throughout my career. From launching a grant for emerging artists to creating a TV show for children YolanDa’s Band Jam on CBeebies, I’ve always been driven by the desire to open doors for others. That to me, is success.

What would you most like to achieve next?

2025 is shaping up to be a big year with the release of Hope Road: Bob Marley Songbook, a heartfelt tribute to Bob Marley’s music out on Sony Music. I love bringing music into the community and just performed my mix of reggae, jazz and soul at The Henley Festival, with a Band Jam performance for families in the morning, too. I’m also excited about expanding Soul Mama, the live music venue and restaurant I co-founded, and continuing to champion diversity in the creative industries. There’s always more to build, more to give.

Which woman inspires you?

My mother Opal Brown is my greatest inspiration. She embodies strength, humility, and grace. In the world of music, women like Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba because they used their art as a force for change and stood tall in their truth, which is something I always strive to do.

What do you do for fun?

I race cars on racetracks! I also enjoy going to the theatre, travelling, cooking and having long, laughter-filled dinners with friends. I love spending time with my family. There is always music in our home, usually accompanied by dancing in the kitchen.

What would you tell your younger self?

Trust yourself and keep going, even when the path looks uncertain. Every challenge is shaping your character and preparing you for something bigger. You do not have to fit in - you were made to stand out.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My family. Their love, patience and belief in me have been constant, even during the early days when I was figuring it all out. My husband keeps me grounded. My parents always encouraged me to dream big, and now as a mother myself, that support means even more. My whole family remind me of who I am and why I do what I do.

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

You are powerful, wise and full of potential. This stage of life is not about winding down but rising up. It is your time to rediscover yourself, to explore new dreams and to take up space with confidence.

Science Pioneer: Dr Ceri Lewis

(Image credit: Future)

Dr Ceri Lewis, 47, from Devon is associate professor in Marine Biology at the University of Exeter and an expert on biodiversity.

Dr Lewis is currently leading work on the Convex Seascape Survey – a major £12 million, five-year research project that’s investigating how the ocean stores carbon and how that could help us fight climate change.

Recently, in Millport, Scotland, she and her team have been studying the role seabed-dwelling invertebrates play in supporting conservation and carbon storage. Dr Lewis’ work has global reach by shaping environmental policy and helping tackle the climate crisis from the depth of the oceans.

What does this award mean to you?

It is a little bit overwhelming! But what matters is the chance to shine a light on the parts of the ocean people rarely think about. Marine biology is often seen as just whales and dolphins. But the mud at the bottom of the sea, the worms and other small marine creatures play a huge role in keeping the ocean working as a healthy ecosystem and regulating carbon stores.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

The Catlin Arctic Survey expedition in 2010. I was camping on the sea ice at -30°, collecting water samples in conditions where everything froze the minute you brought it to the surface. It was a defining moment – it gave me my voice as a scientist and made me realise I have resilience.

What would you most like to achieve next?

I get the most joy and excitement from helping others expand their knowledge. We recently took 40 undergraduate students to survey coral reefs in the Bahamas. Many of them had never even snorkelled before, and suddenly they were collecting real data and seeing their potential. You watch their confidence grow in real time.

Which woman inspires you?

American marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle – the first woman to lead the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. And the women who have supported me directly - my science aunties professor Maria Byrne FAA and professor Mary Sewell FRSNZ, who cheer me on. Also my friend and colleague, professor of ecotoxicology Tamara Galloway OBE, who conducts world-leading research on plastic pollution.

What do you do for fun?

I like swimming in the Devon sea and walking on Dartmoor – and I love sharing that with my nieces and nephews. They are already ocean-obsessed, which makes me very proud.

What would you tell your younger self?

That it is absolutely possible to build a career studying worms! That might sound silly, but my PhD was on the sex lives of marine worms and how climate change affects their reproduction. At the time, I didn’t see anyone like me in senior roles. Most professors were older men, and I couldn’t imagine myself there. I’d tell my younger self to stick with it. There is a path – you will travel the world doing meaningful science, from the Galapagos Islands to the Arctic Circle.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

I have a brilliant team at the University of Exeter and a great family at home. But I also want to acknowledge Stephen Catlin, the founder of Convex Insurance, who has been the instigator and investor in pioneering environmental research, which I’ve been lucky enough to participate in. His backing, first through the Catlin Arctic Survey and now through the Convex Seascape Survey, has shaped the biggest opportunities in my career.

What’s your shout out to midlife women?

Be curious about the world around you and be supportive of other women whenever you can. So many of the women I work with are not just brilliant scientists; they’re also women who lift others up.

Animal Welfare Wonder: Sarah Carr

(Image credit: Future)

Sarah Carr, 51, from Cheltenham, is CEO of charity NatureWatch Foundation, which is dedicated to improving animal welfare standards in the UK and worldwide.

Sarah joined Naturewatch Foundation seven years ago and became CEO in 2022. She pushes for change, addressing inequality in the world for all living things and regularly briefs MPs, influencers and the media about animal welfare issues. Under her leadership, the charity has played a key role in successful law changes around puppy farming and animal cruelty.

She has coordinated international animal ambulance campaigns in the Himalayas, Indonesia, and Ukraine by partnering with organisations who know the situation on the ground in those countries. She has also trained police forces on links between animal abuse, wildlife crime and organised crime.

What does this award mean to you?

I’m honoured to be featured, but this is not about me. It’s a reflection of everyone in NatureWatch Foundation team and the charity’s many supporters and collaborators, such as the RSPCA.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

Having the opportunity, in my role, to be able to do something good in the world. Over the last 15 years everything I’ve done has been about trying to make a difference and giving a voice to the voiceless. I’m proud of the work we’re doing to highlight the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence – if a person in a household is abusing other family members, it’s very likely any pets will be suffering too, and vice versa.

We’re calling for police to have mandatory training in this. If they go into a home and a person is saying that all is fine but they suspect otherwise, they should check what’s happening with the animals. Are they neglected? Is the dog flinching when a particular person enters the room?

What would you most like to achieve next?

There is so much that needs to be done. Criminals engaging in abusive activities such as puppy farming are very good at finding loopholes in the law, so we’re looking at closing these so perpetrators are brought to justice. I also want to continue our outreach in countries such as Ukraine. We’ve been fundraising for an animal shelter away from the frontline for all the strays and dogs that got left behind when the war came.

Which woman inspires you?

Michelle Obama. I love her catchphrase ‘when they go low, we go high’, which is about keeping to your principles, never stooping to match bad or cruel behaviour. She’s classy and an instrument for change.

What do you do for fun?

In my mid-40s I discovered running and did a couch to 5k. From there, I joined a local ladies running group, Charlton Kings. I love it so much and it has led me to make lots of new connections with women in my area, from all walks of life.

What would you tell your younger self?

Go for your dreams and persevere. You’ll need to demonstrate resilience to get to where you want to be in your personal and professional life. And no matter what you do, be kind.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My husband – he respects that I’m a determined woman and he is a fantastic Dad. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

Find your tribe. Mine is my running group, but you might find yours within your social or professional circles. When things get hard, you need to de-stress so you need a group of people you can turn to who surround you with love, support and understanding. We’re a group of around 40 women, aged 40 – 70, who meet weekly to run, have coffee and chat. We talk about everything, from kids leaving for uni to health issues and relationships. It’s a fantastically supportive safe space.

Children's Cheerleader: Jessica Bondy

(Image credit: Future)

Jessica Bondy, 58, from North London is founder and trustee of Words Matter, a charity dedicated to preventing verbal abuse of children by adults.

In the UK, 2 in 5 children experience verbal abuse by adults with lifelong consequences for their mental health and wellbeing, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and even suicide.

Through her lived experience as a child, Jessica understands the impact of childhood verbal abuse by adults. With a background in research, communications and marketing, Jessica founded Words Matter in September 2023. This year, she convened a panel of leading experts at the House of Commons to discuss the critical need for verbal abuse prevention in the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and raise the healthiest generation of children in history.

What does this award mean to you?

To have this acknowledgement for the work I’m doing trying to make a difference to the lives of children and young people is a wonderful boost. Running a charity is hard work and can be lonely at times, so it’s lovely to have a physical award that I can look at when things get tough.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

Top of the highs is knowing that with Words Matter I’ve created the first charity in the world to focus on ending verbal abuse of children by adults. I’m also proud of having delivered a keynote speech at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference, of assembling a global Advisory Board and of commissioning research with top institutions so that our work is entirely evidence-based. The support from practitioners, experts, and policy decision-makers who’ve joined me on my mission has been amazing and humbling.

What would you most like to achieve next?

I would like verbal abuse of children by adults to be properly recognised and monitored, and for the subject to be incorporated into parenting programmes and included in teacher training. I’m garnering support for a big national awareness campaign.

In the same way as we’ve reevaluated smacking and no longer view it as acceptable, I’d like us to be aware of the way we talk to children. Before speaking, especially when things are becoming heated, we should always Stop, Breathe, Talk and Think. Many children hear damaging words like, ‘I’m ashamed of you!’ Or ‘You’re useless’. When we should be choosing phrases such as ‘I believe in you’ or ‘It’s ok to make mistakes, we can learn from them’ in order to build children up.

Which woman inspires you?

I have a 97-year-old aunt who’s as sharp as a tack. A holocaust survivor, she now lives in Canada and is still as active, engaged in life and interested in what’s going on in the world around her as ever. She was recently reading Proust and her social life is busier than mine. She’s truly remarkable.

What do you do for fun?

I love Formula 1. I’ve got massively into it after watching the Netflix series Drive to Survive, which gave such insight into that world and allowed you to really get to know the characters of the drivers. I watch the whole thing from the pre-race press conferences, to the practice, the qualifying rounds and all the pre-race build up. My favourite driver is Oscar Piastri.

What would you tell your younger self?

That I understand only too well how words get stuck in one’s brain from childhood. I would tell myself to worry less and to be kinder to myself even when others aren’t.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My girlfriends. I speak to two or three of them every day. They’re really supportive and always there for me. I feel very lucky to have collected different people at different life stages.

What’s your shout out to mid life women?

It doesn’t matter at what stage you decide to reinvent yourself, it is always possible. Since establishing Words Matter I’ve created a new life, surrounded by a wonderful community of people.

Sports Supremo: Sophia Warner

(Image credit: Future)

Sophia Warner, 51, from Dorking, is an athlete, paralympian and founder of The Superhero Series, a programme of sports events tailored for disabled people.

As an elite athlete with cerebral palsy, Sophia had access to a world of sporting opportunities. But, in 1998, as the first disabled person to enter the London Triathlon she found it hard to keep up and had to ask other participants for help.

It led to a lightbulb moment: she would create mass-participation sporting events where people with disabilities would call the shots. Her Superhero Series includes virtual and live events and has grown to involve Superhero Sports Day initiatives for Special Educational Need and Disabilities schools.

What does this award mean to you?

I’m used to winning medals, but this feels very different and special. There are so many brilliant women out there doing amazing things - it’s great to be among them.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

On an elite stage it would be the world championships in 2011 in New Zealand, where I secured a place to go to the London 2012 Paralympics. I went from racing in front of 80 people to packed stadiums of 80,000 and a global audience watching on TV. I came 4th in the 100m and 200m, but I ran a personal lifetime best and retired a year later.

Establishing the Superhero Series has been one long highlight, including securing funding through our partnership with Marvel. This year, we had 5,000 people taking part in the Superhero Triathlon powered by Marvel at Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire. Participants can fly solo & take on all three stages (a swim, cycle and push/run), share the fun in a team relay, or Superheroes can recruit Sidekick teammates to tow, push and pull them around the entire course. It’s a celebration of what’s possible.

What would you most like to achieve next?

After the London Marathon this year, I realised I had unconsciously been putting barriers up but I love setting a goal and working towards it so I’m looking for my next challenge… it might be a trek.

Which woman inspires you?

American athlete Allyson Felix, who was the 2012 200m Olympic champion. She’s a beautiful runner who has used her platform to work in sports advocacy. Everyday people also inspire me, such as one mum who has twin teen boys with cerebral palsy. Although they’re in wheelchairs, she helps them through the course in a quiet, nurturing, way. She never looks flustered, although it must be tough – she’s incredible.

What do you do for fun?

I’m lucky, because what I do for work is what I do for fun. I like to go to the gym and I run. I predominantly have to train indoors for safety – my coordination is shocking – but through my marathon training I’m becoming more confident to run outside. I love the freedom of movement and I enjoy listening to health and fitness podcasts.

What would you tell your younger self?

Keep going. Attitudes will change and things will get easier. Growing up in the 1970s with a disability was rubbish – sitting on the sidelines in PE was standard. The Paralympics has heralded a real shift in disability sport, and the world in general has become much more supportive and inclusive.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My husband, Andrew. He’s not remotely sporty but he agreed to run the marathon with me. There was a lot of cursing going on, but he did it. We were childhood sweethearts and we only recently got married. We’re very different - I use food for fuel, and he’s a trained chef who loves butter and salt. He and our kids always come along to the Superhero triathlon and take on volunteering roles. They’re great.

What’s your shout out to midlife women?

I don’t buy into terms like midlife. We don’t know what’s in store for us, so we can’t say what part of our journey we’re on. Think of every day as a new and exciting opportunity, and have an adventure in your own way, on your own terms. Why not run your first marathon aged 50?

CHARITY CHAMPION In association with NHS Charities Together: Judy Dewinter

(Image credit: Future)

Judy Dewinter, 60, from London, is chair of the Royal Free Charity’s board of trustees.

At the age of 33, Judy left a distinguished career in the stock market following a diagnosis of myeloma, an incurable blood cancer – she’d been given 18 months to live. She decided to put her business expertise to good use by improving outcomes for cancer patients.

Judy chaired the board of Myeloma UK for 15 years before becoming its first president and, since 2019, has been the chair of the Royal Free Charity. Under her leadership, the Royal Free Charity delivered a £62 million project to build a home for the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Europe’s leading centre for immune system research.

It provided seed funding for a new NHS clinical research facility, which has since attracted millions in external investment for first-in-human drug trials. It also acquired the UK’s first total-body PET-CT scanner, allowing faster diagnoses and reduced radiation exposure. Judy is now spearheading plans for a £50 million campaign to transform care in London, including a new cancer centre at the Royal Free Hospital.

What does this award mean to you?

It means a great deal – it recognises the power of NHS charities to make a real and tangible difference to patients.

What does it mean to you to be part of the NHS charity sector?

NHS charities go beyond the limitations of NHS funding to provide services, equipment, and research that would otherwise not be available. Being part of this sector allows me to apply my experience, both as a long-term patient and a business leader, to shape strategic, high-impact initiatives that improve outcomes for patients and staff. I take pride in helping our donors feel confident that their investment drives meaningful, lasting change.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

When diagnosed 27 years ago, I was given 18 months to live. I was treated at the Royal Free Hospital and when recovering, I joined the board of Myeloma UK. Our tireless advocacy for patients led to NHS access to a new, ground-breaking myeloma drug. Many thousands of patients benefitted and still benefit from this. I might not be alive today without it.

The first new drug developed for this cancer in 20 years, this resulted in the doubling of survival rates over a five-year period, the greatest comparable increase of any type of cancer. I apply that advocacy and drive to the Royal Free Charity, where we aspire to be an exemplar in providing support to the NHS in a strategic, ambitious way.

What would you most like to achieve next?

We plan to launch a £50m fundraising campaign next year to build a cancer centre on the Royal Free Hospital site. We are the biggest provider of cancer services in London and patient numbers are growing. This centre will undoubtedly help facilitate more access to clinical trials, better treatment and better outcomes. At Myeloma UK, we changed what patients could hope for; at the Royal Free Charity, I see a better future for patients with cancer.

Which woman inspires you?

The nurses at the Royal Free Hospital who have cared for me over the years – their professionalism and compassion is so inspiring.

What do you do for fun?

I love switching off and chilling at home with my family. I have an amazing group of friends that I love spending time with. I also love being in the sun and getting away to clear my head.

What would you tell your younger self?

Believe in your instincts, stay focused on what matters to you and don’t let perceived obstacles get in your way.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My husband and my children.

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

Life is short. Do it now! Find something that matters to you and don’t let anyone get in your way. The second half of your life should be just as fulfilling as the first, if not more so.

Business Inspiration: Jane Knight

(Image credit: Future)

Jane Knight, 52, from South London, is the founder of the Successful Mums Career Academy.

When Jane took a break from her career as a teacher and careers advisor to have a family, she lost her career mojo. Lacking confidence and doubting her value to prospective employers, she spied a gap in the market for support in this area.

In 2015, she set up Successful Mums to provide training to help women get career ready or start their own business. Successful Mums has since supported thousands of women to find flexible and fulfilling careers through free online and face-to-face courses, career coaching and qualifications.

What does this award mean to you?

This award is a moment to pause, reflect on the road travelled, sometimes bumpy, sometimes smooth and celebrate where we are now. It’s also a testament to our fantastic team of 15, a few of whom have been through the Successful Mums programme and are now helping others.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

This year we’ve hit an incredible milestone – we’ve supported more than 10,000 mums back to work. That’s quite a figure. My humble target when I started was to reach 100 mums - I remember thinking at the time it was a bit ambitious!

What would you most like to achieve next?

The plan is to move my business to an Employee Owned Trust so the team will own the business. We currently deliver Government funded enterprise, digital skills, back to work and confidence courses which are free and prioritise those out of work or earning below minimum wage. As there is demand for our courses from those who don’t meet funding criteria, from September, we’ll also be offering a paid for service which we will roll out across the UK. Going forward I’d like to do more public speaking.

Which woman inspires you?

I’ve always admired Gaby Logan, particularly the way she straddles professionalism and motherhood. Seeing successful women out there fuels aspiration and helps create the belief that you can achieve.

What do you do for fun?

I’m into sustainable fashion so I love shopping for stylish, pre-loved clothes. I’m also very active. I’m training for a HYROX competition and I’m planning to go Morocco hiking with my son, Daniel, who’s 16. I also make time to go away with our 13-year-old daughter Anna Rose. We like to do mini-breaks, go shopping, eat out and go to galleries.

What would you tell your younger self?

Three things. The first is to get a coach – my first coach in my late 20s believed in me, saw my potential and held me accountable which meant that I took small steps to achieve my business goals. Two - always wear your purple hat. This comes from an Irma Bombek poem and is about not saving things for best, but using them.

Ultimately it’s about enjoying life to the full. Finally, wear your invisible crown – if you need to walk into a room to do an interview, you need your chin up, shoulders back. Pretend you’re wearing a crown and you’ll project confidence even if inside you’re a bundle of nerves.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My team, my husband and my children. I started this business after having our son. I felt zapped of my identity and low in confidence – just someone’s mum, rather than a person in my own right. Now they’ve started to appreciate what I do, and it’s lovely.

I recently won an award for Inspirational Professional in Adult Education from the Mayor of London and when my son went on Instagram and saw photos he said ‘It’s so cool, that’s my Mum!’

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

Whether you’ve been made redundant, are looking for a new start after a separation or have taken early retirement, you have another career ahead of you. After the pandemic, we saw an increase of 25 percent in women aged 50+ coming to us looking to get back to work. So we’ve developed a midlife mums programme to help women to understand this and tap into the job market.

Community Hero: Kaddy Thomas

(Image credit: Future)

Kaddy Thomas, 57, from Somerset, is the founder of Carers Collective, providing community, connection and resources to unpaid carers.

In 2006, Kaddy gave birth to Elijah who, like her, was born with Apert Syndrome, which causes fusing of bones in the skull, hands and feet and affects growth. A subsequent seizure during a stay in hospital left him with a brain injury so he now requires round the clock care.

After years in and out of hospital, fighting to get Elijah the support and healthcare he needed, Kaddy set up Carers Collective in 2021 to provide coaching and support for just some of the 5 million people caring for family members in the UK.

What does this award mean to you?

Just talking about the fact I’ve won makes me well up. I put my heart and soul into founding Carers Collective and it’s been tough – I’ve invested my own money and so much time. This represents the whole of me, so I can’t put into words how blessed I feel.

What’s been the highlight of your career or professional life?

Establishing and delivering the Carers Collective six-week online programme for carers. Caring full time can be relentless, arduous and isolating. Before setting up Carers Collective, I had coaching to help me to shift my mindset, establish a more positive outlook and increase my confidence and resilience.

I began to ask myself how many more carers are out there doing what I do, juggling, firefighting, caring with little or no external support? We’ve now reached carers as far and wide as Kent, Cornwall and Bolton. We give them tools to help them shift their brain from ‘fight or flight’ mode to help them cope.

What would you most like to achieve next?

My aim is to expand our reach nationwide. I don’t want to be a sticking plaster on a wound, my big vision is to set up a care kit, a service to offer support across multiple issues so the carer can pick the kind of support they need, whether that’s financial, legal or one-to-one advice.

Which woman inspires you?

Tina Turner. Her story reminds me that when something happens, we have to ask ourselves, ‘Am I going to lay down and give up right now?’ or ‘Do I instead choose to work through what’s happened, recover and move forward?

I’ve faced many struggles in life. Aged one, I was abandoned by my mother because I was diagnosed with Apert Syndrome and she was told I would be profoundly mentally disabled. I grew up in children’s homes for children with learning disabilities up until the age of nine, when I moved under the care of Birmingham Children’s Social Services.

I was due to be adopted but then that fell through after the woman who was going to be my adoptive mother was in an accident, and I was put into foster homes. Despite this start in life, and numerous health issues, I meet challenges head on. I know I’m an amazing mother. Ten years ago I was told Elijah wouldn’t reach his 19th birthday, but he’s still here and doing well.

What do you do for fun?

I don’t have a lot of spare time, but I’m a real foodie - I love discovering a lovely local bakery or going out for a special meal. I’m also a keen church-goer. Fellowship and community is really important to me.

What would you tell your younger self?

Challenges will come but you’ll learn from each and move forward.

Who has been your biggest support or cheerleader?

My strong faith has always supported me. On this earth, it would be my life coach, Tamsen Garrie and Nicola Rowley, my PR. I’m more rounded, grounded, assertive, professional and effective because of them.

What’s your shout out to mid-life women?

Think big. Open your horizons. You might be a carer, a housewife or a parent and that’s great, but it’s not all you are. Allow yourself to think about all the things you could do or be. It is incredibly hard to do when you have responsibilities and demands on you, but if you can carve out even half an hour or an hour for yourself a week to do something you enjoy, you can start to open the door to new possibilities.

“I had a breakdown after a traumatic birth and struggled to cope for years – but turning to comedy saved me”

Kathryn Lewsey — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“When I had my third baby, it should have been a happy time, but I was so traumatised that it sent me into a spiral of anxiety and fear,” says Greek Cypriot comedian, actor and writer Olga Thompson, 50.

“My husband, Paul, and I, already had two boys, Harrison and Marcus, so when I fell pregnant again, we were both over the moon. But when I was four months pregnant, I started experiencing horrendous panic attacks, convinced that I was going to die.

“The birth was extremely tough. Our baby boy weighed 10 pounds and as I tried to push him out, he got stuck in the womb. After three days of labour, doctors performed an emergency C-section and I lost a huge amount of blood.

“As they whisked away my boy, putting him in intensive care, I wondered if I’d ever see him again.

“Fortunately, Pierce survived, but I felt so extremely distressed after. My mind had fallen off a cliff. I was diagnosed with PTSD after the birth and offered meds, but decided not to take them."

Running on autopilot

“Navigating life with three boys was hard enough, but the breakdown that I was experiencing made things a whole different ball game. Most mornings I’d have a panic attack and at night, I barely slept.

“I kept everything inside, convinced that if I looked okay, things would be fine. But as soon as I put the boys to bed, the beast took over. I was convinced that my body was diseased and that I was going to die.

“Paul knew that I was struggling to an extent, but he was overwhelmed with stress at work and the debt that we were in. I didn’t want to talk to anyone because I feared it would become a bigger problem.

“My brain had checked out and my body was functioning, but I was battling dark thoughts every day."

A breakthrough

(Image credit: Olga Thompson)

“Then one day in the supermarket, two years after Pierce was born, I broke down in tears in the aisle and put my basket on the floor. ‘Oh dear, I’m not very well,’ I thought."

“Back at home, I opened up to Paul. ‘You need to get some help,’ he said gently. I realised I was broken and needed to get fixed. I went to see my doctor, who prescribed me antidepressants and referred me to a counsellor.

“It took a long time, just like building a house, but I started to feel like myself again. While the thoughts would still come, I no longer obsessed over them and managed to let them go.

“Throwing myself into life, I reconnected with comedy. I’d performed since I was a little girl and I started to dip my toe in it again, working with charities and then becoming a performing arts lecturer.

PTSD after birth

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Birth trauma happens when the mother goes through a frightening, stressful or distressing event which is related to giving birth.
Symptoms can include: vivid flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, intense stress and physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling.
Treatments can include trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

Find out more about PTSD and birth trauma, and how to get support at Mind.

“At home, I started performing for the boys. Remembering the variety of customers we served in my mum’s hair salon when I was a teen, I’d make up my own characters based on them. I’d write songs to accompany each character and play them out to the boys on their keyboard.

“As my characters developed, I decided to start filming myself performing little skits and upload them to Instagram and TikTok. Taking inspiration from my roots, I called myself the ‘Big Fat Greek Mother’, deciding to fully embrace what it means to be Greek.

“The online world really sped up my success. Opportunities kept popping up and soon enough I was performing regular comedy shows. ‘This is my time,’ I thought. It reminded me that there’s no sell-by date for women, you can start things whenever you want.

"Putting myself out there wasn’t scary – I’d already been to hell and back. Now was my chance to shine."

Making peace

(Image credit: Olga Thompson )

“A real pinch-me moment was when I took to the stage at Edinburgh Fringe in 2021, performing my show 'El Greco of Hornsey.' It was such an incredible experience. ‘You’re so cool, Mum,’ the boys tell me, which is, honestly, the best thing ever to hear.

“I still can’t believe how far I’ve come since my breakdown. It catapulted me into a new place I never knew I could occupy. I know my past struggles meant that I’ve missed out on some precious moments, but looking back at things you’ve lost will only make you bitter. I have made peace with my past.

“Sometimes, it might feel like you have to go out and do a big adventure to shake things up, but other times, just sitting with what you know can unlock something incredible.

“You have to be brave and let that thing rise to the surface. I’m finally enjoying life more than I ever imagined.”

Olga's memoir, Split Ends: And New Beginnings, was published in May 2025, a quirky, candid account of 'growing up Greek' in Britain in the 1980s.

“After years of struggling, I’ve realised ADHD is in some ways my superpower”

Ellie Fennell — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

"The more I’ve learnt about ADHD, the more I realise it’s quite common for successful entrepreneurs to have the condition,” reflects Lucy Macnamara, 57.

“The ability to multi-task, the hyper focus, energy and creativity it gives you is a huge asset to setting up and running a business. However, I do wish I had been diagnosed earlier as there are challenges associated which I think I could have navigated better with more understanding of my behaviour."

Here, the founder of sustainable clothing brand Aspiga founder shares how her ADHD diagnosis has helped her be kinder to herself and taught her to celebrate the upsides of having a brain that works a bit differently.

Getting an ADHD diagnosis

(Image credit: John Lawrence)

"I was 52 when I was finally diagnosed in 2020, having read an article in The Times where a film director was sharing her ADHD experience. The more I read, the more I realised she was exactly like me – not very patient, bored easily, struggling to focus at times and pretty hopeless at sticking to processes and administrative tasks.

"My self-diagnosis was easy – I Googled it, bought a book and realised I ticked pretty much every box in terms of my symptoms.

"Getting an official diagnosis was much more drawn out and expensive, however, with so many forms to fill out – not a great experience for an admin-averse ADHD sufferer!

"The waiting list on the NHS was so long that I paid to see a private consultant who thought in many ways I was quite an extreme case and prescribed some ADHD medication, Atomoxetine."

Managing symptoms

Lucy loves visiting Aspiga's suppliers around the world (Image credit: Lucy Macnamara )

"That first medicine didn’t suit me, so I have since switched and I now use the ADHD meds occasionally alongside other things that are effective in managing my condition.

"For my sanity, I must exercise daily outside (even if this is just long dog walks), and I also take a variety of herbal remedies and nutrients like Lion’s Mane, Saffron, Omega 3 and Magnesium, which can all help slow my racing brain.

"I realise now that I’ve had the condition since I was a child and that it’s likely my mother (who was constantly flying around from one thing to the next) also has it. It just wasn’t something that was spoken about at all when I was at school.

"Reading my old reports, it’s clear that I struggled with the required focus in education. The summary was usually ‘If Lucy isn’t distracted herself, she’s distracting others.’

"I failed most of my O-levels, so I did retakes and did end up with 10, but didn’t even do A-levels as I found sitting still in a classroom for hours on end almost impossible, so I went into the workplace and spent 15 years working for a charity before I set up my company, Aspiga, in 2006."

A leap of faith

Lucy working with a supplier in Kenya (Image credit: Lucy Macnamara)

"Starting the business was in many ways a typically ADHD impulse decision. Having discovered some incredible Kenyan sandals on holiday in South Africa, I decided they would sell well in the UK, so I started importing them and started by exhibiting at a trade show in London, where we got into 40 stockists, including Fenwick's of Bond Street.

"Fast forward 19 years and we now offer full collections of sustainable fashion and lovely accessories. I now have a team of 28 working from our head office in Battersea, London and a further 30 staff across our eight stores.

"Creating Aspiga was a positive consequence of the condition, but my ADHD has also affected my life negatively over the years. I can’t tell you the number of times I have overflowed the bath, as my brain has got distracted midway through, or have returned home from a dog walk to find saucepans boiled dry on the hob when I’ve forgotten I’d started boiling eggs or such like.

"I’m also a serial key loser and have had so many speeding tickets as my brain wanders on long journeys and I completely miss changes in the speed limit."

Support and understanding

(Image credit: Lucy Macnamara )

"Now that I know I have ADHD, I can be kinder to myself about those things. I’m not stupid or irresponsible; it’s just that my brain operates differently from many people's. I’ve learnt to get help with the things I struggle with and to celebrate the upsides to my neurodivergence.

"My sister Sarah says it’s helped her to understand me better and not to get so frustrated with me when I get distracted mid-conversation.

"Sharing my diagnosis at work has enabled me to interact with my team more effectively. I have a great PA who helps with some of my life admin as well as keeping me on track day-to-day.

"And my designers now know that I’m more effective with shorter meetings where I get all the information as soon as possible."

Celebrating difference

(Image credit: Lucy Macnamara)

"By talking openly about my symptoms, I hope others with the condition will see that there are many positives to having an ADHD brain. Alongside over-indexing as entrepreneurs, there are people with ADHD who are brilliant surgeons, barristers and teachers. It's wrong to think it's something that only people who struggle at school have.

"I can see opportunities and jump at chances more rapidly than most. I have boundless energy, and my buzzing brain keeps ideas and possibilities open for longer than would feel comfortable to many. Sure, I’m a bit all over the place sometimes, but I’m also brave, a risk-taker, intuitive and passionate and there’s a lot to be said for that in life."

To learn more about the sustainable clothing brand founded by Lucy, visit Aspiga- we've shared some of our favourite picks below.

Aspiga

Alpaca Blend Puff Sleeve Cardigan

Available in green or chocolate, its woven for a cosy mid-weight blend of alpaca and responsibly sourced wool for all your autumn/winter layering needs.

Aspiga

Long Sleeve Sally Anne Dress

A midi dress is a style staple, and this Aspiga piece with long sleeves will keep you warm and chic for cooler days. We just adore this Clematis Vines print.

Aspiga

Chevron Lace Organic Cotton Cheesecloth Shirt

Perfect for transitional dressing as we head into autumn, this versatile piece has beautiful lace details and the fabric is wonderfully breathable.

“I dreamt of working on a cruise ship all my life – at 43, I finally did it and now I travel the world”

Kathryn Lewsey — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“Gazing out to the sparkling blue ocean, I took a sip of my delicious cocktail. ‘Wow, this could have been my life,’ I thought," says Janine Santos from Cardiff, Wales.

“My husband Damon, and I were sailing around the Caribbean to celebrate my 40th birthday. It was my first time on a cruise ship, but I’d always dreamed of working on one.

“As a teen, I remember flicking through the local newspaper and spotting a job advert for people wanting to work on a cruise. I thought it sounded incredible, but I had no idea how to make it happen.

“So, I followed my friends, enrolling in a hair and beauty course, which I very quickly realized wasn’t for me.

“Quitting, I landed a job in retail and met Damon around the same time. When I fell pregnant with our son Keanau at 20, he became my priority and my dreams of working at sea sailed away.”

A sudden loss

“Life was great. I enjoyed my job and family life. But in July 2021, my lovely dad, Robert, died suddenly from lung cancer, aged 66. I was devastated and also shocked.

"It made me realise just how precious life is. 'You need to live your best life,' I told myself.

“So I quit my job to spend quality time with my family. I had no idea what I’d do next, but I believed in the universe. Something good was going to happen."

The job offer that changed everything

“And a few months later, it did. A recruiter dropped me an email about a retail manager position she was looking to fill on a cruise ship. It was so out of the blue and it wasn’t something I thought I could do at this stage in my life – I had a husband and son to think about.

“Still, feeling curious, I decided to have a video call to find out more. Speaking to the recruiter, I explained that I was married and had a family – the thought of leaving them to work on a cruise was so daunting. 'The contract is for six months. Why don’t you try it and see? If you don’t like it, you can leave, but you might love it,' she said.

“The role sounded so good but I felt a bit scared – things suddenly felt real. Broaching the subject with Damon, he said, ‘Don’t be silly, you don’t need to do that!' but he could see that I’d had a challenging time with losing Dad.

"This was an opportunity to do something for myself and I needed to seize it.”

Taking the plunge

Janine found herself checking off bucket list destinations daily (Image credit: Janine Santos )

“In May 2022, I drove to Southampton, England, where we set sail, heading to incredible spots in the Caribbean. Waking up every day in a new, beautiful place, I couldn’t stop pinching myself. These destinations had been on my bucket list forever and now I was ticking off a new one every day.

“Being away from Damon and Keanau was hard at times, but we kept in touch with lots of video calls and messages. And I quickly bonded with the crew, making friends for life.

“Six months flew by and when I arrived back home, I knew my cruise career was far from over. 'I know how important this is to you,' Keanau [in his 20s] said when I told him I wanted to go again.

“After six weeks at home, I was back out on the sea again, exploring more stunning parts of the world.

“As well as the travel perks, I genuinely loved my job. I gained new skills and thrived working in big teams. So, when management told me that they wanted to promote me to fleet manager, I jumped at the chance.

“This new role still consists of six-month stints, but I spend a few days working on land in the UK, which means I can spend quality time with my family. I manage 12 ships and spend a week or two on one vessel before moving to a new one.

"The time zones can be exhausting, but I wouldn’t change it for the world."

It's never too late to make a change

Janine has loved every minute of her job traveling the world (Image credit: Janine Santos)

“Over the years, I’ve experienced so many dream places that I never imagined I’d actually visit. Highlights include sampling stunning beaches in Bora-Bora and Tahiti, holding a koala in Australia and spotting sloths in Costa Rica.

“It’s now been three years since my first cruise job and I’ve loved every minute. I don’t imagine I’ll do the job for much longer as I want to spend more time with my family, but it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

"It’s opened my mindset and reminded me just how big and beautiful the world really is.

“For anyone contemplating a career change, no matter how big or little it is – I urge you to take the plunge and just go for it. We aren’t here forever and life is for living, so go and do it!”

"Every fortnight, I snuggle up with a group of strangers for a cuddle puddle"

Ellie Fennell — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“I think we’re in a touch crisis at the moment,” says Samii Wood, 41, who lives on a boat in Bedford, UK.

“Everyone is so disconnected physically from each other, relying on phones, living away from relatives, and sometimes working from home. Many people are lonely and chronically touch-deprived, so it’s no surprise to me that people are interested in cuddle therapy to deal with feelings of isolation. Hugs just feel so good."

A professional cuddle therapist by trade, Samii is currently launching a 'hugging movement' to encourage people to connect more physically, offering individual and group services. Here, she explains the power of cuddle therapy and the secret to a good hug.

The power of touch

"I’m a very tactile person and worked in elderly care and as a Reiki master before I became a cuddle therapist, so I’ve always been conscious of the importance of touch to us as humans – be that holding an elderly patient’s hand or channelling energy in a Reiki session.

"I first heard of cuddle therapy in a US documentary I watched a few years ago, so I was delighted when I attended a women’s retreat called Goddess Conscious Camp, which offered ‘Cuddle Puddles’ (group hugging sessions).

"I found the experience of giving and receiving cuddles profoundly emotional and healing, and I knew I wanted to start to offer cuddle puddles as one of my services."

Cuddle Training

One of Samii's cuddle puddle sessions (Image credit: Samii Wood)

"While it may sound a bit wacky to many, especially stereotypically uptight Brits, cuddle therapy is more normal in the US and expressive Latin American and Mediterranean countries. I discovered an organisation called Cuddle Professionals International, who offer training in becoming a professional cuddler, so I enrolled in their assignment-based programme last year.

"It’s not as simple as learning how to cuddle – I’d like to think I was already pretty good at that! Over a few months, I learnt so much about the science of touch, the benefits of cuddling and of cuddle therapy, got guidance around how to ensure my services were ethically appropriate, and how to have safety and consent be at the forefront of my work.

"I started working as a Cuddle Therapist in January 2025, and it’s been wonderful to see the impact. I see clients in a yoga studio’s therapy room and conduct both 1:1 sessions and group Cuddle Puddles every couple of weeks, while also still offering my Reiki services.

"The response has been great, with some clients travelling long distances to visit me and many saying the cuddle therapy has hugely reduced their stress levels and anxiety, as well as helping in overcoming feelings of loneliness."

"The group ‘Cuddle Puddles’ are usually three-hour workshops where we gradually build up understanding around touch through exercises and discuss our own needs before we get to hugging and then spend the last hour connecting in the cuddle puddle itself. It sounds like a long time, but clients often give feedback that they wish it lasted longer.

"I’m very careful to screen 1:1 clients and cuddle puddle attendees before a session to ensure they are coming to me for the right reasons. Having got them to sign a consent form, I know they are clear on the service I offer, and I also do a video call for 1:1 clients to get a sense of their personalities.

"All my therapy is purely platonic and nurturing, which means clients’ partners have no concerns. In many ways, it’s like offering massage therapy – except my clients always have their clothes on!

"It does raise a few eyebrows when people hear what I do. My family is used to me being a bit alternative, but they were still somewhat perplexed when they heard me interviewed on BBC Radio about my new venture. It also took some explaining to my 82-year-old nan, who said it was far too complex to explain to her friends!"

Would you like a hug?

(Image credit: Samii Wood)

"To raise awareness of my services, I created a Hug100 project back in April. Wearing my “Would you like a hug?” t-shirt, I offered strangers on the street 20-second hugs (20 seconds is the key time needed for a hug truly to start to unlock the healing benefits of touch).

"In the end, I hugged 140 people and I’ve just been to Latitude Festival, where I hugged 1,308 people during the long weekend. While there, I also launched the next phase of Hug100 – a huge cuddle day on 27 September, where I’m hoping to get 100 people to commit to hugging another 100 people on the same day.

"If successful, it means that 10,000 hugs would have been given out by the end of the day."

"It's wonderful to see the impact that a hug can have. For people who may have been through traumatic experiences in the past, just communicating what they need and want when it comes to touch is a huge breakthrough.

"Some find it very emotional and there are often tears. Holding the space for clients like this can be tiring, so I need to be in the right head space before a session and try to take time alone afterwards to regroup."

All about intent

"People say I’m a good cuddler (which I guess is essential!) but I think the secret to a good hug is simply in the intention. Our bodies respond differently when hugs are meant and wanted vs those that are begrudgingly given.

"I always meet people with love and respect and, when I hold them in a cuddle, I’m full of positivity and good intentions, which I think people feel when they work with me. I’m so excited at what the future of cuddle therapy might be.

"It’s just wonderful to see people flourish and grow through the power of human touch."

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“It’s a juggling act, but I find time for it” – 3 women share how they balance a day job with a side hustle

Lauren Crosby Medlicott — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

It's official, more and more of us are turning to side hustles.

An all-ages phenomenon, nearly 40% of Americans have a side hustle, according to LendingTree, with 60% of those who have one saying their life would be unaffordable without it. The stats are similar in the UK, with NatWest research revealing 45% of Brits are looking to start or grow a side hustle.

Among them are women in their 30s and 40s, many of whom are already comfortable in their established careers or families but take on supplementary work to boost their income, quell that “what now” phase of adulting, appease their curiosity, and foster creativity.

We spoke with three women who bit the bullet and let their ideas for a business become reality, setting up side hustles alongside their primary jobs.

How it all started

Paulomi Debnath owns jewellery brand, Handmade by Tinni (Image credit: Paulomi Debnath)

It’s sometimes that first step that can feel like the biggest one when you’re considering starting a small job in addition to an already full schedule.

Paulomi Debnath, 45, a mother living in London, had always been obsessed with jewellery – collecting, styling, and celebrating it – but working in global event management for 22 years, it hadn’t been a passion she had found time to pursue.

“When I turned 40, I decided to finally honour my lifelong love,” she tells us.

“I didn’t set out with a business plan or a grand vision – just a burning urge to create something joyful and meaningful. I started experimenting with organic cotton rope, inspired by my Indian heritage, love for colour, and passion for traditional crafts like knotting and macramé. At first, I made pieces just for myself, but friends and colleagues began to notice and soon asked if they could buy them too. That was the very first spark.”

She launched Handmade by Tinni in 2020, just before the pandemic.

“As the world slowed, I had the unexpected gift of time to explore, design, and build.”

Over in Port Richey, Florida, Cassie Brooks, 41, is an accounting analyst and mother to a 10-year-old son by day. By night, she writes. Cassie had always wanted to be an author, having dabbled in poetry, journalling and writing groups, but it was only five years ago that she felt she wanted to give it a real go, and signed up to a writing course.

“The whole writing journey changed my entire life, including my spirituality, which eventually led me to writing a series of children's books based on conversations with my son to encourage readers, young and old, to be authentically who they are,” she tells us.

A creative outlet

Ivy Ngeow, 55, an architect and mother to two, had also always loved writing, but she had been very strong in maths and went into architecture as a career instead.

Craving creativity, she’s written for decades alongside her job to fulfil her innate desire for it. “I wanted to create, have an outlet outside architecture, and make pocket money,” she tells us.

“Outside work, I wrote and submitted short stories and articles to radio, competitions, publishers and magazines. I was paid every time my submission was accepted. I got a real buzz from seeing my byline.”

Though she went on to find success with novel writing, winning several prizes, she chose to keep writing as a side hustle.

“When I considered the volatility and insecurity of a writing career, it was not viable or realistic as a full-time profession.”

Handmade by Tinni

The Poppy Cotton Handmade Necklace

One of Paulomi's bestselling creations is this handmade chunky crochet cord necklace, made using organic cotton rope and available in 29 different colour ways.

I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me by Cassie Brooks

Cassie's second children's book in her four-book 'Magick in Me' series sees Elijah feeling bothered by something. So "his mom reminds him that he is never alone by showing him that the Moon is always there."

The American Boyfriend by Ivy Ngeow

One of Ivy's seven crime thrillers (with new book In Safe Hands due to be published in October), sees Phoebe Wong thinking she'd do anything to escape a British winter. But it may cost her more than her airfare.

A juggling act

Ivy Ngeow is an architect, writer and mother of two (Image credit: Ivy Ngeow)

With a main job and side hustle, plus all the other aspects of life that need attention, fitting in a second job can be a real chore. Does it have to be?

“It’s definitely a juggling act – and some days are more chaotic than others – but I truly believe when you love something, you find the time for it,” says Paulomi.

“In the evenings, once work is done and dinner is cleared, I switch roles. I usually sit on my sofa in the living room, ropes in hand, making jewellery while watching my favourite shows on TV.

It’s my creative unwind time – a little pocket of joy and relaxation after a busy day. The process is soothing, almost meditative, and it brings me back to myself. But weekends are my most productive time for the business.”

Ivy trains her mind to be “active,” to keep up with the demands of two jobs and parenthood, by fitting in 40 minutes of reading every day.

“And when I have ideas, I write them down no matter where I am or what I am doing or if it is bad. I always have a notebook,” Ivy says. “A bad idea is better than none. I wake up every day at 5:30am to write, or write the first draft on weekends.

“I answer messages like an everyday text or email. Respond on breaks or lunch break or during intentional planning time during the week or weekends,” Cassie says. “Most of it can be done over the phone. That makes this easier.”

The not-so-great parts

Just like any job, side hustles have aspects that aren’t likable.

Cassie says it’s all the “extra things” you have to do as an author that takes up her time.

“There are aspects that are overwhelming and cause sleepless nights,” she says. “But you manage to juggle it all if it’s something you want.”

Paulomi often feels exhausted – there is no “sugar coating” that, she says. “Working a demanding full-time job, running a creative business, and being a mum is a lot. There are definitely days when I feel stretched thin or moments when I wonder how I’ll get everything done.”

While some artists sail through the business aspects of their side hustle, Ivy says she finds it “most disagreeable.”

“All side hustles include social media, blogging, promo, PR campaigns, book-keeping, admin, content creating, subs, memberships, advertising and live and online events.

"Just a list this long shows that it is a job in itself. These extra bits should be called the third hustle.”

Making a profit

Having a little cushion of money from a side hustle could top up life’s necessary expenses or pay for treats.

“It’s about the little luxuries and experiences I get to create for my family that might not always fit into the regular budget,” Paulomi says. “Plus, having that bit of extra income gives me a cushion at the end of the year – a sense of security and freedom that’s really reassuring.

"It means I can invest back into the business or save for family goals without dipping into our core finances.”

Cassie uses the money she makes to “give back to communities” she advocates for.

Personal fulfilment

Accountant, mother to Elijah and writer Cassie Brooks says her side hustle writing children's books has given her purpose (Image credit: Cassie Brooks)

More than anything, having a side hustle can fill a void left by a primary job.

Paulomi says it connects her to her Indian roots and her lifelong love of jewellery. “It makes me feel empowered, proud, and hopeful,” she says. “Empowered because I’m building something of my own. Proud because I’m sharing craft and culture in a meaningful way. And hopeful because I believe creativity can inspire and uplift not just me, but others too.”

Having wanted to write as a child in Malaysia, Ivy is fulfilling her lifelong dream that has given her “rich experiences.”

Cassie, meanwhile, says that having a side hustle has given her control over her dreams. “I get to see something I created come to life and make a difference. It gives me purpose and allows me to speak into other areas I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to do so, and that makes a difference.”

Advice for anyone getting started

“Remember why you are doing it,” says Cassie. “Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it every day so that when things are hard, because there will be hard and overwhelming days, that you remember why you started this.”

Ivy says if you are losing sleep over something you haven’t achieved, it might be time to give that side hustle a try.

“If you have a passion, you should pursue it, because if not, it will pursue you anyway. It is not too early or too late.”

Paulomi’s most important suggestion? “Don’t pursue a side hustle that directly competes with your main job. That’s not just a conflict of interest – it’s ethically murky and can damage trust in your workplace. You can plan, learn, and even build the foundation for your dream business while still in a full-time role – but it’s essential to keep clear boundaries.”

"How I became a professional 50+ solo traveller, fulfilling my life list and inspiring others"

Ellie Fennell — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

"I‘ve always loved exploring the world and had travelled solo extensively in my 20s before I met and married my first husband, Terry. Even once I was attached and holding down a serious job, Terry and I would always fully maximise our 25-day holiday allowance, heading straight into meetings after long-haul flights and making the most of all the long weekends. I’d notched up visits to 40 countries by the time I was 40," explains Sue Ross.

The 55-year-old from Buckinghamshire, England, now has more than 4,400 followers on Instagram @suewherewhywhat, has published hundreds of inspiring blog posts and more than 360 videos on her YouTube channel for women over 40 who would love to travel solo. Here she shares her journey with woman&home.

"On 17 December 2014, I suddenly found myself widowed. Terry went in for a heart operation and I never saw him again. I didn’t know what to do with myself.

"Everyone rallied around to support me, but as the new year dawned, I wasn’t ready to return to work and took a sabbatical. A friend was going skiing in Canada and had space in her room. So, despite not having skied for 20 years, I just upped and left."

Travelling through grief

Sue at a Tropic of Capricorn marker (Image credit: Sue Ross)

"I knew I was running away from the pain, loss and empty house that was full of so many memories. But once travelling, I found I could focus on something else, and the ski lessons certainly gave my brain and body a new challenge!

"Over the next few months, I accepted invitations to join my sister in the Greek islands and a friend’s road trip in Oregon.

"A turning point was a solo break to Kauai in Hawaii when I realised I was able to chat to strangers and share my story without breaking down or causing them distress."

How I seized a chance to travel more

"Later in my sabbatical, while I was away in Borneo with another good friend, a restructuring at work meant I was offered redundancy. Having been with the same company for 18 years, I jumped at the chance to take the generous redundancy package.

"Terry’s death and my subsequent experiences away from the ‘rat race’ had shown me what was important in life. I had no desire for work to become all-encompassing again. As the anniversary of Terry’s death came around, I was visiting my family in Australia.

"The invites for holidays were starting to dry up, yet I was clearer than ever that life was for living, so I wrote a list of 117 adventures I wanted to experience. Some other family bereavements, coupled with my redundancy lump sum, meant I’d managed to pay off my mortgage."

"I worked out I could live and travel frugally using money from my investments, so I spent the next few years ticking off goals from my list"

Beginning a travel blog

(Image credit: Sue Ross)

"I’d never even read, let alone written, a blog – but with the encouragement of my grief counsellor, while I was away, I started to write online about how I was feeling instead of pretending I was fine.

"I’d assumed hardly anyone would read it, so I was surprised and encouraged when friends and family said they enjoyed my writing and how much it helped them understand what I was going through.

"It was in Bolivia months later when I made the decision to turn my ramblings into a travel blog. I figured I couldn’t be the only woman in her 40s travelling alone and looking for tips.

"My trips had started in such sadness, and as a way for me to run away from all the pain at home. Writing a travel blog felt like a way to turn my journeys into something positive, a step towards a new future of joy and adventure.

"Even now that the blog is successful and I have quite a following on YouTube and Instagram, I don’t see myself as a blogger, more as a traveller who takes people with them. It gives me such joy when followers and subscribers message to say my tips and advice have helped."

Alone but not lonely

Sue at the Ice Hotel in Canada (Image credit: Sue Ross)

"Travelling alone can be hugely empowering and enjoyable as you simply do whatever you fancy. It doesn’t have to be lonely. When I’ve wanted company on travels, I’ve taken sailing lessons in the Caribbean and learnt Spanish in Cuba.

"I’ve made friends on yoga retreats and fitness camps around the world and realised I am capable of coping with so much more than I ever thought.

"I’m completely honest in what I write, sharing the hairy moments – like the time my room was broken into while I slept in St Lucia – as well as the highlights.

"I love to feature ‘off the beaten track’ experiences such as an incredible hike in Grenada when a local guide accompanied me through tiny trails in the rainforest to the most incredible waterfalls."

A new partnership

Sue and Larry on their wedding day (Image credit: Sue Ross)

"Completely unexpectedly, I met an amazing new partner a couple of years ago, Larry, and we married this May before completing the Camino de Santiago 500km hike across Spain for our honeymoon.

"Together with Larry, I notched up visiting my 81st country on a Norwegian cruise recently, and this September we’re setting off on a serious adventure.

"Inspired by the first series of Race across the World, we’re travelling from London to Singapore by land together – a journey which will take three months. I hope he realises what he’s taken on!"

An incredible confidence booster

(Image credit: Sue Ross)

"Travel has provided me with such incredible experiences, grown my confidence and helped me heal. I’d encourage anyone keen to see more of the world to get out there and do it.

"Start simple, build up your confidence and chat to fellow travellers and locals along the way to get as much advice and input as you can."

From a 51-year ban on women playing football to making history again: as the nation celebrates the Lionesses' victory parade today, we’re finally making up for lost time

Heidi Scrimgeour — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 18:53:14 +0000

If you were ever in any doubt about the importance of the England women’s national football team, their triumphant win in the final of the UEFA Women’s Euros has made it undeniable. With pubs staying open late on Sunday and a jubilant Lionesses victory parade taking place in London today, the UK is celebrating a match declared of 'exceptional national significance' by the government.

To my 11-year-old daughter - who trains with a squad for promising youth players and has talked of becoming a Lioness since she was three years old - this all feels completely normal. She can't conceive of a world in which women don't play football. But for those of us who grew up in a different era, this feels like a watershed; a moment not just for football or even sport, but for women.

Sports broadcaster and former England hockey player Katie Shanahan has been the dedicated Lioness Reporter covering the Women's Euros for ITV. The England v Italy match was the most-watched ITV broadcast of 2025 so far, and the tournament has broken records as the highest-attended Women’s Euros ever, with over 600,000 fans in the stands. Katie spoke exclusively to woman&home from the team’s basecamp in Zürich, reflecting on what it was like to be pitch-side throughout the Lionesses' historic tournament - one that has now ended in glory, with England crowned champions and a victory parade taking place today.

“For years, women were banned from playing, so we lost all this enjoyment of the game,” Katie says. “Even a few tournaments ago, we weren’t selling out stadiums or reaching millions on TV. Imagine saying to the former Lionesses of 20 or 30 years ago that one day, a women's international semi-final would be watched by millions on TV, or that pubs would stay open late because of women’s football. It’s literally what dreams are made of.”

The Football Association banned women’s football from its grounds in 1921, declaring it 'unsuitable for females' - a ban that lasted for 51 years. In 2005, when England played their opening match in the UEFA Women's Euros, fewer than 1,000 fans turned out to support them. Contrast that with this year’s tournament, which shattered previous attendance records, becoming the most‑attended Women’s European Championship ever with a total of 657,291 fans attending all matches across the group stages and knockout rounds. The final, in which England defeated Spain, was not only the most-watched women's football match ever in the UK- with an audience of 22.1 million, surpassing the previous record of 17.4 million set during Euro 2022 - but also the most-watched televised event of 2025.

Katie, who played hockey for England at the highest level for five years, knows the thrill of international competition firsthand. She admits to missing her hockey career, but says witnessing the shift the Lionesses are bringing to the sporting landscape - and sharing it live with the nation - is the next best thing. She feels a responsibility not just to "get the answers the nation wants" after each match, but to tell the broader story behind the Lionesses’ triumph and the long road it took to get here.

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"I also feel it's my role to tell their stories in the best possible way - to get the best out of them and to deliver the best coverage," she says. "I think we owe it to the women's game. It's going from strength to strength, and I feel very responsible to keep growing and taking it to new heights," she says.

It’s a weighty responsibility - because for girls like my daughter, the Lionesses are no longer just role models; they’re champions, living proof that they can be anything. And for women of my generation, their self-belief is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

"Take Michelle Agyemang - less than four years ago, she was a ball girl, watching from the sidelines during Sarina Wiegman's first game in charge of England," Katie says. “Now she's helping put them into a major tournament final. She told me she only needs 10 seconds to change a game, and she’s proved it."

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Throughout the tournament, the Lionesses' off-pitch lives have also captured attention, shining a light on the broader story of who they are, what they represent, and how far they’ve come. Their personal rituals and routines have helped young fans connect with them in meaningful ways. Chloe Kelly’s shin pads, for example - decorated with photos of her husband and their two dogs - are always carefully laid out in the “pristine” dressing room before each match, Katie tells us.

These intimate glimpses into their world make them even more relatable for young girls like my daughter. (She sat in on my interview with Katie, and when she asked her what the Lionesses eat for breakfast - lots of eggs and plenty of protein if you're curious - I realised just how different her world is from the one I grew up in. We didn't talk about female footballers, never mind think to ask them for nutrition tips.)

"Michelle Agyemang brought out a piano - she plays every single day to relax. They even brought their own barista to basecamp, and he’s got a dog, so they called him the coffee dog,” Katie laughs. “And I’ve got to tell you - the dressing room playlist is amazing. They've got Vindaloo, Sweet Caroline - just everything. I need this playlist, it’s so, so good. Then they come out of the dressing room high-fiving each other until the tunnel… and then, silence. So composed. So calm.”

The post-match atmosphere, though, is something else entirely. “After the Italy game, there was an absolute party in the dressing room,” Katie says. “They were singing and banging on the desks, Freed From Desire was blasting, and I’m trying to interview Sarina. I’m like - can you tell them to stop?”

Recently, Katie has looked back at interviews with former England players and been reminded of what they went through - "all the sexism and misogyny" - to pave the way for today's Lionesses. "Journalists used to ask players, 'What does your husband do?' and 'Who's looking after the children?'" Katie explains. "I think that's a real testament, not only to the former Lionesses and their resilience and perseverance to continue growing the game, but also to the Lionesses of today to maintain that legacy."

(Image credit: Getty Images (Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))

The current Lionesses’ journey to this historic win hasn’t been without pain. Defender Jess Carter faced racial abuse during the tournament - a moment that tested not just the individual but the entire squad. In a powerful public statement, manager Sarina Wiegman condemned the abuse as “ridiculous and disgusting,” calling it a moment to “send a message to the world.”

“Georgia Stanway told me they’re exposing their vulnerabilities in this tournament - not only on the pitch, but off it as well,” Katie adds. "We’re seeing that in those huge moments where they have to dig really deep and find belief from somewhere - in the last kick of the game, or during nerve-wracking penalty shootouts. And we're also seeing it off the pitch with Jess going through something no player should ever have to experience - just abhorrent behaviour. But I think that France game, that moment of adversity, really brought them together."

While there’s still more work to do before the women’s game is seen on an equal footing as the men’s, Katie feels this tournament's coverage has begun to reflect the quality of play on the pitch. With that, she believes, comes a responsibility to apply the same interview standards to male and female players. "If we want true equality, we have to analyse the game the same way we do for men," Katie explains. "I always think: 'Is this fair? How would I ask Harry Kane this?' We need the same criticism and quality analysis we see in the men’s game."

As the Lionesses lift the trophy today, their back-to-back Euros win marks a first in English football history - male or female. It’s a defining moment not just for sport, but for women everywhere. For Katie, this is deeply personal. “I know the girls well, Serena and I have a wonderful relationship, and I feel like I’m on this journey with them. It reminds me of what I miss about playing hockey - the energy, the bond, the buzz,” she says. “But this is the next best thing. These players inspire me to go home and put some of that inspiration into my own life.”

That’s a sentiment many of us share. Because while today’s parade is another history-making moment for the Lionesses, it also represents something even bigger. It’s not just about greater visibility for women in sport, or even pubs staying open in recognition that the women's game constitutes a moment of exceptional national significance. It's about reclaiming spaces that women were once shut out of.

“If they can win back-to-back Euros, and do what no England team, male or female, has ever done - win a major tournament overseas - just think what that means for the game,” Katie says.

Now, she believes, we can finally start making up for those 51 years of lost time.

What time is the Lionesses victory parade?

The England women’s football team will be celebrated in a public homecoming event today, Tuesday, 29 July. The open-top bus procession begins on The Mall in London at 12:10 pm BST, carrying the players into central London. The procession is expected to reach the Queen Victoria Memorial at approximately 12:30 pm where a ceremony hosted by Alex Scott will take place. The celebration will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV and Sky between 12:00 and 1:00 pm.

"When I first joined The Magic Circle, all I could see were white-haired men in ties... now I'm its first female chair"

Ellie Fennell — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:30:00 +0000

"I saw magic for the first time when I was eight and was instantly obsessed. After that, I spent all my pocket money on tricks," remembers Laura London, now 41.

"I had every Marvin’s Magic set possible and performed to anyone who was willing to watch. When I was accepted into The Magic Circle, the world-famous society for magicians, I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

"I was so eager, I did my exam on my 18th birthday and found out that I had passed just a few days later, becoming its youngest-ever female member."

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"However, walking through the famous doors of its HQ near London’s Euston for the first time, I wasn’t sure it was right for me. I was a scarlet-haired, Mohawk-styled punk. All I could see were white-haired men in ties, very few women – and one of those was working behind the bar.

"I’m fortunate that as I left, I bumped into a legendary female magician called Fay Presto, who persuaded me to give the society a chance, and she went on to become my close friend and mentor.

"I made many more friends through The Magic Circle – they are like my second family. Not only did they teach me tricks and how to perform, I also learnt how to turn my hobby into a successful career.

"I started out demonstrating tricks on the magic stand in Covent Garden, before becoming a full-time performer."

Laura on stage with Jonathan Ross (Image credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

"I sometimes wish I could go back and tell my younger self that it’s all going to work out. Teenage me would never believe that one day I’d be flown out to perform at New Year’s Eve celebrations on Niyama Island in the Maldives or that I’d be entertaining the Royal Family at Windsor Castle!

"Last year, I was voted The Magic Circle’s first female chair, a complete surprise and honour. Having left school at 15 with no qualifications, I wasn’t sure I’d succeed at anything, let alone take on a prestigious role like this. I’m so glad that I didn’t listen to those who doubted my abilities when I was younger.

"I’m surprised both at how much I am enjoying it and how good I seem to be at leading this council of enthusiastic, talented magicians. We have big plans to host more events at HQ, and are working to attract younger, more diverse groups into magic with our young magicians initiative.

"While only 5% of Magic Circle members are female, 15% of our Young Magicians Club are young girls. I’m so proud that the society is at the forefront of encouraging more women to join this wonderful industry."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the July 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

"I've rebuilt my life working as a doctor in the UK after fleeing Venezuela in disguise"

Ellie Fennell — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

"For so many years in Venezuela, I had a wonderful life with my son, daughter and husband. Having established a paediatric clinic in Caracas with a colleague, I loved my work and my wonderful team and had a great social life with lots of local friends and family," says Dr Niloha Rangel, 51.

But political instability and economic collapse changed all of that for her and her family.

"By 2016, the country was facing severe shortages of both food and medical supplies. There were huge job losses, much unrest, and kidnapping was rife. As people took to the streets in protest, there were mass imprisonments, with many families not knowing where their relatives were.

"I was devastated to see so many children suffering from malnutrition and unable to help many sick patients, as I had no access to vital medications like antibiotics or anaesthetics.

"Alongside many other medics, I joined the protests and was frequently tear-gassed.

"Our clinic was also attacked after I raised the Red Cross flag over it to try to protect my patients under the 1949 Geneva Convention. It felt like living in a war zone."

(Image credit: Dr Niloha Rangel)

"My identity as a medical activist became known after I gave a high-profile radio interview about the state of the country, and I was arrested and tortured, with my release only secured after my brother paid for it.

"Soon afterwards, my 18-year-old son (who prefers not to be named) was kidnapped for three days, and again we had to pay $20k to secure his release.

"I realised it was simply not safe to stay in the country. My family tried to persuade me to stay and live in hiding, but I knew that I would eventually be found, so I made a plan for my son and me to escape."

Our escape

"We drove for 12 hours to the border and at 4am one morning late in 2017 made the terrifying crossing of the 3km bridge between Venezuela and Colombia, together with thousands of other refugees.

"I was so afraid of being recognised that I disguised myself as an old lady in a wheelchair with thick glasses and a white wig – I was 43 but looked 83! As my son pushed me to safety, my heart was pounding. It was the scariest thing I have ever done, and I was terrified we would be detained.

"Having safely got to a refugee camp, I got in touch with the Salvation Army to offer my services as a medic, and spent a year there treating fellow displaced people.

"However, it was no life as I couldn’t leave the camp or walk anywhere freely for fear of being captured by the Venezuelan military, who were still present in Colombia around the camps.

"In 2018, the Salvation Army gave my son and me the opportunity to go to the UK. It was tough to accept that we needed to start all over again, but we were destitute and homeless, so looking for permanent asylum in a safe country seemed the only option."

Starting again

(Image credit: Dr Niloha Rangel)

"Arriving in Wrexham in Wales, we were so lucky to be taken in by the Thomas family – an older couple whose grown-up children had moved out and had chosen to host refugees. It’s amazing that I am still living with them now, all these years later. They saved us.

"I started volunteering again with the British Red Cross and took up English speaking classes at college. With only £26 a week of benefits, we survived on kind donations of clothes and food bank supplies before I started to earn some money through my research work.

"I soon made some friends and began running again through Park Run."

Working again

"I was granted asylum in 2019 and started the necessary retraining to be able to work as a doctor in the UK. Since then, I have contributed to many research papers and conferences as a keynote speaker.

"I even recently had a piece of work published in the esteemed medical journal The Lancet, which was a wonderful achievement.

"It took some time for my wounds to heal and to feel I really belonged. I still greatly miss my family, and especially my daughter, who remains in Venezuela, but she comes to visit often.

"I have never regretted what I did in standing up for the rights of my patients and colleagues. It cost me a lot, but Wales is such a beautiful country, which I’m now proud to call home, and I’m fully involved in life here, including becoming an ardent fan of Wrexham AFC and even meeting Ryan Reynolds!

"I continue to speak out for the rights of asylum seekers and to take on new battles for fellow displaced families every day – I’m currently working to get free transport passes for refugees.

"I want to help others who find themselves in a similarly hard situation to see that it is possible to reinvent yourself and create a new, happy life. I believe everyone deserves a chance for a new beginning and the opportunity to live in peace."

"We opened our home and our hearts to a Ukrainian refugee – three years on, she’s part of our family"

Michelle Rowley — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:31:06 +0000

“When people see Svitlana and me working and laughing together on my cake stand, they’d have no clue what our relationship is,” says cake maker Kara Dexter, 53, from Cheshire.

Although they appear to be both long-term friends and colleagues, nobody would guess that the relationship is something much deeper. Indeed, the sweetest thing on a Cakes by Kara stand isn’t for sale – it’s the connection between the two women from different worlds who came together as family.

“I watched in disbelief in February 2022 as the news about Russia's invasion of Ukraine rolled in, and I wanted to do something. My husband Mark and I discussed fostering or supporting refugees. We had the space. We had the willingness. So, when we heard about the Homes for Ukraine scheme, it felt like the right time to act.”

Katie, Mark, Harry and Kara (Image credit: Kara Dexter)

“Yet we also had to consider how our children Katie and Harry, aged 16 and 14 at the time, would feel having a stranger living in their home – especially as Harry was very shy and Katie was in her final year of school. Thankfully, though, they were wonderfully supportive of the idea.

"I saw a message on a local Facebook group from someone in need of bedding and phones for a Ukrainian they were hosting. I got in touch with this family to ask if the lady staying with them, Oksana, had any family members who needed help.

"That’s how we became introduced to Svitlana and her daughter, Kate – Oksana’s 40-year-old sister and 18-year-old niece who lived in the small city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine.”

Moving in

Kate and Svitlana (Image credit: Svitlana Svichar)

“We had some video calls together, for everyone’s peace of mind, and by May 27th, they were on their way to start a new life with us. It must have been so daunting for them, especially as I had to be away when they arrived. Mark picked them up from the airport and got them settled, so they were putting their trust in a man they barely knew.

"Two days later, despite the language barrier, we instantly felt like friends when we met. Very quickly, it felt like we were family. We all knew very early on that one day we’d all be together at any potential future weddings of our children.

“We made it clear that our home was also Svitlana’s and Kate’s home. They had an en-suite room to share and complete freedom to join us anywhere in the house, or not at all.

"At first, they kept to themselves a lot, watching Ukrainian TV upstairs and wanting to stay connected to home. Over time, things shifted. Svitlana started joining me for tea, staying for chats, and asking questions about the English language. It never felt awkward.

"The only change I made to my life is that now I never wear my pyjamas downstairs!”

Settling in

Svitlana and Kara on the cake stall (Image credit: Kara Dexter)

“Just three weeks after her arrival, Svitlana started a job in a local office, having been warmly welcomed by the community in our village, Holmes Chapel in Cheshire.”

Meanwhile, Kate had been able to transfer her studies from the Ivan Frankl National University of Lviv to online until she moved to Lithuania a few months later for university. “She’s now studying for a Master’s degree there and comes home to us during the holidays,” says Kara.

Despite working full-time, Svitlana also chooses to help Kara with her Cakes by Kara business. “I never asked Svitlana to help – she just showed up, saw what needed doing, and jumped in,” says Kara, adding, “She’s the boss on the market stall!" Her English, once hesitant and reliant on Kate, is now peppered with local colloquialisms and good humour.

Part of the family

“We’ve shared many happy memories together, including a Christmas with 12 traditional Ukrainian dishes. I see the experience as a gift. We’ve all learned and grown.

"I’ve gained family and seen courage and resilience up close. Harry has grown in confidence, and as Katie heads off to Australia, she carries with her the lived understanding that you can make a life in a new country and that distance doesn’t have to break connection."

For Svitlana, the experience is bittersweet, but she is happy. “This event was not planned in my life, especially in such a context, but circumstances forced me to make a decision for myself and my daughter," she says.

"I was worried, but Kara and her family welcomed us so warmly and provided a sense of peace, comfort and acceptance. I am deeply grateful that they became our safe haven and family in the UK.”

"I became a doctor in my 40s – if you're thinking of changing course in life, you should go for it"

Ellie Fennell — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:55:06 +0000

Joanna Cannon left school at 15, with just one O-level, and spent years working in a series of jobs - including delivering pizzas - before making the bold decision in her mid-30s to follow her dream of becoming a doctor. Now, 57, she reflects on what it took to change direction in midlife and why she believes it's never too late to start again.

"As a teenager, the pressure of deciding what I wanted to do with my life was so overwhelming that I opted out of education, aged 15, with just one French O-level. I carried on reading textbooks while taking on all sorts of jobs, from kennel maid to waitress, but never got round to heading back to school.

"I was 35 and delivering pizzas for a living when a paramedic on a first-aid course changed everything. I’d always been interested in medicine, but felt I’d left it too late. The paramedic disagreed, and the next day, I applied to do three science A levels at college in Derby.

"I loved those two years studying alongside loads of energetic teenagers during the day, and delivering pizzas in the evening and at weekends. With good grades predicted, I excitedly went along to an interview to read medicine at Leicester University, but was mortified when the professor seemed fixated on my date of birth. ‘Why does my age matter? If you want to reject me, at least give me a good reason,’ I suggested to him. Receiving my offer letter two weeks later was, therefore, quite a shock!

"Medical school was hard. I wanted to stay living in my house in the Peak District, so it was a five-hour round trip to Leicester every day. But I was determined and financed it all myself, continuing to deliver pizzas and taking out student loans. While I didn’t go out much after lectures, I made so many close friends who I’m still in touch with. The intensity of medical school creates a strong bonding experience. It requires huge dedication – I even spent my 40th birthday in an anatomy lecture!"

"Seeing the name 'Dr Cannon' was a pinch-me moment"

"It was a pinch-me moment seeing my name as ‘Dr Cannon’ on my first shift rota, aged 42 – I couldn’t believe I’d done it. My age did mean that both patients and doctors always seemed to assume I was more senior than I was, and often asked for me, as they wanted someone with more experience! I went on to specialise in psychiatry, which was both fascinating and rewarding.

"I’d started writing fiction for fun in the hospital car park during my breaks. In 2014, I entered a competition at the York Literature Festival, which led to the publication of my first novel, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. I took time out of medicine for a few years, while volunteering to support local mental health services. I’m now working with the Staffordshire NHS Trust, bringing psychiatry and storytelling together in a creative development programme to help those with mental illness.

"Society’s preconceptions about what you should do at what age are utter nonsense. I’ve seen so many lives cut short, and I encourage anyone considering changing course in life to go for it. Our days should be filled with things that make us happy."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the July 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.

"I'd given up hope of breaking the 'career break curse', but finally I've secured a job I love"

Ellie Fennell — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“There were many times, working as a shelf stacker in a local supermarket, where I questioned what I was doing with my life,” recalls Renu Amin, 40, a mechanical engineer who took 10 years out of her career to bring up her son, Dominic.

Like many women in similar positions, she was shocked to discover how hard it was to find her way back onto the career ladder.

“The store work was physically hard and very dull, with all breaks closely monitored and little interaction with others. I started to wonder whether I would ever get back to doing the job for which I had trained so hard.”

Time out for family

"After finishing my degree in engineering, I had been working as a Piping and Machinery designer in a shipyard near my hometown in Gujurat, India, when I got pregnant with my son Dominic in 2009.

"Having given birth, it became clear that returning part-time was not an option, and the full-time hours were very long, so my husband, Peter, and I decided that he would work while I took a career break.

"The cost of living in India was low and the culture was very focused on family and kids, so it felt the right thing to do.

"As Dominic turned 11, my husband’s company posted him back to England in 2020. This coincided with my son starting high school, so I decided I would like to return to engineering to help contribute to the higher living expenses in the UK.

"I felt ready to work outside home again."

Joyless job-search

Renu Amin at work now (Image credit: Renu Amin)

"Little did I know how hard it would be to secure a job. I spent a year looking for engineering positions, initially in shipbuilding and then in any industry, sending in several hundred applications, but I got nowhere. It was so demoralising.

"I couldn’t bear sitting at home doing nothing and knew it would be good for me to meet other people and get out of the house.

"I took on a few roles for which I was hugely over-qualified just to get into the workplace again – working in a supermarket and then in an optician's – but it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing nor what I was qualified for.

"All the while, I was continuing to look for any engineering opportunities and happened upon a LinkedIn post by the Women’s Engineering Society mentioning something called a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Returners program and sharing some of their success stories.

"A local engineering firm called Aquilar Nuclear was looking for someone to join the scheme – it felt like it was meant to be."

The daunting first step

(Image credit: Renu Amin)

"I was delighted to be offered a place on their 12-week program in September 2022 but also very nervous.

"It had been a long time since I’d used my engineering brain, and my experience was in a totally different sector to Aquilar Nuclear.

"It was also going to be a very new work culture vs my previous work life in India, plus English was my third language.

"On the first day, I put all these concerns to one side and threw myself wholeheartedly into learning as much as I could. It was amazing to be back working and stretched intellectually again.

"I felt I was making a positive impact, but it was a wonderful surprise when my manager approached me in my 10th week on the scheme to offer me a permanent role."

Finding my place again

"Initially, it was an entry-level post, but I’ve gradually made my way up in the company and I'm now a Mechanical Design Engineer. My role has grown every year, and I love working with a lot of different teams across many projects.

"Thanks to my perseverance, my career dreams eventually came true. I kept believing that I had more to offer and stayed positive even when I knew my skills weren’t being utilised.

"I now feel valued and mentally challenged, doing a role which I spent all those years training for.

"I’m continuing to push and develop myself and have recently been elected a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (the first person to gain such recognition at Aquilar), and I’ve also nearly finished my Master of Science qualification."

Never give up

"I know I’m not alone in finding it hard even to get an interview when returning to work after time out caring for family.

"I hope my story might inspire others who are struggling to overcome the 'career break curse' to persevere and look at all possible entry points.

"I feel so fortunate I found STEM Returners, which helped to open the door to my new career. It still took a lot of bravery and hard work to leap right through it, but I’m so glad I did."

“Retirement was boring – so I became a foster mum at 75”

Kathryn Lewsey — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000

“Scooping up the tiny baby, I felt my mother's instinct kick in. ‘It’s okay, you're safe,’ I soothed. At 75, I’d become a foster mum for the first time,” Patricia Swan tells us.

“My husband, Phillip, and I had decided to become foster parents after retiring. Our first kids were siblings, a six-month-old girl and her big brother who was 17 months old.

“'You look after the baby and I’ll take care of the boy',” Phillip suggested.

Patricia Swan, who started fostering children after retirement (Image credit: Patricia Swan)

“That first day was daunting, I felt overwhelmed. But then I thought back to when my own three kids were little. All we needed to do was feed, love, help and teach them.

“We soon found our groove and it was magical as we helped them meet milestones – getting the baby on solids and the toddler to a point where he could feed himself. I loved reading them bedtime stories and giving them a cuddle.

"And there was no better sound than hearing the gorgeous belly giggles they made when they found something funny.”

A long and thorough process

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“The idea of fostering had first popped into my head in 2022, aged 73. Making banana bread in the kitchen, an appeal for foster carers played on the radio. ‘Gosh, are they really that desperate?’ I wondered.

“I phoned my daughter, Tracy, who’d been fostering herself for the past eight years. ‘Mother, you’re too old,’ she said. ‘I can only try,’ I replied, feeling determined.

“I realised that I was feeling very bored since retiring from my housekeeping career five years earlier. I often helped out my youngest, Samantha, with caring for the horses that she owned, but once I was back at home, I felt restless.

“With Philip on board too, I got the ball rolling and registered with an agency called Fostering Solutions. The process was very long and thorough – a social worker came over to assess our home and we needed to provide references and a list of everywhere we’d worked and lived, along with a police record check.

“Sadly, several months in, we had to put a pause on the process when Phillip was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Once his treatment finished and he got the all-clear, we picked things up again.

“In September 2023, our application was put forward to the panel and I was devastated to hear that we’d been rejected as we lacked experience with traumatised children.

“Speaking on the phone to a member of the board, I said, ‘99 per cent of people in this world don’t have experience with traumatised children.’

“Our case was re-assessed by an independent body and a week later, I received a phone call confirming we’d been accepted. I felt excitement and fear – it was really happening!"

Moving on to new homes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“We had the baby girl and her brother for seven months before they left to be adopted by friends of their family. The thought of them going really affected me, especially the baby whom I’d seen grow and develop so much. ‘She’s so dependent on me,’ I thought.

“‘Babies can adapt easily,’ the social worker assured me.”

“It broke my heart when they left, but when I went to visit them in their new home, it was lovely. They were being showered with love and affection. What more could a child want?

“Since then, we’ve fostered three sisters for several months and a little two-year-old boy who is still with us right now.

“He was very quiet when he first arrived, but over the months he’s come out of his shell and he adores pottering around in the garden with Phillip. I’ve potty-trained him, as well as helped him with his speech. We also pay for him to go to nursery three days a week so he can interact with other kids."

Pure joy

“Fostering has genuinely brought me so much joy and I’m so glad that it’s something I decided to try at this stage of my life. I think it’s a good thing to be doing at my age – it keeps life busy and makes a big difference to your own world as well as the kids’.

“I love seeing how well the little ones progress in our care and I see myself as the first stepping stone before wherever they go next in life.

“All these children need is some love, guidance and a feeling of safety. For as long as I continue being fit and healthy, I’ll keep on fostering. It’s worth it – especially when you see their little faces light up with a smile.”

Fostering facts

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The latest National Fostering Group figures reveal that 12,500 foster carers are urgently needed across the UK, where there’s also an estimated 26 million spare bedrooms. Types of fostering include:

Short-term: Providing a child or young person with a place to stay until they can return to their own family.

Respite: A type of short-term foster placement where the child or children are placed with a foster family to provide a break to their current foster family.

Long-term fostering: A child or young person lives with a committed foster parent until they reach adulthood.

Emergency: A short-term placement that provides immediate care for a child who is at immediate risk.

For more information on fostering, head to the National Fostering Group website.

"I've no intention of hanging up my dancing shoes, even after 50 years as a choreographer in London's West End"

Ellie Fennell — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:30:00 +0000

“I started dancing at two and a half and I’m still going seven decades later. My Mum was a wonderful dancer,” recalls Jenny Arnold, 77, who lives with her partner in London and is currently working on the Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated musical Operation Mincemeat, and preparing for their world tour later this year.

“I guess it was in my genes. From the age of 11, I attended the Arts Educational School (now known as Tring Park, School for Performing Arts). I absolutely loved my time there learning everything from ballet to tap to modern.

"After I left College, I worked as a dancer on Pantos and Summer Seasons and was chosen to perform in a nationwide tour of Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand, but sadly, it was cancelled by the producers. I was mortified. So, I got married instead!

"Mike, my husband, was the Stage Manager at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. As a result, I was often backstage and an assistant of Mike’s called Patrick Ryecart (who went on to become a wonderful actor) asked if I’d help him choreograph his production of Hamlet. Unwittingly, this started my choreography career."

Fun at Footlights

"I had no formal training in choreography, but realised I’d learnt so much about dance ‘on the job’ and Cambridge was a wonderful place to start out as it had such a thriving performing arts scene.

I worked with Cambridge University’s Footlights for many seasons, teaching the likes of Clive Anderson, Emma Thompson and Sandy Toksvig how to dance and made a bit of a name for myself at being able to get non-dancers to move."

Jenny directing performers during the Operation Mincemeat Broadway rehearsals (Image credit: Jenny Arnold)

"I did go ‘back to school’ to the Laban Centre in my mid 40s to see if I had been doing it right for 20 years – and thankfully came away with a Professional Diploma proving I had!

"My choreographic style varies from show to show, although Hip Hop was a challenge to get my head around when that hit the mainstream – I’ll sometimes leave those pieces to one of my very talented assistants!"

Jerry Springer the Opera and winning awards

(Image credit: Jenny Arnold)

"One of my favourite experiences was working on Jerry Springer the Opera when it launched at London's National Theatre in 2003. I knew from the minute I first got involved with the project that it would bomb or be brilliant.

"Whilst it was certainly completely bonkers, it was also brilliant! There were 33 people on stage for me to coordinate for our finale, yet only eight of the 33 were trained tap dancers and there was a big tap section. That was quite a challenge but felt incredible when we pulled it off and the show went on to get great reviews and win multiple Olivier Awards and other accolades.

"I still dance now as much as I can. I have a slightly dodgy right knee so can’t jump quite as well as I used to, but I’m very much involved in everything from auditions for the tour in New York to training up new cast for Operation Mincemeat in London.

"I’m also Resident Choreographer for Opera Della Luna, recently working on the Mikado with them."

Age is merely a number

Jenny (third from right) onstage during the Operation Mincemeat Broadway opening night at Golden Theatre on March 20, 2025 in New York City (Image credit: Dia Dipasupil for Getty Images)

"I forget that I’m technically ‘old’ at 77. Despite there often being long days and late nights, my energy levels are still great and (thankfully) no one in the theatre treats me any differently.

"I only ever remember my age when kind people get up on the bus to offer me a seat. It did also hit me recently, when I had to walk down Operation Mincemeat’s super glamorous yellow carpet as the show opened on Broadway. It’s harder to look as glam as you used to when you’re almost 80." (We couldn't disagree more, seeing how radiant Jenny looked that night!)

"I love the creativity of my job and that moment when a dance I have ‘seen’ in my head comes to life on stage.

"My kids sometimes make the odd remark that it might be time to take it easy and work a bit less, but they’re also very supportive. It’s fun when my grandchildren come along to see my shows or spot my name popping up on the credits of a movie like Nativity, which I also worked on.

"I don’t actively go out looking for work now but, having been in the industry for so long and made so many wonderful friends in that time, the jobs seem to keep coming.

"I just take each day at a time. So long as I can keep dancing and enjoy that buzz of getting great performances out of others, I plan to!”

"You’re doing two full-time, emotional jobs" – 3 women share their 'sandwich carer' experiences

Ellie Fennell — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 11:30:00 +0000

With ageing populations globally, the ‘Sandwich generation’ is growing rapidly. It’s estimated that 1.4 million adults in the UK and 11 million in the US, the majority of whom are women aged 35-64, spend many hours a week juggling the needs of family members at both ends of the age spectrum.

Balancing these dual caregiving roles alongside work responsibilities and other commitments can create immense pressure, with many reporting feeling stressed, low on money and short on time.

The mental health impact is also significant, with the Office for National Statistics finding 31% of sandwich carers in the UK report symptoms of depression or anxiety (vs 24% in the general population) and 19% diagnosed with depression (vs 13% among all adults).

Different setups

Rachael Piltch-Loeb and her dad (Image credit: Rachael Piltch-Loeb)

Rachael Piltch-Loeb, 35, is a Professor of Public Health who lives in New York with her husband and three young children. She recently wrote a book titled The Millennial Caregiver, sharing her experience of assuming a caregiving role for her father, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 58 in the same year her first son, now five, was born.

“It was one of the starkest contrasts to see the development of a child and the decline of a parent concurrently. My siblings and I took turns supporting my dad and offering respite to my mum, who was also working full time.

"We each assumed different roles based on our own personal and professional commitments. Given my career experience, I took on the research and management of care decisions.”

For Rachael, there were specific challenges in just entering the early stages of motherhood herself whilst taking on looking after a parent.

Victoria Lyons works at Dementia UK (Image credit: Victoria Lyons)

Dementia specialist Victoria Lyons, 50, who works at Dementia UK, is currently caring for her mother-in-law as well as her children aged 12 and 15.

“Like many, I had my children later in life, so my mother-in-law is now 90. Having been a widow since 1977, she was diagnosed with dementia in lockdown and, whilst she still lives alone, we are just two minutes’ walk away.

"My husband, Andrew and I spend well over 30 hours a week with her, as well as both working. The longest we ever leave her is two to three hours.”

Sarah Gates, 49, has also taken on the role of a sandwich carer, supporting her granny, father and mother alongside looking after her teenage children for eight years.

She left her full-time lecturing job to be able to regularly visit her parents and grandmother (who lived 2.5 hours away) and still be hands-on at home with her teens.

Sarah tag-teams on visits with her brother, David, but when her father died five years ago, she turned to Age UK, which helped organise a carer for her mum.

“Mum was hugely resistant and angry about receiving any help. Her ‘PA’ was originally introduced to help her with ‘admin and typing’. Once she was accepted as a friend, her visits became part of the routine.

"Now the team can cook meals, offer personal care and take Mum to appointments and out for a coffee too. Unfortunately, this amazing service comes at a cost, so we need to sell her house to fund getting her into a home near me.”

Deeply challenging

Despite Victoria’s training as a dementia specialist, Admiral Nurse, her caregiving role at home puts significant strain on the family. She and her husband need to balance the school runs and kids’ commitments while also getting her mother-in-law to a care centre three days a week, preparing her meals and seeing to her personal care.

“It’s harder than I ever thought it would be, and we don’t always get things right," she says.

"My husband and I both try to keep a handle on our stress levels and minimise the impact on the children, but I know at times they both feel like it is ‘nanny first.’

"The experience has given the kids a greater understanding of what care means as well as an awareness of dementia.

"Spending so much time with my mother-in-law, there are moments of joy and great laughter – Nanny has a very funny sense of humour and listening to her and the boys cracking up and playing together is a real bonus.”

Look after yourself too

(Image credit: Rachael Piltch-Loeb)

Rachael has some advice for others faced with so many life transitions – starting families, building careers, trying to afford housing, then adding caregiving into the mix suddenly.

“First, lower the bar," advises Rachael. "You’re doing two full-time, emotional jobs, so let go of the idea that you must show up 100% for everyone every day. It’s ok if some days your toddler gets screen time, and your dad gets a frozen meal.

"Second, accept help in whatever form it shows up, even if it’s imperfect. And third, protect time for yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup – and I say that not as an inspirational quote but as a survival strategy.”

The Millennial Caregiver by Rachael Piltch-Loeb

Rachael's book is available to buy now, in paperback or Kindle editions.

Practical advice

Victoria recommends devices such as a Ring doorbell (to prevent wandering, reduce anxiety, and provide a sense of security) and a dementia clock in addition to lots of noticeboards, pictures and signage as helpful practical steps.

Sarah found obtaining Power of Attorney (a legal document that grants a carer the authority to act on someone’s behalf in legal, health and financial matters) a vital early step.

“We obtained two types of Power of Attorney (PoA) – one for health and one for finance, which were crucial in helping us look after Mum, Dad and my Granny (who died last year).

"When it comes to health, PoA enables you to call the GP to get test results or to make decisions regarding end-of-life care when the time comes.

"With finance, it meant being able to pay bills, budget for carers, order groceries online and help get cash for Mum when she’d forgotten her PIN number.”

Getting help

“Caring for elderly parents, grandparents, and teenagers means you must expect the unexpected. Meeting everyone’s basic needs is the easier part," Sarah reflects.

"The hard part is the emotional fallout. Finding time to reassure a parent with dementia who feels lost and anxious alongside a teen who has had a horrible A-level exam and is upset and panicking is full on.

"There’s an underlying feeling of anxiety as you try to work out what’s best to support your loved ones with such different demands, but I’ve become better at delegating, getting help and asking people for advice.”

The constant balancing act of sandwich caring is highly pressurised, so seeking out guidance and help is essential. A growing network of services offers emotional support and practical input, as well as connecting communities of fellow carers and giving moments of peace amidst the pressure.

In the UK

For advice or support on caring for someone living with dementia, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or helpline@dementiauk.org.

Carers UK, Action for Carers and Citizens Advice are also good sources of advice.

In the US

The Family Caregiver Alliance, the National Council on Aging, and local Area Agencies on Aging can provide help and advice on how best to support your family

"I never imagined I'd become a Lioness footballer" – Sarah Haskins on making her England Amputee debut

Ellie Fennell — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Playing sport for your country is something millions of people dream about – especially if, like us, you've been gripped by Euro 2025 – but only a small minority ever get the chance.

Sarah Haskins, 43, is a senior scientist and mum of three, and plays for the England Women's Amputee national football team. Here, she tells woman&home about her incredible journey to represent England at the World Cup.

"Having been born with no calf bone in my right leg and a shortened, slightly curved tibia, I’d been unable to walk without a prosthesis fitted to the natural shape of my ‘little leg’ since childhood.

"However, by my late 30s, poor hip alignment caused by the prosthesis was becoming increasingly painful. I was struggling to walk even short distances, which made life very difficult as a mum of three energetic young boys, then aged 11, seven and three. So in January 2022, aged 40, I made the decision to have my lower leg amputated.

"Surprisingly, the amputation had a positive effect on how I felt about my disability. I found peace with my appearance, starting to wear dresses and shorts for the first time. That mindset shift also opened my eyes to other options like sport, which had previously felt closed to me."

Sarah with her family (Image credit: Sarah Haskins)

"In late 2023, Instagram posts about a new England women’s amputee football team grabbed my attention.

"Outfield players are single-leg amputees, who use crutches as they play without their prosthetics; goalkeepers have an upper limb difference.

"It sounded great, but in my 40s, I felt too old and too busy juggling motherhood and full-time work as an NHS scientist to get involved. However, I messaged a few players to wish them luck and one, Annabel, replied, 'Come and give it a go!'"

"I’m proof you should always give things a go"

"It’s unlike me to say no to anything without trying it, so I went to find out more at a fan event in June 2024. While I loved watching my boys play football, I had no intention of ever playing myself, but before I knew it, I was kicking a ball around and had an England shirt on!

"The physical exertion was extreme, but it felt really special playing with a group of amputees who understood each others’ struggles and challenges so well."

From hardly able to walk, to playing World Cup football, Sarah’s amputation changed her life for the better (Image credit: Sarah Haskins)

"The team needed players, so I started doing strength training and conditioning training with my kids and husband, Craig, in the park, and heading off on weekend training camps. Training four to five times a week was hard to fit in, but I really pushed myself, as I wanted to ensure I was in the best possible shape.

"I still cannot believe that just five months later, I found myself singing God Save the King at the Women's Amputee Football World Cup 2024 in Colombia. My family couldn’t travel with me due to work and school, but they were so proud and their messages of support meant everything.

"Leaving the pitch, exhausted after the last of my three games, it hit me how far I had come – from being in such chronic pain that I could hardly walk the boys to school just three years ago, to representing England in disability sport.

"I now try to use my Instagram to support and inspire others. I’m proof you should always give things a go. You never know what you’re capable of achieving."

woman&home magazine

This article first appeared in the July 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.