🗞️ WSO Monthly Newsletter

🪷Laura Dalton from Blooming Lotus Project CIC

Blooming Lotus Project CIC provides peer support for women who experienced the death of their mother by early adulthood. We also focus on raising awareness of the profound and lifelong effects of this specific bereavement.

It took thirty years for me to recognize the profound impact my mother's death had on my life. In 2022, I attended a retreat in the USA for motherless daughters, and that is where my healing truly began. Having the opportunity to explore my loss with twenty other women who shared common thoughts and feelings—while also learning the theory behind it—was a validating and empowering experience. I am now incredibly passionate about providing a safe space for women to connect and revisit their loss from an adult perspective. https://bloominglotusprojectcic.my.canva.site/

There is so much to learn about early mother loss that simply wasn't developmentally available to us when we were younger. By understanding our grief and the common long-term effects we share, we become empowered and equipped to navigate our loss with self-compassion.

#WomenSteppingOut #WomenSupportingWomen #CommunityVoices #InspiringWomen #SpotlightSeries

#SafeSpaces #SelfCompassion #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthAwareness

🥦Jo Harper is a Wilder Community Organiser at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

She says “I worry about nature’s decline and climate change, but vowed to do whatever I could to help! The more people involved, the more impact. This inspires me to build a network of community groups and individuals committed to addressing the nature crisis, creating habitats and making neighbourhoods more attractive. This inspires me to educate thousands of children about the importance of pollinators through the Bee Friendly School Awards. I dream of seeing our towns alive with wildlife, with people enjoying nature’s beauty and appreciating the benefits nature brings: food security and lower prices, cleaner air and water, improved physical and mental health. Nature also mitigates many impacts of climate change.”

“You don’t have to be an expert participate. Leamington’s hedgehog, swift, ancient tree, rewilding and bee groups are composed of local people who simply want to make a difference. They are also led by women! I support them in connecting with others, collaborating, engaging with powerholders and making good things happen. Even the smallest changes make a difference! As Dr Jane Goodall, said, “What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Women are a powerful, but under-celebrated force in conservation and I encourage all women to get involved.”

Jo Harper email: joanne.harper@wkwt.org.uk; Instagram: lemmy_loves_nature; LinkedIn: Jo Harper

Bee Friendly Leamington email:beefriendlyleamington@gmail.comFacebook: Bee Friendly Leamington; Instagram @bee_friendly_ken_leam

Spa Swifts email: spa.swifts@gmail.com; Facebook: Spa Swifts

Leamington Hedgehog Community email:Leamington.Hedgehog.Community@outlook.com; Facebook: Leamington Hedgehog Community

Rewilding Brunswick email:pleiades12001@gmail.com; Facebook: Rewilding Brunswick

#WomenSteppingOut #WomenSupportingWomen #CommunityVoices #InspiringWomen #SpotlightSeries #SafeSpaces #SelfCompassion #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthAwareness

🧠Kirsty Heath from Heath Bespoke Therapy

She says “I run KH Bespoke Therapy in Warwickshire, supporting adults and young people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, ADHD and emotional overwhelm. My work blends evidence based therapy like EMDR, counselling and CBT with gentler holistic approaches so people feel safe, seen and understood while they heal. I also support families who are navigating neurodivergence, especially parents who are trying to do their best in a system that is not always kind or simple.”

“I was inspired to do this work through my own lived experience. I have walked through trauma, burnout and the feeling of being broken and I know how lonely that place can be. Becoming a mum to a neurodivergent child deepened that calling even more. It showed me just how powerful acceptance, compassion and understanding can be when a child is allowed to be who they are without being fixed.”

“If I could share one message with other women it would be this. You are not behind, broken or failing. You are doing something brave just by showing up. Trust yourself more. You matter far more than you realise.”

khbespoketherapy.com

🏃‍♀️Anne Love is one of the founding members and a Run Directors for Warwick Race Course Park Run.

Here is what she said regarding her involvement in community service, “I have been very happy to volunteer with parkrun for several years now. It is extremely rewarding, and I highly recommend it to anyone.”

When asked what inspired her to volunteer, she said, “I started as a runner at Leamington Parkrun and was blown away by the positive and socially inclusive atmosphere. So, when a call went out for volunteers to start a new parkrun at Warwick Racecourse, I was very happy to put my hand up. Thus, I became one of the founder Run Directors for Warwick Racecourse parkrun in 2019. After much planning, setting out the route in the safest way, getting it approved by parkrun headquarters, and acquiring all the set-up equipment, we were almost ready for our inaugural run. Just one more thing was needed - a defibrillator, which is mandatory for parkrun. Fortunately, I managed to get funding from my ex-employer, Volvo, to purchase a defibrillator. So, we made a good start on 28th September 2019.”

“Then came COVID, and we had to stop for several months. However, we are now thriving and have gone from small numbers to sometimes over 600 runners and walkers. In order for parkrun to go ahead, we need up to 26 volunteers each week. As one of the team of run directors, I am responsible for organising and managing the run every 4 or 5 weeks. When I am not a run director, I am very happy to volunteer in whatever role is needed. I very rarely run anymore. Running, walking, volunteering - parkrun is an amazing and inclusive opportunity for all, and it is totally FREE OF CHARGE! Every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (except when the horse racing is on - we cannot compete with that!)”

“In addition to parkrun, I am also membership secretary for my choir, and I have volunteered for the NHS as a marshal for vaccination clinics.”

Parkrun website  https://www.parkrun.org.uk/warwickracecourse/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1BCXLiEubA/ #WomenSteppingOut #Parkrun #WarwickRacecourseParkrun #CommunityService #Volunteering #GivingBack #localheroes @parkrun

Issue: December 2025

🎅MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR❄️
to you all ❤️

From the team at Women Stepping Out 🎄✨

As we head into the New Year, we have an exciting “Coming Soon” programme in the works!

✨ Monthly Wednesday Wellness Walks
✨ Weekly Friday Spotlights celebrating the “Wonderful Women of Warwickshire”

That’s just the beginning - we have more planned, so keep watching this space!

We hope you’re feeling ready for the festive season and the Christmas and New Year school holidays. However, we also know that this time of year isn’t joyful for everyone. When it seems like everyone else is busy buying gifts and spending time with friends and family, it can feel especially hard if that isn’t your experience. Please remember, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Email us or leave a message on our Facebook Forum. Talk to us. Don’t suffer or worry in silence.

✨ Past Events Highlights

🌝🚶‍♀️Full Moon Walk
Date: November 5, 2025.
Summary: Three of us set out on the first full-moon walk of the winter, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Beaver Moon. Although the sky was cloudy and the moon stayed hidden, we were treated to fireworks glittering across the river and the sound of more in the distance. Strolling through a wooded area felt wonderfully atmospheric and almost magical. It made for a very pleasant evening — just walking and chatting about life.

❄️🎅 Christmas Fayre
Date: November 15, 2025.
Summary: Once again, this was a bustling and enjoyable event, with several stalls offering Christmas gifts and decorations, along with wood carvings, cakes, toiletries, and other festive treats. We also had our ever-popular Lucky Dip, a Basketball Game, and—available for donations—some beautiful pieces of handmade costume jewellery created by a local artist who is one of our talented volunteers.

📅 Upcoming Events

🎁🎄Gift a Ball - The Maggie Oliver Foundation Annual Ball

WSO supports the Maggie Oliver Foundation that continues to strengthen our community by supporting individuals and families facing difficult circumstances. Through compassionate outreach and practical resources, they are helping people regain stability, confidence, and hope. Check the flyer for details of their Annual Ball and support the Foundation by buying tickets for yourself or as a gift for a loved one this Christmas!

❤️🚶‍♀️Monthly Wellness Wednesday Walks

We launch our new Wellness Wednesday Walks from February 2026. Join us for a friendly banter and a leisurely saunter around St Nicholas Park at 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month. Find the WSO team at the steps of the Cafe for the 1 mile gentle walk around the park.