Posts

University and Chronic Illness: Introducing Pippa Stacey

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Hello! Thank you for stopping by, I’m so glad you’re here. As we approach the start of term, I’m getting myself ready for a ll things university and making the most of that ‘back to school’ feeling. It’s also a bit of diffe rent university we’re headed back to this year, whether that’s on campus or online, with the ongoing global pandem ic. There are extra worries on top of the typical difficulties that are experiences by  students, particula rly students that have disabilities. With that in mind, I’m excited to sh are a resource that I am highly recommending to uni students, and college and university staff alike. Pippa Stacey and her debut book I’m so proud to introduce you to one of my wonderful friends; Pippa Stacey and her debut non-fiction book, University And Chronic Illness: A Survival Guide. Pippa is an author, psychology graduate, writer and blogger. Pippa wrote this amazing book following her experiences of completing her degree with a long-term health condition (often refe
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A post about leadership...with the CoD Student Leadership Programme

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Hello, How are you? I really hope you're okay at this strange and tricky time. I have spent some time thinking about the context of writing and uploading this post given the current unprecedented climate around Covid-19 and the effects on our healthcare system, our incredible NHS (as well as the vital shop workers, delivery and post people, education staff, emergency staff, and all our key workers) and all of the Health, Medical and Allied Health Profession students.  After a conversation with family working with the NHS, it seemed that any kind of positive leadership-type messages are needed right now. I had a very honest chat on twitter about how I'm feeling at the moment, and was really appreciative of the lovely people who reached out. It also reminded me how important it is to reach out and talk to people, even more so now we're staying home. If you'd like to have a read, my twitter thread is here .  So, please stay safe and calm and look after
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Lovely news: Giving Voice Awards 2019

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Hello! Long time no see... how are you? I hope you're well, and that your week is treating you kindly so far. I have had some much needed time off from  tweeting  and blogging this year, whilst I completed my second year of my speech and language therapy (SLT) degree and had a break over the summer. I am excited to be metaphorically dipping my toes back in again! The real reason I am writing this post is that I get to share some incredibly lovely news today... I am so excited to announce that I was nominated for a joint Giving Voice award by the wonderful  Janet Harrison !   I received a Giving Voice award alongside  Jacqui Learoyd  and  Claire Westwood , and I feel very lucky to be in such good company. We have been recognised for our 'outstanding' and 'sustainable' social media campaign to 'shine a light on the transformative work of speech and language therapists'; including both the #mySLTday and the #mystudentSLTday hashtags. The l
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Lovely news: Council of Deans Student Leadership Programme #150leaders

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Hello there, a very warm welcome to my last post of 2018! I am very excited to be writing this post today...and I’m actually still slightly in shock that I get to share this news with you all. I am completely delighted to be a successful applicant for the 2019 Student Leadership Programme, and to be one of the #150leaders !  The  Council of Deans Student Leadership Programme (SLP)  is a program for successful first and second year Student Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), Midwives and Nurses. The programme aims develop the leadership skills and knowledge for working in health and social care. These skills form part of our essential competencies that the  Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)  set as standards for professional practise. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and very proud to have been successful. This year really has been a completely incredible, surreal one and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings. I seem to fall in love with being a stude
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Lovely news: Student SLT Sarah Buckley Therapies Grant

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Hello there, thank you very much f or poppi ng by. This is a really fun and exciting post for me today, because I get to share some really lovely news with you all! Yay! I am so delighted to have been selected for one of Sarah Buckley Therapies minor student Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) grants this year! It is a fantastic opportunity, and I want to send a huge thank you to Sarah Buckley & her team. Writing my application was a really great chance for me to summarise my student SLT career so far, and to reflect on what I have achieved. Happily, I was very pleasantly surprised! It's so easy to get caught up in the busy uni terms, assignments and general life - and it's always a good time to take stock of what you have accomplished. I think it's true for everyone that you have always done more (and better) than you think, and one of my favourite quotes sums this up quite nicely: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter t
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From the archives: Writing with I CAN

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Hello!  It's been a little while, how are you? Please feel free to drop me a comment, I would really love to know how things are with you! I hope you're enjoying these rare sunny autumnal days we've been having in the UK. We are back at uni now, almost into week 3 of the term - how did that happen already?! It's great to be back studying, and there's lots of exciting things happening so keep an eye out on my  social media  for lots of lovely news! Anyway, that's enough enough catching up for now! Back to the matter in hand... I CAN -  The Journey of an SLT Student In late 2017, I was delighted to be asked to work with I CAN, a UK children's communication charity! In the piece, I talk about the role I CAN has played in my SLT-life, and the wonderful experiences they have given me so far, including my placement delivering the Early Talk Boost, and my thoughts on the current provision of Speech Language and Communication support and services. I CAN  
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Introducing: A World with Friends (formally known as Friend Finder)

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Hello there! It’s lovely to have you here, this is a special blog post for me today about the amazing charity A World with Friends, formally known as Friend Finder. If you're new to the blog, firstly hello and a very warm welcome to you! If you'd like, you can pop over to the Welcome! page to get to know me a little. Friend Finder is a charity founded by the wonderful Lewis Hine , who founded his charity after experiencing loneliness and isolation when he became incredibly poorly at a young age. As Lewis was not well enough to go to school, he spent long stretches of time in hospital having operations, so he did not have opportunities to maintain friendships or make new friends. This is a very common problem that those who have long term or terminal illness find, and we know the negative impact for social isolation has on our wellbeing. I distinctly remember coming across a video Lewis made for his 16th Birthday, telling us about his life, the challenges he contin
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