Citylife in Rugeley and Cannock Chase March April 2021

Mountain of
Support for Charity
..........................
For many, coping with and recovering
from domestic abuse could be likened to
climbing a mountain.
How fitting, then, that one local man decided to
do just that!
Paul Wright scaled Mount Snowdon to not only
raise awareness about domestic abuse but also to
raise funds for New Era, the domestic abuse
service for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent that
helped a close friend turn her life around.
As well as challenging weather conditions, Paul
had to overcome his fear of heights when he
tackled the 3,560-feet peak.
Paul, aged 39, who is Lichfield born and bred, is
chairman of Lichfield Social Community Football
Club and was joined by 17 friends, all of whom
had to conform to the social distancing measures
that were in place at that time.
Thanks to the generosity of friends, family and local businesses, the group has already
raised £3,000 - more than doubling Paul’s original fundraising target. To donate, visit
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-wright-760.
New Era’s confidential helpline for victims of domestic abuse is available 24-hours on
0300 303 3778. Alternatively, a live webchat operates round-the-clock via www.newera.uk.
One Foot
Forward
Walking for Wellbeing
By Louise Morris
..........................
Due to the restrictions placed on our everyday
lives caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we
are all experiencing increased levels of stress
and anxiety. During the spring and summer months
there are greater opportunities to spend time
outdoors, but during the autumn and winter, when
the days are short, our time spent outdoors is much
reduced, increasing our chances of suffering from
anxiety and stress.
No matter what time of year, spending time surrounded
by nature and being mindful of the natural world around
us can make you feel calmer and more relaxed. Taking a
walk in your local park, along a quiet country lane,
immersing yourself in nature at a nature reserve or in an
ancient woodland provides us with an opportunity to
relax and breath. Using our senses to touch, smell, see and
hear nature is extremely beneficial to our mental
wellbeing.
Transforming the Trent Valley is launching its Connecting
with Nature project in 2021, offering people the
opportunity to connect with nature to improve their
mental wellbeing. Participants will begin to understand the
river, wetlands and heritage of the Trent Valley through a
programme using ‘forest school’ type methods, including
community gardening, guided walks and bushcraft
activities.
For ideas on how to make your daily walk more mindful,
see our One Foot Forward page:
www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/walk_well.php.
If you are interested in finding out more about how
Connecting with Nature could help you, email us at
TTTV@staffs-wildlife.org.uk or visit
www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/cca.php?project=PrNature for
some interesting and useful videos on mindfulness.
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