It’s fair to say 2020 has been an exceptionally tough year for everyone, so this Christmas it feels more important than ever to spread some cheer as far as physically possible. In the spirit of giving and making sure as many people feel cared for this festive season, gifts retailer Thumbs Up have partnered with Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Salvation Army to launch the 2020 Charity Gifting Appeal.
Thumbs up are aiming to donate 2000 gifts to those who otherwise may not receive anything at all this Christmas. Each package is worth £30, and Thumbs Up are just asking for a donation of £5 to cover postage and packaging for each gift- a small price to pay for putting a huge smile on someone’s face this year.
There are 4 different gift packs to choose from; Teen Girls 12-17, Teen Boys 12-17, Male 18+ and Female 18+. Head to the Thumbs Up website to make your choice and your donation and help spread some Christmas Cheer.
The Other Bar is an experiment in Radical Equality, designed to take a bite out of poverty through the simple act of buying a chocolate bar.
Powered by the UNDP and FairChain Foundation.
The first step in radical equality is to buy The Other Bar, the second is scan the token in the pack and help a farmer buy a cocoa tree. When scanned it’s equivalent to a quarter of a cocoa-producing tree. So for every four bars bought, a farmer can grow more, earn more and feed his family thanks to a fairer system.
There’s a twist. You don’t have to spend the token on a tree, you could use it to get 25p off your next purchase. Either way, it’s a win win for farmers.
At the moment farmers only get 3% of the value of the cocoa used to produce the chocolate we see in the shops, this means that the majority of farmers struggle to make a liveable income.
The system of buying for a low price and then selling for an inflated one has produced a huge imbalance in the world. At the moment global brands spend more than £500 billion a year on advertising, and we only need £140 billion to end world poverty- imagine if we could convince manufacturers to invest some of the money they spend on advertising on having a positive impact?
Right now there is a really easy way in which we can help. All we need to do is purchase The Other Bar and we’re already making a difference. Even better, if you use the code RADICALEQUALITY when you purchase your bar you will get a pack of 4 bars – the equivalent to 1 new cacao tree – for the price of 1 bar. What’s stopping you getting involved and pushing for #radicalequality
(Also, having tried this chocolate myself I can confirm it’s really bloody delicious and I’ll swiftly be popping over to the online shop to do my bit!)
Right now there is a really easy way in which we can help. All we need to do is purchase The Other Bar and we’re already making a difference. Even better, if you use the code RADICALEQUALITY when you purchase your bar you will get a pack of 4 bars – the equivalent to 1 new cacao tree – for the price of 1 bar. What’s stopping you getting involved and pushing for #radicalequality
(Also, having tried this chocolate myself I can confirm it’s really bloody delicious and I’ll swiftly be popping over to the online shop to do my bit!)
It’s Eating Disorders Awareness week once more and I’m pleased to say that I am in a very different place to where I was when I was writing last years post. This illness has taken 15, nearly 16 years of my life and whilst I may now firmly be on the road to recovery it still affects and impacts my day to day living, and probably always will.
This year the focus of Eating Disorders Awareness week is “Why Wait?” and this is something I feel incredibly strongly about.
I waited, I waited a good three years before seeking any help despite experiencing many of the physical and psychological symptoms. Those three years were probably some of the loneliest and most confusing of my life, and whilst speaking out and asking for support didn’t fix it, it didn’t hold all of the answers but it took away that desolation and desperation that comes with being so entrenched in something that as of yet didn’t even have a name.
On average 149 weeks (that’s almost three years) passes before those experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder seek help. I think there’s many reasons for this, from not knowing where to get the help from, being afraid of being dismissed or judged to quite simply not recognising the signs.
In a YouGov survey conducted for EDAW, more than one in three adults (34%) in the UK, who gave an answer, could not name any signs or symptoms of eating disorders. Find out more about the signs of an eating disorder.
Research has proven that the sooner someone seeks help for an eating disorder the more likely it is they will make a full, and faster recovery than those who wait. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and looking back I wish I could have made 15 year old me speak up when I first realised something wasn’t right.
The “Why Wait?” campaign is something I strongly believe in. Last year I tackled one of my biggest fears and went in to my old school to talk to students about why it’s so important to seek help sooner rather than later. Public speaking is one of my greatest fears and hurdles but I would do it again a thousand times over if it meant that even one person felt able to speak out.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 27th February Parliament will be debating eating disorders and early intervention and Beat are calling on the Government to extend the current waiting times targets that exist for CAMHS in England, to ensure people of all ages are able to access eating disorder treatment as soon as they need it. I, among many others petitioned their MP to attend and I await the outcome with baited breath.
Lack of services both to children, teenagers and adults still remains the biggest barrier to people getting the help and support they need when they need it most. It should never be a case of needing to reach death’s door before you can access treatment, playing Russian Roulette with your life just to get someone to listen? Not cool.
That being said, I really do believe it’s never too late to reach out. For support, for therapy, for intensive treatment or just to feel less alone.
For anyone who is wondering where to turn to, what to say or where to go then check out the Beat website– you can also find out more about Eating Disorders Awareness week, how to support someone with an eating disorder and how you can fundraise for or support Beat and their important work going forth.
I love a good slogan t-shirt so when Teespring got in touch to introduce themselves and offered me the chance to pick out one of the many t-shirts they have for sale to feature on the blog I wasted no time in taking a look.
This outfit is an usual one for me- firstly I don’t think I’ve ever owned a bright yellow item of clothing before but I was really taken with this “Girl Power” design. It costs £22.00 which is reasonable for a high quality tee (prices vary, some tees are just £15 & there are also sweatshirt and hoodie options) with the added bonus that when you purchase this particular design 25% of every sale will be donated to International Woman’s Day charity partners Catalyst and WAGGGS (more info). It happens to be International Woman’s Day today, 8th March and it’s a cause we should all be paying attention to- aiming to achieve a more gender equal world and workplace.
The second reason this outfit is unusual for me is because, well, trousers! I don’t often do trousers although I seem to have spent half my life looking for the perfect pair that suit both smart and casual occasions. I spied these in Monki when shopping with a friend and although I wasn’t intending on making a purchase at the time, once on I knew I had to. These are exactly what I want from my trousers- half elasticated waist included and at £25 they were a steal. They also come in black which I’ll be picking up at some point, perfect for my hopefully imminent return to work or for dressing down with slogan t-shirts and converse/flats.
What do you think of this outfit? Let me know if you decide to design something on Teespring- you never know, it might be your design I wear next!
Before I get properly in to today’s post I wanted to take a minute to say thank you for the incredible support I received on my eating disorders awareness week post. The feedback has been incredible and I truly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read, comment and share the post on social media. The week isn’t over yet though and there is still plenty of time to get involved. Please do re-visit the post or go straight to the Beat website to find out how you can get involved.
And now on to the main part of my post today- an outfit post featuring one item I never thought I’d wear again, let alone feature on the blog. That item is the humble hoodie, which along with some questionable trouser choices was the uniform of my teenage years (and when I say questionable I mean purple tie-dyed flares…I’ve come a long way!)
See, I knew it wouldn’t be long before another Monki purchased happened- I just can’t help myself. I’ve been eyeing up their hoodies since my first visit in to the Bristol store but held off as I just wasn’t convinced I’d actually wear one. I’m a long way away from the teenage me who felt the need to hide inside a massive hoodie but in the end this mustard yellow won me over and the hoodie came home with me and whilst I haven’t reverted back to living in one, I admit the hoodie certainly has it’s place in the wardrobe.
One way I’ve been wearing it is with this grey pleated skirt. I love the colour combination of grey and mustard and the laid back look this outfit creates. It’s a casual outfit but manages to make me feel a bit more ‘together’ than if I’d just slung on jeans and I’ll always embrace any excuse to wear my converse- their pale pink holographic nature never fails to make me smile (although I wouldn’t say no to this pair).
What do you think of this super casual outfit? Have you re-visited any clothing items from your youth? Between this and my current enjoyment of dresses over jeans I think I might be having a “help I’m almost 30” kind of crisis!
