Striders Well Being

The Well Being role and how we can help you…

The state of our mental health influences everything in our lives. It affects how we think, how we feel and what we do. It affects our daily lives, our relationships and our work and sadly many of us feel uncomfortable talking about it. But “talking” means that you are taking the first steps to being in control and feeling a little better - and we wanted you to know that at Stevenage Striders we can help with that first step.

When we are in a difficult place, when we are facing a difficult challenge or even when we receive bad news, our problems or worries can often seem insurmountable and especially so when we hide it from the world. Sharing and seeking help is not a sign of weakness - it is a sign of strength. You see our journeys to wellness take time and a wide range of different routes. What works for one may not work for another.

But the road to wellness always starts in the same place - with a decision to want to take control, with a decision to want to feel better and a decision to get some form of help. This could be a book, a podcast, a stranger, a friend, a work colleague, a counsellor, a mentor or a well-being representative.

At Stevenage Striders, we are blessed with several runners who have experience with helping others who could be that first port of call for you. Whilst we are not offering a counselling service, we are offering you the ability to start your wellness journey through them. These can provide guidance, support and most importantly a confidential and empathetic ear.

Please don’t suffer in silence and reach out to any of these wonderful people either before, during or after a run, via messenger or their individual contact details below if they are listed.

The people we have in place help you in your wellness journey are:

Laila Manning - lailamanningpt@outlook.com 07527482477
Laila is a Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer and Nutritional Therapist working towards Level 3 Exercise GP Referal and Level 4 Nutrition and Weight Management. She places emphasis on strong bodies and strong minds. She specialises in Trauma informed coaching and has qualifications in counselling skills, awareness of mental health problems and domestic abuse.

Chris Rowlands
Chris is a volunteer mentor for North Herts Council and provides guidance and support to many young people. He specialises in generalised anxiety, career issues, life coaching, business help, business conflict, translation of what people really mean and the feeling of being lost.

Paula Heyes - paulaheyes@gmail.com
Paula works and volunteers for a music therapy charity and works with people with dementia, learning disabilities and mental health difficulties. Her attributes to help with this role include empathy, kindness and understanding. During the pandemic she applied these by taking on other voluntary roles including collecting food & prescriptions for those in need & collecting food for a food bank (which continues today) so she is always available to help others.

Tracy Bullot - Tracy has had a plethora of personal experience with mental health during both her childhood and adult life. Tracy has made a career of caring and supporting others- she is a midwife and Health visitor. The 5 C’s sum up Tracy - care, compassion, courage, commitment and competence. She knows she cannot always fix things for others but will always have an actively working ear to listen, and support. Tracy also has good knowledge of local support services with signposting skills. Tracy will always find time to help others in whatever situation life throws at them. Talking but also listening are her bedrock !!