Hope Report 3
Quarter 1 2021
Quarter 1 2021
I have quite honestly felt the emotional slog again these last few weeks. The impact the news, the uncertainty, the roadblocks and general challenges of life has had on me has been noticeable in my behaviour, habits and emotions.
News.
We crave it, to stay informed, to stay connected, to stay in control. Yet, too much news, too much information, isn’t actually good for us. Research has found, over and over again, that consuming too much news (especially news consumed online) has a negative impact on our psychological health: increased anxiety, depression and stress. We need to actively choose to do things to counteract the onslaught of negativity, uncertainty and disappointment.
One small thing I do is follow accounts online that do their best to be a positive voice.
Here’s just three you might enjoy:
I also follow many individual people who bring a sense of positivity to help even up my timeline. And I can often be found wasting time watching Instagram Reels of dogs doing funny things.
This is not about pretending the rest isn’t happening – far from it – but remembering that there is a great deal more going on around the world, too. And that too much news is not good for us.
So, in this spirit, I am sharing my own good news, our good news. I thought you would like to hear who we have been able to support over the last quarter at sidekick through our foundation. You can read more about our foundation on the website, but essentially it exists to level out the playing field. We give 10% of all real sales away to support fantastic work in the UK and globally. This time, we’ve split the money almost equally between UK-serving charities and overseas serving charities.
Here’s a quick rundown of just some of the charities that we have worked with over the first quarter of 2021.
The Snowdrop Project
The snowdrop project is a charity which empowers and supports survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery to live lives no longer defined by their past. They do this through counselling, befriending, education, employment, renovations, awareness raising and community activities.
Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is a faith-based international development organisation that deploys hospital ships to some of the poorest countries in the world, delivering vital, free healthcare to people in desperate need.
MQ Mental Health
MQ Mental Health Research have a simple vision: To create a world where mental illness is understood, effectively treated and ultimately prevented.
The Samaritans
The Samaritans are available around the clock to help support anyone who is struggling. Whatever you’re going through, you can call them, free any time, from any phone.
Kids Club Kampala
KCK are a children’s charity working in Uganda. Their mission is to support vulnerable kids in Uganda, providing for both their immediate needs and strengthening their futures through educating, feeding, protecting, and skilling. Their vision is to see children’s lives transformed, communities empowered, and poverty reduced throughout Kampala’s slums.
So, dear friend, I hope this lifts your spirits. Incredible work is being done by wonderful people all over the world. And you have helped to play a part. Thank you so much for working with us and championing the work of sidekick.
The more we work together, the bigger the difference that we can make.
Yours, with gratitude and hope,
Hannah x
P.S. So many of you loved Lisa’s story last week. If you want to follow her journey, then she can be found at:
Twitter: @LFinnikin
Instagram: @womankindmedicine