Episode 23

EP023: Special Guest Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie from Cheshire Without Abuse

In the last episode of our second series, we talk to Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie, CEO of local domestic abuse charity Cheshire Without Abuse (CWA).

CWA is a local domestic abuse charity in Cheshire which has been operating since 1977. They deliver a whole family service, supporting adult and child victims of domestic abuse and adult and young perpetrators of domestic abuse. They offer refuge accommodation, emotional wellbeing support, recovery programmes, specialist training and resources for professionals, Monkey Bob resources for younger children and behaviour change interventions for adults and young people.

The pandemic has created more than double the demand for their services with a 40% increase in the risk of serious harm or death.

Saskia is the CEO of My CWA and has worked in this field for over half of her lifetime. She has lived experience, spending over a year in refuge in the early 1990s with her children. She also lives with invisible disabilities, dyslexia and for over 25 years, bi-polar disorder. She describes these ars her superpowers.

What makes Saskia Happy? Her 17 grandchildren! Sunshine in her garden, a ripe juicy pear, writing in her journal and daily meditating.

If you are interested in signing up for our Happy App 6 week wellness programme, please join our Happiness Hub Facebook Group.

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About the Podcast

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The Happiness Hub
How to be happy, get happy and stay happy with chat and laughter from Kedren Elliott and Liz Parkin

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About your hosts

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Kedren Elliott

My name is Kedren, yes Kedren (my name is a bit strange, like myself).

I'm currently finishing my final year's training to become a counsellor and work at North Staffs Mind.
I'm also someone who has struggled with my mental health and lived with friends and family who have also faced challenges.

Through the happiness hub, I really want to help as many people as I can to find ways to live happier. It doesn't have to be complicated, there are little things we can do every day to help with our mental health and feel happier.

So that's a bit about me, but you can find out more by listening to our Hub Podcast!
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Liz Parkin

I'm Liz, Kedren's podcasting side-kick, close friend and gin-buddy for over 10 years.

My mental health challenges started in my early teens and continued through a rather traumatic year in 2004.

It was at this point that I discovered Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which quite literally changed my life - or maybe my perception on life...

In this podcast I will share with you some of the tips and techniques that I learned whilst training for my NLP Practitioner and then Master Practitioner over 14 years ago. NLP got me through some very dark times and given me a bag of mindset tools and strategies to help me keep my mental health, well... healthy!
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Nantwich Buddies

Nantwich Buddies is a volunteer organisation set up at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Formerly known as RedShift Radio, the online community radio station and podcast network closed during lockdown and Buddies ramped up their support of the community. Helping with shopping, befriending and supporting the mental health of Nantwich residents.
The podcasting continues as Nantwich Buddies and podcasters are welcome to join our network as long as they meet the criteria: Engaging, Uplifting or Inspiring and support the wellbeing or learning of our community.