On a very cold night in January I met some of the volunteers and guests from the Winter Night Shelter based in Newport Pagnell.  Without them, the guests would be sleeping rough in tents, doorways and underpasses.  The team I met were totally dedicated to making their guests feel welcome and like they were with family with a home cooked meal, laundry done, and taking time to listen to people and make them feel valued.  

In the words of a guest who absolutely loves the volunteers "They give up so much of their time and are fantastic.  The advice they give us...The love.  I think that's what it all boils down to.  Love."

https://www.winternightsheltermk.com/

If you can, do get involved. Donate, volunteer, join me in cheering them on.  

The YMCA is about to be a lot more prominent in Milton Keynes.  Their incredibly swanky new building, right in the heart of the city, is designed to be a life changing place to stay for young people who need housing and employment support but it's also going to be a hub for local business.  This is not just an ambitious project, some might say it's crazy.  But chief exec Simon decided to forge ahead with a grand and expensive plan right at the time they lost a lot of funding.  We're so proud to have kindness risk takers in our city.  Check it out here https://mkymca.com/ 

Kelly talks so honestly about the difficulties of 'the juggle'.  Mum of two and a school teacher passionate about inspiring young children; Kelly was really struggling and was eventually signed off with stress.  But she started to find little habits that really helped her to feel calmer and more connected.  Realising the power of small habits in her own life, she wanted to influence others and so started her yoga teacher training and took her ideas to the TEDx stage to get the message across.  Because grown ups are the ones who need to show our kids the way.  This conversation is packed with tips to help us all manage in today's busy world.

You can get in touch with Kelly and find out more from her via her website http://kellyhopkinsonyoga.co.uk

Or look for her on instagram and facebook under kellyhopkinsonyoga

Or check out her TEDx talk here https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_hopkinson_learn_to_shine_your_brightest_the_importance_of_self_care_for_teachers_and_everyone

Martin went for a run one day with a work colleague having never run before.  He found it hard but enjoyed it.  Fast forward a few years and Martin is now in charge of a running club with over 3000 members! He manages 70 volunteers and inspires them through his enthusiasm and passion for getting outdoors.  

This guy, we'll call him Santa shall we, gives up nearly all of his December every single year to bring joy to children in our city who might not otherwise get to see the big man at Christmas.  And he does this for free.  For FREE.  But he's not alone, Mrs Claus does all the planning and organising and booking for him.  

Possibly the jolliest person I've ever interviewed with some really heart warming/breaking stories to tell.

You may want to listen away from little ears as some magical Christmas secrets are revealed.

We've previously introdued you to MKAct.  We interviewed Isabel the manager of the womens refuge today.  It was our first ever podcast episode.  Back in the 70's, Carol and her husband and friends started what we now know as MK Act by taking families who were victims of domestic abuse into their own homes.

She has ALWAYS helped people.  She is truly inspiring.  We can idolise her generation and assume people just aren't like that anymore.  STOP that thought and listen to her, let her inspire us all to just be kind and help people.

Harry's Rainbow do amazing work in Milton Keynes to help children and young people who are grieving.  But it all started when Odette wanted to help her little daughter who at 5 years old, lost her twin brother Harry.  Odette was grieving the sudden unexpected loss of her own son, but did everything she could to help her daughter and now the charity is helping countless others in this area by being alongside them at the darkest times of their lives.  

I have so much admiration for Odette.  If you know someone who needs support or if you'd like advice about how to help children who are grieving, have a look at www.harrysrainbow.co.uk.  To support there work, there is an easy link to donate there too.

For more from Odette, you can visit her blog https://www.10yearstoolong.co.uk/blog where she shares her personal story.

Thanks Odette for giving us some of your time, but also for your relentless work for other people.  We love what you do.

Mike had a career in marketing all lined up.  But he gave it up to take care of people.  So now he spends his days either as a carer or as a student Occupational Therapist back at uni in preparation for his third career.  It's great to know people like Mike are out there following a caring path on purpose.

Rebecca and James use their own expertise in performing arts to champion children and young people.  They are endlessly encouraging and their school has expanded from 1 class a week to a full time studio with over 30 members of staff.  Find out what it's like to be in charge of Arts1 and why they are passionate about what training can do for people.

www.arts1.co.uk

This man spends 50 hours a week organising rubbish, and has made £20,000 so far for Charity because of it.  He does not get paid.  What a legend!!  https://www.facebook.com/recyclemk/ .  Keep going George, we're big fans of yours.