With Winter behind us and Spring fast approaching, March is boasting themes of rebirth and renewal, planting the seeds for growth, and making plans. Jane McKenna, Reach Wellbeing Mentor, takes us through her recommendations for making the most of this month…
March always feels like a really exciting and hopeful month. After the cold, wet, and stormy events at the start of the year, it’s time to take a deep breath, notice the days growing warmer and lighter, and begin laying the foundations for the next few months.
Celebrations
There are some major celebrations for many religious groups this month, including Jewish, Hindu, Christian, and Paganism. They all share a similar theme of reflecting on what has happened, showing thanks for what you’ve learned, overcoming struggles or barriers, and thinking about how to move forward.
Get Involved
In light of this, what ways can we get involved with all the exciting events coming up this month? Look no further! Check out the suggestions below…
– Wellbeing
- If you’re feeling low or anxious, and need support identifying why and get motivated to make changes, 4Winds (based in Grangetown) have two free courses coming up. The NHS recommend them and, having attended both myself, I can highly recommend them!’Stress Control’ starts 3rd March, and ‘ACTion for Living’ starts 8th March. To enrol on these courses, or find out more, check out the 4Winds website . Alternatively, you can contact 4Winds directly on 02920 388144, or email contact@4winds.org.uk.
- There’s still time to get involved with the Winter of Wellbeing events across Cardiff. There are lots of free activities for children and young people. To find out more, head to the Winter of Wellbeing website .
– Learning
- 8th March is International Women’s Day and the perfect opportunity to celebrate the amazing people in your life. In September 2021, a statue of Wales first Black Headmistress Betty Campbell was unveiled in Cardiff’s Central Square. Why not take a walk down to this iconic landmark? Find out more about Wales’ monumental women…
- The Princes Trust provides excellent support for young people in Cardiff aged 11 – 30. They host a calendar of events and courses coming up this month. The best thing? They’re all free! Check out the Prince’s Trust course map and push yourself outside of your comfort zone!
– Careers
- If you’re about a change of direction, or curious to see what work opportunities are in Cardiff, you won’t have to wait long! Cardiff Council’s Into Work Service are holding NHS Job Roadshows all month at Hubs across the city. My job before this was with the NHS and the application form was so scary! I asked for help from a friend, who was working with the NHS, who showed me exactly how to complete the application. Sometimes it’s good to ask for help! (If you need support with completing your application form, let us help you. Get in touch with us.) Don’t forget to follow the Into Work Service facebook page for all the latest updates.
- There’s an exciting new project – Get Into Housing! This has a variety of housing associations coming together to provide paid work placements within housing for people from diverse backgrounds. As part of this, we’re hosting drop-in sessions at Loudoun CMC in Butetown on the 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd March. These drop-ins will be completely informal; it’s an opportunity for you to meet our Reach and JETS Team who can talk to you about your opportunities, getting involved in the Get Into Housing project, and support with any employment related queries you have. Alternatively, you can apply for our Get Into Housing work placement today!
– Reflection
- Wednesday 23rd March marks a national day of reflection for people who have died during the pandemic. Grief is a complex journey and different for everyone; there is no timeline or right/wrong way to do it. You don’t have to go through it alone though; there is support available. Visit the Cruse Bereavement website , the Hope Again website , or the 2wish website today to find the comfort you, or someone else, might need.
Article written by Jane McKenna, Wellbeing Mentor for CCHA.
Jane specialises in mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, recognising that healthy habits build a healthy life. She also runs our Living Life to the Full course which uses techniques inspired by CBT to help overcome some of the mental health challenges we experience in life.