DEEP THINKING...
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 Hughes and Salvidge are a well-established demolition and decommissioning business with its headquarters in Portsmouth. Their work takes them all over the country including projects at Heathrow and Gatwick. As one of the UK leaders in this sector, Hughes and Salvidge have built a reputation for health and safety, quality, and innovation.
Alongside SLR marine recruit, they have chosen to sponsor the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth awards which will be held on Friday, March 10th. To find out why they felt this is important and what they are doing to impact the lives of young girls and women in Portsmouth, the hosts of the award caught up with them to hear all about their efforts. As you know, Pamodzi is all about bringing people together to celebrate the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth and the positive impact they have on their community so tell us about the activities you are doing to empower women in Portsmouth. Hughes and Salvidge are proud members of the Portsmouth community, having had our Head Offices located here since 1964. Although we operate nationwide, most of our workforce is Portsmouth born and bred, and we regularly undertake projects in the city and the surrounding areas. Alongside our day-to-day activities – demolition, asbestos removal, concrete crushing, and metal recycling – we run internal initiatives to support Safety, the Environment, and Social Value within our team and the communities we work within. Our Social Value Initiative, Helping Hands, promotes Charity, Community, Wellness, Development and Sustainability. One of our most valuable development actions from the Initiative is taking part in local learning and training events. There is currently a concern in the construction and demolition industries regarding the skills gap, and we need to encourage the next generation into the industry, as well as the one after that. Recognising that our industry is male-dominated, we make a conscious effort to interact with all children and students, particularly girls and women, to inspire them and boost their interest in our work. Our teams regularly present to schools and colleges local to our projects about demolition, including how to develop a career in the industry and what distinct roles are available. We also invite schoolchildren to our sites, where safe to do so, so they can experience a demolition site first-hand, and hopefully get bitten by the demolition bug! In 2022, we participated in iConstruct, a local event in Fareham that included students from schools across the area. The event involved an invented scenario where all construction/demolition trades would need to come together to complete a new hospital for the Solent area. The schoolchildren were required to interview the different companies present and gather information for a presentation they would give to judges. Our Health and Safety team and one of our directors took part, including helping to judge. Development actions also cover our employees. As mentioned above, demolition is a male-dominated industry, but women are moving through the ranks in the industry as a whole and at Hughes and Salvidge. Our Board of Directors is made up of men and women equally, and we have women running our Environmental Department, our Accounts team, and our Business Development and Marketing Department. All these women are Portsmouth-based. Tell us, what does supporting Pamodzi mean to you? Hughes and Salvidge strive to support local causes, initiatives, and charities, and are keen to see the organisation achieve important things in supporting the women of Portsmouth, and beyond. https://www.hughesandsalvidge.co.uk/
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 Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards are thrilled to welcome Dr Alisha Damani not only as an award sponsor but also as a Trailblazer for 2023.
Are you looking to take your performance to the next level? Look no further than the High Efficiency Club. Led by Dr. Alisha Damani, a Medical Doctor, High Performance Coach, TEDx Speaker and Wellness Entrepreneur, the High Efficiency Club is the revolutionary new hub for high performing leaders, entrepreneurs and individuals looking to raise the bar. “At the High Efficiency Club, we believe that empowered health is the catalyst for exponential performance. We help our members achieve an elite level of performance both personally and professionally through the art and science of health-for-high-performance. The next level is where we *begin*, and we aim to shoot far beyond the moon.” Dr Alisha Damani. Dr. Damani is dedicated to delivering talks and workshops on empowered wellbeing and high performance across local community groups and hospitals in Portsmouth. She is also teaming up with other inspirational women of Portsmouth to deliver the community's first doctor-led business event - how to get more done in less time without burning yourself or your team to the ground. This event will be focused on how to quadruple your outputs by getting off the hamster wheel- driven through the foundations of health and performance: The High Efficiency Club. Dr. Damani's passion for giving back is also evident in her support of Pamodzi, an organisation focused on empowering women of today and tomorrow. Dr. Damani believes that by demonstrating to our future leaders what's possible when a community of female leaders come together, we can create a brighter future for all. Dr. Damani is no stranger to overcoming burnout and reinventing herself. She has had to let go of and re-create her identity, her career and her profession. But through it all, she has learned to trust in her unique journey and to understand who she is authentically. She inspires to grow and change, and embraces that change is the only constant. Dr. Damani's inspiration comes from her NHS team, who serve with compassion, love and support her in all her work. If she could have one inspirational dinner guest, past or present, it would be Arianna Huffington. Thank you so much to Dr Alisha Damani for sponsoring the Established Business Award. Follow Dr Alisha Damani:  Pamodzi would love to introduce you to Hannah Murray, founder of Beautiful Mind Coaching, one of our award sponsors. As a Mental Health professional with a wealth of experience and knowledge in refocusing client mindsets, Hannah Murray is committed to supporting individuals conquer their own stresses & refocus them in a positive direction. After experiencing her own Mental Health challenges in her 20's, Hannah decided to use what she had leant and experienced to build a support service which enabled her to aid others to do the same. The benefits of a support service for Hannah were invaluable, at the most vulnerable point of her life. As an experienced coach, Hannah aids others to feel in control of their minds. Coaching is tailored to each client and offers access to the tools that enable us to become focused with confidence; stay positive and manage stress easier. Whether you're looking to move forward positively, increase wellness, build self-confidence or reduce stress; Coaching can support your Mindset in a number of areas, such as; Anxiety, low mood, loss of identity, Trauma, overthinking, stress etc gaining an understanding for the elements of your life which contribute to the feeling of overwhelm; mind drama, triggers, judgement, relationships, trauma etc whilst building mindfulness in as a direction of positive change. Mindset is everything. Hannah believes anyone can gain the tools to control their mind but sometimes starting the journey of understanding you and processing emotions is the hardest part. “As a coach, I guide & support our community to get their mindset to where they want to be. I am currently supporting our community by offering 1:1 Coaching, Workshops and Corporate support which is tailored to individual needs” Hannah Murray Hannah also offers Mental Health 101 Corporate Workshops to businesses with the intention of exploring the high profile topics linked to Mental Health such as: stress, negativity in the workplace, conflict, confidence, overwhelm, behaviours, effective communication and Mental Health Red Flags etc. By sharing professional techniques & strategies, she enables others to feel more confident in supporting others in the workplace and encourages positive conversation; building a wider awareness of Mental Health. With her 1:1 Coaching sessions Hannah works to dive deep and explore their mindset. Unleashing true vibrancy and creating a sense of calm. As an experienced coach, she aids & supports others to feel more in control of their minds; offering protected time to talk, building personal empowerment, self awareness and understanding. Despite living in an increasingly high pressure world, all of us, no matter the environment, should all have access to the tools that enable us to become focused with confidence, more positive and less stressed. Hannah is thrilled to be supporting Pamodzi in 2023, “Pamodzi is about Celebrating together. Celebrating the amazing women who have made a commitment and are passionate about making a difference in our community. To improve so many areas of our society, paving the way for the younger generations to know that celebrating each other is positive, it's powerful, it’s inspiring & our community its never about comparing, it's about working together!” Hannah Murray Many of the Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Award Nominees have overcome many challenges in life, challenges that often contribute to the creation of their projects, community work and businesses. Hannah’s biggest challenge in life, was hitting Mental Health crisis (suicidal). Her teenage years and early 20s were dark. She was impacted by the opinions and judgements of others . Hannah was very fortunate to grow up in a supportive, caring & loving home environment, my safe haven but it was all the other external factors that contributed to her feelings of self disapproval & hate; teachers, peers, friends, colleagues etc. Hannah built a false understanding of herself because who she wanted to be wasn't enough for people. She wasn’t understood and was shamed for who she wanted to be. Hannah feared being a disappointment and being unliked. When Hannah hit crisis she needed Mental Health treatment. It was that support & encouragement by professionals that made her realise that she wanted to do the same for others. Hannah started her career in NHS and subsequently, her coaching service because she wanted to become the role model that she needed, Hannah wanted to support others with self development and wanted others to know that if you are willing to do the hard work, there are strategies to aid a consistent positive mindset. Hannah wants to show everyone that we have bad days, but it doesn’t mean we have a bad life! Personally for Hannah, self development is on-going. It has taught her the true power of vulnerability. It has developed authentic happiness in her life and strengthened her resilience. It has allowed Hannah to feel free & confident to be herself, and it has taught her the beauty that is experience; it is in those times of challenge that we grow stronger. We asked Hannah who inspires her, “I am inspired by many people. Our community is full of inspirational people who shine in their own right. Everyone comes with a story & it is their power to live despite their adversity that inspires me. I am so honoured and proud to be supporting a platform that celebrates how inspiring someone is. Roni & the Team have done such an amazing job at creating a successful, transparent, honest arena, highlighting the need to break society's stereotypes and finally celebrate the great women we have in our community!” We asked Hannah who would be her most inspirational dinner guest past or present, “It would be Amelia Earhart who wasn't afraid to break down barriers. She was the first woman to fly as a passenger across the Atlantic Ocean. Then, she became the first woman to pilot a plane across that ocean. There weren't many female pilots back then, and her actions inspired other women to follow their dreams.” Thank you so much to Hannah for being such a supporter of Pamodzi and sponsoring the Community Activism & Volunteering award. Follow Hannah: Website   Pamodzi Creatives is proud to announce Biscoes Law as one of our Event Sponsors of the Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards. The Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards event takes place on Friday 10th March 2023 at Portsmouth Guildhall showcasing the creative talent and inspirational women within our community. Alison Lee of Biscoes, one of the event sponsors, was born in Portsmouth and apart from university, she has lived here all her life. Alison loves being part of this city, especially the Royal Naval connections due to her father serving in the Falklands war. As the first in her family to go to university, Alison started her legal career in a small Portsmouth law firm based in Southsea and qualified as a solicitor in 1994. The firm has been through many changes, but she never left and in 2015 became the firm MD. Since she took that role, the firm has more than doubled its turnover and now employs 150 local people. Alison has always believed it's important to try and make a difference. As such, Alison volunteers her time as a chair of trustees of Pompey in the Community, The Guildhall Trust and as a director of Shaping Portsmouth. She is also a director of a national network of 73 law firms called Law Net UK. Alison has also mentored the girls’ network; giving young women from whatever background the belief they can achieve great things with belief and determination is something she is passionate about. Her firms’ board is mostly women, and she believes diversity in leadership makes for the best business outcomes. Her motto is ‘always treat people as you would want to be treated’. Pamodzi caught up with Alison to ask her about why she wanted to be involved: As you know Pamodzi is all about bringing people together to celebrate the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth and the positive impact they have on their community so tell us about the activities you are doing to empower women in Portsmouth? Well, our firm employs probably more women than it does men would say probably it does. Even at our board level, where we're top-heavy in terms of women directors, so empowering women has been something I've been quite passionate about all my life. As a comprehensive school-educated girl, I've achieved a law degree and more recently a business degree. I think that people can achieve whatever they set their minds on with the right encouragement and support. Tell me, what does supporting Pamodzi mean to you? Well, I met Roni Edwards about five, or six years ago. She is a very inspirational woman. and told me the story of how she happened upon the idea for the awards. There was this sense that Portsmouth women were kind of berated I suppose outside of Portsmouth, and sometimes inside Portsmouth. We have some fantastic women here, creative women, businesswomen, and women that do a massive amount for the community. It was inspiring to me that this was being celebrated and after attending the first awards, I just fell for it hook line and sinker. For a couple of years (during the pandemic) they were online which made it difficult to try and create the same in-person atmosphere. Last year, however, the event was held at the Royal Maritime Club and sold out quickly but this year, I just think it's going to go up several notches through being hosted at the Guildhall. I'm a trustee of the Guildhall trust so, I know that they will do their best to make it a fantastic event. It just gives an opening for the creative side of the event itself where there's lots of dance and lots of activity going so it should be phenomenal. Many of the nominees of the Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards have overcome many a challenge which has inspired them to do what they do. What challenges have you had to overcome and what has it taught you? It is a challenge to do the role that I do. I qualified as Solicitor in 1994 and sadly it's not uncommon for female solicitors to drop out of the profession. I think when I joined the profession, about 40% dropped out 10 years after qualifying, partly because they just couldn't get promotions and weren't seen as future leaders of firms. So, I didn't set my heart on being the managing director of my firm, but I continued to work hard at what I did and just developed a leadership voice within that sector. I became the managing director of my firm, but I'm also a director at a national organisation called Law Net, which represents 73 good-quality law firms across the country. Recently I had an invite from Barclays Bank where I go to a professional lunch, and I was the only female in the room so it's still hard to see progression within my profession. I think that's probably common across a lot of professional services professions and therefore I'm very passionate about making sure that we're bringing on the next generation to see themselves as future leaders. Who inspires you? Well, Roni inspires me all the time. I also have the great pleasure of being a trustee at Pompey in the community and Clare Martin, who's the CEO there probably has been a trailblazer before she received a Lifetime Achievement Award, I think at the last event. Every time I go into the place it just fills me with joy what we achieved there. We're in the middle of building a community football stadium in Copnor now so now that's part of that. But Clare for me is inspirational and I did nominate her for an MBE which she got last year, in the Queen's honours list. It was the last one of the Queen's honours lists so you know, that was a great achievement. Who would be your most inspirational dinner guest past or present? When I've thought about this, I think the people that I would really love to have met who have both passed away now will be either Gandhi or Nelson Mandela.   Pamodzi Creatives is proud to announce SLR Recruitment as one of our Event Sponsors of the Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards.    What are the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Project ? Now in its fifth year, this project is a wonderful celebration of the women and girls of Portsmouth and includes a podcast series, story-telling projects and the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards that mark International Women’s Day. The event will also raise money for Endometriosis South Coast. You can nominate who inspires you through the nomination form on this link . Tickets for the Award event due to be held at The Guildhall on Friday 10 March are available through Eventbrite. and include a drinks reception, three course meal and entertainment. We want to introduce you to two of the Trailblazers who form the selection panel that determines the final award recipients. Introducing Cheryl Buggy Cheryl is the Chair and Co-Founder of Express FM, which is one of the longest-running community radio stations in the country. Her career includes; teaching, broadcasting, writing, creating and delivering personal development programmes that span from primary school-aged children to CEO's of international companies. She is a published and respected author of two non-fiction books that are about the topics of Memory Techniques and Emotional Intelligence. She is now currently trying to finish writing her first novel on the theme of Women and Liberation. Cheryl has also been a Gosport Town Councillor, President of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, a Portsmouth City Councillor and the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. What links these experiences is a love and passion for communicating, sharing knowledge and helping people be all that they want and can be. This is enforced by the fact that Cheryl is a proud mother of two sons and has three delightful grandchildren.  Introducing Gloria Miller Gloria is a creative who uses the mediums of words, music and truth.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois she was born in 1966 and was the youngest in a family of six siblings. Her household was always filled with music, mostly Gospel, with 60s Soul and 70s Funk which would later go on to define who Gloria would become as an Artist. Her parents instilled in her the importance of putting God first in your life and getting an education. For most of her young life, Gloria was an above-average student who received top marks all the way through high school. When she transferred schools in 1982 and landed at Jones Commercial H.S., it was there that she developed a deep love of words under the tutelage of her English teacher, Mr. Tryba. It was around this time that Gloria started writing songs. Up to this point, she had been singing in Gospel choirs and groups performing on the circuit with the likes of The Hawkins Family, The Clark Sisters and Commissioned. Upon graduating from High School in 1984, Gloria started working in Corporate America in commercial lending for many of the leading banks in Chicago. While earning money, she was also investing in her music and in 1989 she released her four-song cassette album, He Loves Me on Perky Records, her own label. With this release, she was pursuing a recording contract within Contemporary Christian Music, while performing at various Christian events around the country. In 1994, Gloria was signed by Les LaMotte to Heaven’s Eyes Records, and she released her first full album, Forever With You in 1995. In 1996 Gloria made a career change moving from commercial lending to marketing, first at a bank and then for a marketing agency. Though she had landed the ‘dream’ job, she still had her eye on doing something with her music. After three of the most stressful years of her life, Gloria auditioned for Disney and was offered a job at Disney Cruise Line. In April 1999 Gloria moved to Orlando, Florida and worked a part-time job until her ship contract started in November. That was the first of seven ship contracts. She did two with Disney then went on to work for Royal Caribbean for two contracts starting in 2003. Her last three contracts were with Celebrity Cruises with the last one finishing in 2007. Gloria was a featured singer in the production shows as well as a Guest Entertainer performing solo with the full orchestra for either the Welcome Aboard or Farewell shows. Her years of cruising took her all over the world and performing seven contracts worth of shows fine-tuned her vocal performance and stage presence. Upon leaving Celebrity, Gloria moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin into the house she bought from her parents. It was there that she formed a jazz quartet and performed all around Milwaukee in venues, restaurants and hotels. In 2008, Gloria started writing for her next album release, but this time she would be switching genres to Jazz. While working a temp job by day Gloria was gigging and squeezing in studio time by night. By the beginning of Summer, 2009 she had finished the album. Before she could set the release date her ex-boyfriend unexpectedly came back into her life after a four-year breakup, and he proposed! By the end of June, Gloria was engaged, and by November, she was married to Neal Austin, the love of her life. Somehow while planning a wedding and a move to England, Gloria released her 2nd full album release, Let Go, in 2010. After settling into her new life on the South Coast of England, Gloria started performing solo shows at restaurants, allowing her to build up a reputation and do private shows. The more she performed, the more doors opened for her leading to work with various bands performing at festivals and venues across the UK. By 2012, Gloria had so many booking requests coming through that she started farming out the gigs to her performer friends. When she made Artist recommendations to the Foodies Festival organizers for several of their events, they asked if she could book all the entertainment for all their festivals the following year. That was how Gloria Miller Entertainment Ltd started. With a major corporate client. Gloria went on to work with Foodies Festival for three years. By the time the agency closed in 2020, Gloria had built a viable talent agency representing over 50 entertainers. While running her business, Gloria also performed tribute shows to Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Whitney Houston. She also did Motown Nights as well as functions with her own band, Move On Up. During this period Gloria performed at the Isle of Wight, Wickham, Victorious and Ice Breaker Festivals, The Concorde Club, County Shows around the country, as well as supporting slots for The Real Thing and Craig Charles. Gloria still found time to write songs during this time and in 2019-2020 she released eight singles to critical acclaim, with thousands of listens on Spotify. It had been so long since Gloria performed her own music, and it was daunting putting herself back out there. She was starting to do more original music gigs when Covid 19 struck. When Gloria was able to resume live shows, she collaborated with long-time music partner, Frankie Lewis, and in October 2021 she performed her first show since the Pandemic as Frankie & Glo performing a supporting slot at The Gaiety in Southsea. That performance led to her being offered a weekly residency at The Gaiety from January to June 2022. As with most people, the pandemic changed Gloria in many ways. In May 2021 she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder leading her to slow down and learn the value of self-care. Another change was the desire to just perform as herself. After years of stepping into the shoes of others, she was now ready to put her own music out there through solo and duo performances as Frankie & Glo. This has proven to be therapeutic and rewarding. Currently, Gloria volunteers at Express FM presenting Music for the Soul Radio Show. She is also a Trustee with Tonic Music for Mental Health and has worked with Read Easy Portsmouth and Alzheimer’s Society on community events. Gloria is in the process of recording her next studio album to be released in early 2023 and she will be touring in the Summer of 2023. You can find her on Facebook @ gloriamiller66 on Instagram @ gloriamillermusic and her website is gloriamiller.co.uk if you are looking for more information about her. Thank you so much to our two Inspirational Trailblazers, we really do appreciate all your help with choosing the recipients for the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Award. If you, our readers, would like to know more about the award please head on over to our website by clicking here. Special thanks to the Headline Sponsors Denholm Industrial Services and Hughes & Salvidge. Special thanks to venue sponsors Guildhall Portsmouth and Event Sponsors SLR Recruitment & Biscoes Solicitors Confirmed Award Sponsors Include The High Efficiency Club, Express FM, The Beautiful Minds Coach, TLC Hair, The Female Creative, Linguistica Translation & Recruitment, NEU Portsmouth, Phoenix Photography. Special thanks to event supporters Shaping Portsmouth & Claire's Floristry Special thanks to Liberty Photography and Delivered Social for their launch event support.  We believe in the power of a community that celebrates one another, works together and supports each other. When we come from a place of recognition and teamwork, we are more likely to contribute to change and help others reach their goals.
As a result, we are also more likely to achieve our own goals because we have a strong network of people behind us cheering us on. But why we advocate for a community that celebrates one another has a deeper reason. We are going to discuss the importance of this and explain our concept of a 'tribe' - reflecting the traditional Bantu definition of Pamodzi. What Is A Community? We are talking about a group of people with common interests who work together in some way and interact positively. The concept has been around for centuries, and it's one that has taken on different meanings over time. In its most basic form, a community is simply a group of people who live in the same area or share the same interest. But as we've evolved, the idea has become more complex. We now use the term to describe groups of people who come together for a common purpose - whether that's to support each other, work together or simply share their ideas and interests. At Pamodzi Creatives, we refer to ourselves as a Tribe. Roni, our founder, describes it in her own way: "The concept of celebrating each other within our respective 'tribes' or communities originates not so much from an aggressive space of reinforcing one's identity as separate to or superior to the other, but from the traditional Bantu definition. This means creating authentic spaces where people can grow in their identity with the knowledge that who they are and what they bring or do positively enhances their community." Why Is It Important To Be Part of a Tribe? There are many reasons why we advocate for a community - especially one that celebrates one another. Initially, it can provide a sense of belonging and identity. When you share similar interests with other people, it can be easy to feel like you're a part of something larger than yourself. Being part of a tribe can also give you a sense of purpose. If you're passionate about something, working together with others who feel the same way can be incredibly rewarding. It is also a great way to meet new people and expand your horizons. As well as this, being part of something can provide support - both emotional and practical. Knowing that there are people who care about you and want to help you succeed can be a huge motivator. Advocating for a group that celebrates these successes is just one way we can drive positivity and progress in our respective fields and areas of interest. At Pamodzi Creatives, we work with a number of different tribes - from other non-profit organisations to inspirational women and their own communities throughout Portsmouth. We've seen so many ways in which the people involved celebrate one another and use each other's skills to implement positivity and new ideas. What Does Pamodzi Mean For Our Community? Pamodzi is a Bantu word that means together; the choice of adverb is the product of a transient socio-political period that left many communities-within-communities questioning their right to exist in the UK. Pamodzi was born from the need to create an authentic space where inspirational stories are celebrated and others around us feel inspired, challenged and affirmed through everything. The word has come to mean much more than this for us. It is the embodiment of what we stand for as an organisation: celebrating each other, working together and supporting one another in whatever way we can. This is why we advocate for a community that celebrates one another. We believe it is the key to driving positive change in our society. Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards One of the ways in which we celebrate and support our community is through our unique award event. It recognises the outstanding achievements of women who are making a positive difference in Portsmouth. It is a chance to shine a spotlight on some truly inspirational individuals and give them the recognition they deserve across many different categories. Anyone who identifies as female can be nominated for their contribution to business, STEM, education, the arts and much more. However, we don't have 'winners' but award recipients. We prefer this term because you are nominated as part of a community that you belong to, rather than competing against the most 'elite performers'. In essence, any award given is a product of that whole tribe. That is why we advocate for a community that celebrates one another. Without the support and continued encouragement to drive positive change, the community would not benefit. If you know anyone who you think would be a good nominee for our 2023 awards, keep an eye out for our October launch event! Benefits of Community Whether it be a small neighbourhood, group of faith, sports club or educational institution, being a part of something like this can have serious benefits on a person's mental and physical health. Many people underestimate the power of this type of connection - another reason why we advocate for a community that celebrates one another. Resilience People who are part of close-knit communities are more likely to weather difficult times. This is because they have a built-in support system - something that is essential during tough periods and times of change or initiative. Being able to rely on others and know that they will be there for you can make all the difference. Furthermore, having a variety of skill sets, leadership and organisation can reduce the burden on any one particular person. Encouragement from all drives the tribe forwards - utilising strength in numbers. Mental Health There are a number of studies that show the correlation between being part of a community and good mental health. This is likely due to the increased social interaction and support that is available. Loneliness has been linked to a whole host of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, by being part of a community, you are more likely to avoid these issues. Not only that, but being around people that celebrate your achievements and skills can really boost self esteem - pushing people to do more, challenge themselves and implement new positive changes. Resources When you are a part of a community, you have access to a range of resources that may otherwise be unavailable. This could be financial support during tough times, advice and guidance from those with more experience or simply a shoulder to cry on when needed. In addition, many communities also pool their resources in order to fund projects or causes that they are passionate about. This could be anything from starting a new business to cleaning up the local area. But, by working together, we can achieve so much more than we ever could alone. The Heart of Why We Advocate For a Community We hope this has given you some food for thought and inspired you to get involved in your tribe. Remember, being part of a tribe is about more than just receiving - it's also about giving back. So, get out there and start celebrating one another! Pamodzi Creatives is a charity that advocates for a community that celebrates one another. We recognise the outstanding achievements of people who are making a positive difference in Portsmouth through our unique award event. However, most of all we are a Community Interest Company that exists to benefit a tribe & pursue a social purpose. There are many ways you can support the work of our Pamodzi tribe and advocate with us. Firstly, you can become a sponsor for our Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Event. Simply commit to one of our sponsorship packages and contact us at sponsors@pamodzicreatives.com to find out more! Otherwise, you can subscribe to our patreon page, gaining exclusive access to new content and podcasts. If neither of those take your fancy, we always appreciate people using their own voices and platforms to express the work we do in the community. Sharing our content through any social media helps raise awareness of our mission and showcases the fantastic people making up our tribe. Highlighting One of The Brilliant Endometriosis Charities We Support  Did you know that endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility in women? This is just one of the many reasons why we believe it is so important to support endometriosis charities and other non-profits working to empower women and enlighten others on the struggles faced today.
Our team's focus on inspirational women of Portsmouth is reflected not only in the work of one charity we support but also in the 'Endo Warriors' they are fighting for. Endometriosis Southcoast is a charity that does amazing work in supporting the people who are affected by this awful condition. They provide much-needed resources and support, and they are fighting to make a big difference in the lives of people living with this diagnosis. It is something that affects a huge proportion of people across the world, yet still remains a heavily taboo and under-researched topic. In order to continue inspiring our local communities and challenge stigmas as we see here - we work with endometriosis charities like this one to educate others and ignite tough conversations. Explaining The ConditionEndometriosis is a systemic disease that affects the metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue. This leads to inflammation, pain sensitisation and mood disorders. As a result, many people suffer from severe pelvic pain, fertility problems, and other complications. It is thought to affect around one in ten women of childbearing age, though this figure may be higher as many cases go undiagnosed. It often starts during puberty and can get worse over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure and many of the treatments that manage the symptoms aren't that effective and are mainly medication that manipulate hormones of the reproductive system, surgery and lifestyle changes. The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and hormonal factors. As a result of this, it can have a huge impact on someone's life, yet it is still relatively unknown in both the general population and the medical field. If you would like to learn more about endometriosis charities, or if you are looking for support or advice on the condition itself, please visit Endometriosis Southcoast. Their website has a wealth of information, and they offer an incredible support network for those affected by this condition. Adenomyosis. Another condition this charity is working to research and raise awareness of is adenomyosis, similar to endometriosis in a few ways but also differing enough that many people don't understand what separates the two. Adenomyosis is when endometrial cells invade the muscle wall of the womb. This can cause heavy and painful periods, as well as pelvic pain and pressure. There is a cure, however that cure is the removal of the womb (hysterectomy). Treatments are available to help manage the symptoms for those that do not want a hysterectomy; however they are mainly hormonal contraceptives and analgesics. Again, doctors are unsure of the cause.. Both of these conditions are extremely misunderstood by a lot of people. People often find themselves being victims of medical gaslighting or simply being misdiagnosed with things that present similar symptoms. Some of the most common are IBS, depression, and anxiety.. In reality - this makes it so much harder for anyone to receive treatment that actually manages these symptoms and improves the quality of life. Without endometriosis charities, this awareness and physical research may never escalate. Leaving so many people without the correct understanding is highly dangerous to these Endo warriors suffering from horrible pain and discomfort. Like endometriosis, there is no cure. But treatments are available to help manage the symptoms. Again, doctors are unsure of the cause, although it seems to resolve itself after menopause in most women. Both of these conditions are extremely misunderstood by a lot of people. Women often find themselves being victims of medical gaslighting or simply being misdiagnosed with things that present similar symptoms. Some of the most common are IBS, depression, anxiety and PCOS. In reality - this makes it so much harder for anyone to receive treatment that actually manages these symptoms and improves the quality of life. Without endometriosis charities, this awareness and physical research may never escalate. Leaving so many people without the correct understanding is highly dangerous to these Endowarriors suffering from horrible pain and discomfort. Research to date Part of Endometriosis Southcoast's mission is to provide new and ongoing research into these conditions. This is in the hope that not only do more people understand where and how they can get support, but so the medical help provided can improve. Some of the most recent research undertaken by this amazing charity are: How Different Factors Affect Care Jodie, chair of trustees and research advisor was diagnosed at 29 after struggling with many life-altering symptoms. Now, she is completing her PhD, investigating the relationship between multiple different factors and the medical care of endo. This includes comparing the health-related quality of life in patients of different ethnicities as well as those from different regions of the UK. It is thought that women of Asian descent are 9 times more susceptible to this condition, so it is important to recognise whether ethnicity is a determining factor in care and the outcome of long-term treatment. It should not be this way, but many disparities have been found over the years already. It has been noted that women wait an average of 10 minutes extra to receive pain relief in A&E compared to men, but when you are looking at an all-female group of sufferers, it is even more straightforward to determine any racial and ethnic disparities in the medical field. Furthermore, Jodie is also looking at how being treated at British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) accredited centres differs from standard gynaecological centres in the UK. By reporting on these areas, the charity as a whole will have a wider foundation to move forwards and make changes in the way people suffering from these conditions receive treatment and ongoing support. Menstruation Talking therapy Endometriosis charities across the country work to find new ways of managing these incurable conditions. One thing the team on the South Coast are doing is launching a study to investigate people's views on psychological treatment. Many will undergo a large number of doctor appointments, invasive procedures and even surgery - trying different medications to manage pain and life-changing symptoms. But what happens when this doesn't work? When the list has been exhausted, is there anything else that can be done to improve quality of life? Research into the possibility of talking therapies is few and far between. Here at Pamodzi Creatives, we know how valuable it can be to inspire new initiatives and involve the wider community. This study asks anyone willing to share their thoughts on the matter and could lead to the investigation of a need for a separate women's health pathway within the NHS, another hopeful treatment for these painful conditions. Why We Support Endometriosis Southcoast Pamodzi means together. And without a culture of togetherness, endometriosis charities like this one, or any non-profit for that matter, would not be able to carry out the necessary work and support they offer. Also, our Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Project just simply wouldn't be complete without celebrating a team of such amazing, giving women like these. The positive impact they are making on the wider community is unmeasurable and will continue to make great headway for those who need their support. Unfortunately, conditions generalised to a specific group like endo or adenomyosis are more likely to be scrutinised. With such little understanding of how or why it occurs, women all over are just being left in the dark about their own bodies. It's time to speak up and utilise the resources we have. Only then will we begin to get the answers we need and people will begin taking control of their health once more. How Can You Help? If you want to get involved with endometriosis charities, there are a few ways you can help. You could volunteer your time and skills to help with social media, design work or even become a mentor for someone who needs support. If you have some extra cash to spare, you could make a one-off donation or set up a monthly payment to help with the running costs of the charity. And finally, if you suffer from endometriosis yourself or know someone who does, spread awareness however you can. This might be through sharing this blog post, talking about your experiences on social media or even just having an open conversation with friends and family about what endometriosis is and how it affects people. Also, if you'd like to take part in any of the research being carried out by the team on the South Coast, you can head over to their research page now and sign up. The more we can grow each community and get people involved, the quicker we have a chance of seeing progress. This is an incredible team of women working so hard and remaining so hopeful for a better outcome in the quality of life and care for those suffering from endo and adenomyosis. Pamodzi Means Together. Our Mission Statement is to celebrate inspirational local stories and collaborate with creatives to challenge, affirm and inspire our communities. If you’d like to get involved or learn more about what we do - visit our website or social media today. Visit our Patreon Page for more exclusive Blogs. Grainne Gregory  I, as much as anybody, can attest to the positive effect that dance and movement have on our bodies physically. Our hearts and lungs, muscular system, and strength can all be greatly improved by movement and dance. It’s just well-known that exercising has a positive impact on us physically when done healthily and safely.
But what about the effect it has on our mental health? Well for me, I haven’t always put the two together. I’ve danced all my life. I have vivid memories of the hours I spent in front of the TV watching the kids on Barney the Dinosaur and joining them with their dance routines or more times than not, going completely rogue and choreographing my own dances. I had loads of friends growing up thankfully but still found that a massive chunk of my childhood was me, by myself in my room, dancing. It didn’t matter what CD I got my hands on, I would dance to track after track and visualise the dancers alongside me on the stage and the hundreds and thousands of audience members watching me (while giving all the attitude and sass that I could as a 6-year-old). It's quite strange actually because even though I was on my own, for sometimes long periods, I don’t remember feeling alone or sad, I just remember being so happy, excited, and invigorated afterward. And of course, when it would be time to go to my weekly dance lessons, I would be like a kid on Christmas morning with the excitement, before rushing straight home to perfect what I had just learned before the next week. I just felt happiest when I danced. In the years that followed I would have looked at all of this and not put much thought into it and the effect it had on me and my mindset. It wasn’t until I got older, and more to the point, until I stopped dancing completely for a few years that I realised how much of an effect dance had on me. Not only physically, but mentally too. As I got older, I never wanted to stop dancing, even as my friends starting to stop for different reasons. Sometimes it wasn’t by choice, it was more that things got in the way; work, studies, boys, socialising. And although I had all these things in my life too, they always fell second to my dancing. Whilst in secondary school I started working as a student-teacher for my dance school, and when I left school and started college and had other jobs, I always made sure they fit around my dancing so I could keep going. Then in 2014 when I was 24, I decided it was the time to “grow up” (inverted commas because I fell into the trap of believing that to be a grown-up meant I had to stop dancing), and get a “real job”. I was moving from Ireland to the UK to live with my boyfriend and needed a new full-time job, and having no connections with any dance schools in the UK, I thought it would be the best time to do so. I stopped dancing for a full 2 years for the first time ever. And initially, I didn't mind. There was so much going on that I didn’t really have time to miss dancing. Having just moved, I put a lot of my feelings and emotions down to homesickness, stress, and settling into my new surroundings. But after a few months, I started to really miss moving and music. So instead of doing what I innately knew would help (dance), I joined a gym for the first time in my life! After realising working out alone wasn’t the one, I decided to try some of the exercise classes, and this started to make me feel good. I loved the upbeat music and “dance-like” rhythm of the boxercise or aerobic-style classes, but after a couple of weeks, I got bored and stopped. This trial and error of different things continued for another year and a half. At the same time, I really wasn’t feeling good or happy. I wasn’t myself and I wasn’t the girl my boyfriend had fallen in love with and I started to doubt my decision to move countries. I had essentially gone from being someone busy with exciting things, highly independent, and creative at home to someone working a full-time office job, with no creative outlet, and who was highly dependent on my boyfriend. Due to this, our relationship started to suffer and I knew a massive chunk of it was because of how low, unfulfilled, and downright crap I felt. And in April 2016, after a pretty bad argument, which left me booking a same-day flight home to have “crisis talks” with my family, I promised that I would and could make it work. I knew I couldn’t help my relationship until I tried to help myself, but I still wasn't 100% sure how. And then, in the August of the same year, I started back dancing. At this time, I still hadn’t figured out that stopping dancing had been a massive catalyst in my lacking self-esteem, my confidence, and my overall mental health. I only started again because I saw an Adults dance company on Facebook who did girly-commercial style dancing a stone throws from me, called the Neptune Girls and I thought it looked cool. However, after my very first, not-so-good, and quite shaky lesson, I felt different. I didn't fully understand it at the time but I just remember feeling like the girl who walked into the studio that evening was not the same person who strutted out. And as the weeks went on this got stronger and stronger. It probably took a good 6 to 12 months before I looked back and was able to piece it all together. Dancing for me wasn’t just a hobby, it wasn’t just a job and it wasn’t just exercise. It was like therapy in physical form. It felt like I was under a spell as soon as the music started. Any worries, stresses, or problems seemed non-existence during this time. I could dance and move without the constant barrage of thoughts and noise of life whirling round and round in my head. They would still come back once I stopped, but I felt able to deal with them again with fresh eyes and a new perspective. And of course, this not only affected my mindset, mentality, and headspace but also filtered into my relationship and other aspects of my life. Now, I’m completely aware of how dramatic this may all sound, but that’s because for me it was dramatic. In the space of a year, I went from flying home to figure out my life, what I was going to do, and potentially where I was going to live, to getting engaged, really enjoying my job, and also feeling like my “old self” once again. Returning to dance was like a domino effect on so many parts of my life, and I fully believe that if I didn’t go back things would probably not be the way they are for me today. The years when I didn't dance were the times in my life when I struggled most with my mental health. I craved music and movement but nothing ever fully satisfied that and it became detrimental to so many areas of my life. Of course, other things were affecting how I felt too but dance had always been, and probably always will be, my release and escape, and without it, I wasn't sure how to cope with everything that was going on. I say that I am someone who doesn't "suffer" from my mental health thankfully. And by that, I mean that I've never had any medical or other support to help it. But just as we all have physical health; mental health is also something we all have. They can both be good and healthy at times, bad at others, and something we need help with along the way too. We all know there are things we can do to help look after ourselves physically; like drinking water, eating nourishing food, and getting enough sleep. But are we as aware of the things we can try and do to maintain our mental health? We wouldn't wait for our physical health to reach rock bottom before we start to look after it and the same applies to our mental health; being mindful of doing the things that nurture and improve it when we can. For me, it's dancing. In a studio or class setting. In a nightclub, freestyling away to my heart's content without a care in the world. Or even just in my kitchen, cranking the radio right up and moving around in whatever way feels good. I realise that now. And there are still days now when I feel like the last thing I want to do is move let alone dance, but these are the days that I need to dance the most and the times it has the biggest impact. I dance now for me, my body, and more importantly, for my mind. If you are struggling with your mental health, you can get help locally by visiting the Health and Care page of www.portsmouth.gov.uk or talking to your GP, Postive Minds. https://www.positivemindsportsmouth.org.uk/ , Talking Change https://www.talkingchange.nhs.uk/ or CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net/about-calm/what-is-calm/ *Source www.mentalhealth.org.uk Ella Reilly |
Lead Author : Kelly Marie BakerKelly-Marie is a tree loving, free spirited mum of two. Based in Southsea, she leads her family on a Home Education journey, learning from life and the world around them. Over the years her creative soul has been fed with the likes of poetry, dance, choreography and, more recently, writing. Her writing is predominantly focused on personal growth and development with a special interest in using the platform to challenge social norms and provoke deep thought. Kelly believes that The Arts are an immensely important tool to communicate complex and delicate issues and is proud to be collaborating with Pamodzi Creatives. Kelly’s favourites are nature, travel, personal development and coffee…all the coffee! Categories
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