In this heartfelt podcast episode, Caty sits down with floral artist Rachel Petheram and Historic Environment Officer Sarah Grundy to explore the powerful impact of culture and nature on carers’ wellbeing.

Together, they share the story of a project co-produced with carers, for carers - and how it became transformational not only for those who took part, but for Rachel herself.

You’ll hear how something as simple, and as profound, as having time, space, and permission to reconnect with nature and creativity helped carers rediscover their sense of self. With the right support in place, participants experienced meaningful and lasting improvements in their emotional and mental wellbeing.

The Culture and Nature for Health and Wellbeing project was a true collaboration. It brought together:

• Co-production workshops led by Every-One
• Practical respite care provided by Age UK Lincolnshire
• Independent evaluation by Dr Rob Dean from the University of Lincoln
• Beautiful settings in the buildings and gardens of Doddington Hall

Caty, Rachel and Sarah also reflect honestly on the challenges of short-term funding, and what it will take to grow this deeply personalised approach so that more carers across Lincolnshire can benefit.

If you’re interested in wellbeing, creativity, community collaboration, or the lived experience of carers, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a hopeful vision for what’s possible.

Ryan Morrow, Referral and Triage Manager at One You Lincolnshire, joins Alison to share the story behind the One You Lincolnshire Outreach Bus - a summer roadshow that toured 9 towns and cities and stopped at 31 community venues in just two months.

Ryan speaks passionately about the power of meeting and supporting people where they already are - from community centres and leisure centres to GP practices - while working side by side with partners like Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Services.

Ryan's enthusiasm and commitment shines through so clearly that he scooped this week’s Our Shared Agreement bingo win, brilliantly highlighting how all Five Foundations came to life through this project.

Want to find out more?

To find out more about this project: Contact Ryan directly at ryan.morrow@oneyoulincolnshire.org.uk

Find out more about One You Lincolnshire services.

To make a referral, call 01522 705162

Joining Alison in this episode is Elaine Mitchell, Project Officer for the Lincolnshire Sleep Hub. Alison first met Elaine back in 2024 while organising that year’s It’s All About People Conference, so this podcast is very much a reunion and a chance to catch up on everything Elaine has been working on since.

Many people who met Elaine at the conference still talk about The Sleep Charity, and it’s wonderful to hear how many connections she made on that day which have since grown into events, activities, and support for people struggling with sleep.

Elaine speaks with real passion about the power of sleep and how deeply it influences our physical and emotional wellbeing. She also highlights how our workforce can boost their confidence and understanding by taking part in the Sleep Talker training (with new dates coming soon!).

Throughout the conversation, Elaine shares inspiring stories of individuals she’s supported - simple conversations that led to meaningful improvements in sleep patterns and overall wellbeing.

Have a listen and discover what you can learn about sleep. We promise this is one sleep-related session that definitely won’t send you to sleep!

Useful links:

The Sleep Charity

Lincolnshire Sleep Hub