After 14 years as co-founder of Smile Group and now in my fifth year with the Hearts and Minds Partnership, I’ve taken the difficult decision to step back from these roles.
It took a significant amount of soul searching, as anyone who has co-founded a VCSE will appreciate, and how much our identities are inextricably woven into the whole experience.
My children are growing up now and, honestly speaking, I feel a healthy distance from the part of my life that prompted the creation and growth of Smile Group.
Ruth (Williams) and I met more than 14 years ago at a time of massive personal adversity and with an unstoppable momentum to create compassionate, safe spaces for parents facing emotional challenges in the perinatal period.
I am proud to have been part of a magnificent team (past and present) who embody the values of Smile on a daily basis and the ripple effect has been quite astonishing to witness. Ruth and I set out with an intention initially that just one family might not experience the same isolation and overwhelm as we did – it turns out that thousands of families’ lives have been touched by Smile.
In this time of reflection, I felt it important to share some learning from this chapter of my life:
- Beautiful things can emerge from adversity. It takes immense courage but we can turn difficult experiences into incredible opportunities
- The VCSE has immense potential to be intrinsic to the future sustainability of the health system. It needs equitable recognition, care, attention and investment
- Life long friendships emerge in the midst of challenging times
- When we show up from the heart, with passion and dynamic energy, there is no limit to what can be achieved
- Ruth and I were once describe as ‘forces of nature’ – may we be them and may we raise them too
- Never underestimate the power of kindness and compassion
- We can’t do anything in isolation – we need to work together
- You are not defined by what happens to you, but these experiences can be great teachers along the way
- You are never alone – your reserves are far greater than you imagine
As I move on to my next career chapter, exploring opportunities to grow my coaching work in the new year, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the person who made all this possible – without whom Smile wouldn’t even have existed. Ruth you are incredible and I’m so glad our paths collided. I’d also like to thank our phenomenal team, our trustees and volunteers who make it all happen, as well as our funders, stakeholders and, of course, the wonderful families who have come through our doors in the last 14 years.
Smile’s team has grown and I’m excited to step back (with a soap box for the VCSE never far from my side) to watch as it continues to flourish.
With love,
Nat