Calming Connections

25/03/2026

25/03/2026

We had a great meeting this month with the excellent Claire Borg (Netley) providing a very informative and helpful talk.
Some great discussions and questions asked. For those of us who are self-employed understanding the difference between sole traders and limited company can seem a minefield but Claire’s talk cleared a lot of confusion and gave some of us the shake up we needed to get our tax returns in order.

April’s meeting has the wonderful Lauren Keen from Forest of the Mind Counselling as our guest speaker and we will be learning all about boundaries, both personal and professional.

Lauren will be explaining what boundaries are, where they might be missing, and why they matter. She’ll also be explaining what healthy boundaries look like.

Lauren is a UK trained, BACP registered, person-centred counsellor with experience in both charities and private practice.

We are certain this will be an insightful and informative talk and relevant to so many.

At AURA, we have a holistic approach to our networking. We understand that it’s not just about our professional development but also our personal wellbeing. The two are intrinsically linked and this is why we source guest speakers to cover both professional subjects and those pertained to wellbeing.

We have some fantastic speakers lined up for the remaining year, focusing on professional and personal support. We will be talking about websites, colour analysis, breasts(yes you read that correctly, we have a great talk coming up about breasts), social media and much more.

Come along and take a look and learn how to grow your community, your business and your personal development.

To find out more take a look at our website, comment below or drop us a message.
We look forward to welcoming you.

https://lnkd.in/eJdTHP89

17/03/2026

I had the pleasure of delivering a drug awareness session for a fantastic group of Scouts, and it was one of the most engaging groups I’ve worked with. They were brilliant.

Asked loads of questions. So enthusiastic. They were like 20 little sponges absorbing everything in and I had the best time speaking with them.
We used simulation goggles to demonstrate how drugs and alcohol can affect coordination, judgement and spatial awareness with very simple and fun exercises. They were walking along a straight line, picking up beakers, throwing a ball and attempting to place a plaster on one another.

Even the simplest tasks suddenly became difficult — which really helped bring home the message about how impairment can impact everyday decisions and safety. We discussed how trying to walk along a busy road, walking round a camp fire or helping someone who is injured suddenly becomes so much more difficult if you are under the influence of drugs.

Another part of the session that sparked a lot of discussion was my display case containing 24 life-like replicas of some of the most common drugs. Seeing them side-by-side highlighted something many people don’t realise: how similar many substances can look. It opened up an important conversation about the risks of the illicit market and how, in reality, you never truly know what you’re being sold, and that in itself is one particular danger.

At the end of the session when I asked what they would say if anyone offered them drugs the answers ranged from “No, because I don’t want to get run over” to “I think I’ll be the designated driver. This is much too risky”

This is the age groups we need to be educating and it is about education. I said at the very beginning of the session that it wasn’t a lecture, I wasn’t telling them what to do but rather instead, I was giving them information to make their own decisions.

We just have to hope they make their right decisions.

If you work in education, youth groups, sports clubs, scouting organisations, or community programmes and would like to explore bringing this interactive drug awareness training to your young people, feel free to get in touch. I’d be happy to discuss how we can deliver a session tailored to your group

03/03/2026

🌟 Level 3 Mental Health First Aid – Open Course Now Booking! 🌟

Come and learn with me to become a qualified level 3 Mental Health First Aider.

Our Level 3 Mental health First Aid Course is Ofqual Regulated and is valid for 3 years. Our next course in Hereford is taking place on April 22nd and 23rd.

When people hear mental health training, they don’t always think of the word fun… but they should and they can.

Our Level 3 Mental Health First Aid course is interactive, engaging, thought-provoking — and yes, genuinely enjoyable. Because you absolutely can have meaningful conversations about mental health in a way that feels energising, supportive and empowering.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s a dynamic, discussion-led experience where you’ll:

✔ Take part in real-life scenarios
✔ Practice practical skills you can use immediately
✔ Build confidence in supporting others
✔ Share experiences in a safe, supportive environment
✔ Connect and network with people from other organisations

As an open course, you won’t just learn from the trainer — you’ll learn from each other. Meeting people from different sectors brings fresh perspectives, new ideas and powerful shared learning.

💡 Benefits for Individuals:

Increased confidence in recognising signs of mental health challenges

Practical tools to start supportive conversations

Reduced stigma and improved self-awareness

Enhanced communication and listening skills

A recognised Level 3 qualification

Transferable Skills that support you not just at work — but in everyday life, because we never know when we may meet someone who needs our support. It could be a friend, family member, loved one or a stranger we meet on the street.

🏢 Benefits for Organisations:

*Healthier, more supportive workplace culture

*Early identification and intervention

*Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism

*Improved morale and employee engagement

*Demonstrable commitment to wellbeing

*Stronger leadership capability and team resilience

Mental health first aiders are not therapists,— they are informed, confident first points of contact who can make a real difference.

Invest in skills that matter. Invest in people. Invest in wellbeing.

📩 Get in touch to book your place or request more details. Spaces are limited.

18/01/2026

✨ Introducing AURA ✨
A networking and support group for women who want more—together.

AURA stands for Align, Uplift, Rise and Achieve 💫
Because when women come into alignment with who they are, uplift one another, rise into their potential, and boldly pursue their goals—powerful things happen.

AURA is a space for:
🤍 Genuine connection
🤍 Support without competition
🤍 Growth, confidence and clarity
🤍 Real conversations and shared experiences

Whether you’re navigating career change, leadership, business, personal growth, or simply craving a community that gets it—you don’t have to do it alone.

Come as you are.
Leave feeling aligned, supported, and inspired.

🌿 Join AURA and let’s Align, Uplift, Rise and Achieve—together.

https://lnkd.in/eJdTHP89

06/01/2026

We are going to start the New Year with a great session and first meet up at AURA networking and support group on Wednesday 7th January at De koffie Pit in Hereford.

Terri Pugh, the co-founder of AURA, is kickstarting the years events with a special event that will help you change the way you think about your body.

Terry’s talk will cover:

-The new year new me rhetoric, and why it’s tiring and unhelpful.
-Where our body image comes from.
-The way we blame our bodies for everything.
-What we actually need when we’re feeling bad about ourselves.
-The difference between loving your body and respecting it.
-How we raise each other up as women, rather than comparing ourselves all the time.
-And some actions everyone can start taking straight away to improve how they feel about themselves.

Terry comes with a whole wealth of experience and knowledge:

🎓 A BSc in Nutritional Therapy

🧠 She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor, trained by the original pros, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

🧬 Terri has completed a qualification in Neuroscience in Early Years

📋 She holds an ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring, which means she is trained in how to support people through change, not just giving pep talks and hope for the best

🌿 She’s trained with The Centre For Healing, completing their Trauma Informed Certificate for Coaches, and Somatic Foundations, bringing in a deeper understanding of how the body holds emotion and how to gently work with it.

She is also aligned with the Health at Every Size® (HAES) approach and a member of ASDAH, which means she advocates for your wellbeing no matter your size, shape, or how many times you’ve tried to “start again.”

Our bodies couldn’t be in better hands (figuratively that is).

I’m excited to hear what Terri has to say and share with us. This promises to be an informative and engaging discussion.

Free to existing members. You can book tickets below or sign up and become a fully fledged member and join us for many more events and networking

https://auranetworking.co.uk/join/

02/01/2026

✨ New Year. New Energy. Choosing YOU. ✨

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect moment to pause and ask yourself:
What would be possible if I didn’t do this alone? If I had other, like-minded women beside me?

Our women’s networking and support community is a space where you don’t have to shrink, struggle silently, or figure it all out by yourself. It’s a place toalign, uplift, rise and achieve — together.

💫 A community of women who support one another
💫 Honest conversations, shared growth, real connections
💫 A safe space to be seen, heard, and celebrated
💫 Collective strength that turns goals into action

This year is about choosing you — your growth, your voice, your dreams, and the people who walk alongside you as you step into your next level.

If you’re ready to align with women who believe in collaboration over competition and growth over fear, we’d love to welcome you.

🌱 Your next chapter doesn’t have to be written alone.
Comment below or message us to learn more about joining our community.

Terri Pugh and I are ready to welcome you at AURA Networking and Support.

We already have a great line up of events planned for this year.

27/11/2025

When was the last time workplace training genuinely changed your life?

Not just your performance… but you?

This is just some of the feedback I have received from delivering training in Grief awareness, substance abuse awareness and Trauma awareness sessions.

Workplace mental health training is often viewed as a “nice to have,” something that supports professional wellbeing but the potential for growth and change are real.

The ripple effects don’t just stop when people leave the office, it goes far beyond this.

When people learn how to manage stress, regulate emotions, communicate openly, and recognise signs of burnout or trauma, they don’t leave those skills at their desks—they carry them into their homes, relationships, and everyday challenges.

The feedback I have received from the courses I have delivered show how the right training can build resilience, foster growth, and equip individuals with practical tools they can lean on during real-life situations.

These are skills that help someone navigate conflict, support a loved one in distress, cope with uncertainty, and create healthier boundaries. Skills that are just for the workplace but for the world we live in as a whole.

This isn’t just professional development.
This is personal transformation.

So I ask you again:
When was the last time you attended workplace training that had the power to make such a profound difference—both on and off the clock?

Investing in mental health training isn’t about ticking a box.
It’s about empowering people with knowledge that can truly change lives.

Message me for more details or share for others to reap the benefits.

27/11/2025

December 3rd is our next networking event and we have been so encouraged and proud of the feedback we have received since setting up the group.

Our member numbers are growing and already we have formed a community of Women who are supporting one another, celebrating each other successes and networking.

We have had lots of laughter, shared our greatest achievements, discussed our biggest challenges and for December- well that is all about celebrating with some Christmas cheer.

We will have our usual welcoming atmosphere, a moment for members to share any successes or new promotions since their last meeting and a walk down the memory lane of previous Christmas.

And if that wasn’t enough, we will all be looking ahead to what the next 12 months may bring to everyone in a personal and professional level.

Plus……. “Speed Networking” yes you read that correctly, we will be putting a networking take on the concept that is speed dating.

If you are reading this and thinking “Yes- this is for me” then details how to join are below.

We are ready to welcome you or answer any questions you may have.

Plus our members will be bringing promotions, discounts or crafts they have to inspire you for Christmas gifts and we welcome you to do the same.

Come and be part of something new, exciting and inspiring.

https://lnkd.in/e4w4AfXQ

17/11/2025

AURA Networking and Support Group. Our next meeting 📅 is on 3rd December and it’s all about Christmas 🤶. Who doesn’t love a bit of Christmas.

So if you are still thinking about coming to join us and see what we are about then come and take a look.

Terri Pugh and I will be there to welcome you along with our lovely members whilst we discuss all things Christmas, spread some Christmas cheer, perhaps have a little tipple and make new connections.

Every meeting is a chance to network, a moment to share successes, discuss new challenges, promote ideas and just generally be there to listen and uplift each other.

A more supportive, positive environment you will struggle to find and what’s more, you can try us out for free. Head to our website for more details. We look forward to welcoming you.

https://auranetworking.co.uk