Jenny Smillie

September News from JLS C.I.C. For many of us, September has an almost ‘New Year’ feeling—a time for fresh starts, new routines and new beginnings. It certainly feels that way here at Journeys, Leaves and Seeds C.I.C. as we welcome some exciting new offerings and approach our third birthday at the end of the month! Welcoming you back to the woods This week saw the return of our funded Monday Forest School sessions, including the launch of our brand-new Under-5s programme, Woodland Words and...

As many of you will already know, our small CIC has recently been awarded two significant pots of funding—and we are incredibly grateful and excited about what this will make possible. Our first award is two years of core funding from BBC Children in Need, beginning in September. Core funding is particularly valuable to a small organisation like ours, as it helps strengthen the foundations behind everything we do and gives us greater stability as we plan for the future. We have also received...

Last month, I wrote about finding myself somewhere between growth and rest. It was a blog born out of honesty. Like many small community organisations, Journeys, Leaves & Seeds is constantly balancing ambition with sustainability, and purpose with practicality. I spoke about the importance of slowing down, listening to our bodies, and recognising that rest is not something we earn once everything is finished. It is something we need throughout the journey. If I'm honest, that is a lesson I am...