Finding Rainbows

19/06/2026

💙 A Heartfelt Thank You 💙

Today I opened the Finding Rainbows donations and was completely surprised to see a generous donation of £100 from Charlie Oates.

Charlie and his friend Neil Airey are currently raising funds for Dentaid and are preparing for a volunteer mission to Uganda in 2027, where they will help provide much-needed dental care to communities with little or no access to treatment.

I only met Charlie yesterday by chance in Blackpool, and after a lovely conversation about charity, community and helping others, he has shown such kindness by supporting Finding Rainbows.

Your generosity means so much, Charlie. Every donation helps us continue supporting people through difficult times and spreading hope where it’s needed most.

Thank you for your support, your kindness and for the incredible work you are doing to help others both here in the UK and abroad.

Wishing you every success with your fundraising and your mission to Uganda.

🌈 From all of us at Finding Rainbows, thank you. 🌈

19/06/2026

The Power of a Simple Conversation ❤️🌈

Yesterday, after attending the Combatting Loneliness Conference in Blackpool, I decided to spend a little time by myself. I grabbed some food, had a drink, took a walk along the seafront and enjoyed some quiet reflection.

Later, while sitting in a bar, two young men walked in absolutely drenched from the rain. They were taking part in a charity challenge and were even tied together by the ankle! Naturally, I got chatting to them.

The two lads, Charlie Oates and Neil Airey, are raising money for Dentaid. Having already volunteered locally helping people experiencing homelessness access dental care, they are now preparing for an incredible journey to Uganda in September 2027.

Alongside local Ugandan dentists and a small Dentaid team, they will set up makeshift dental clinics in remote communities, schools, churches and orphanages. For many people they meet, it will be the first time they have ever seen a dentist. They will be helping adults and children suffering with severe toothache, infections and untreated dental conditions, while also providing vital oral health education.

They were accompanied by a lovely lady called Kate, who was checking in on them and supporting them during their challenge. As we chatted, we discovered that Kate had previously lived in Denton. What are the chances? Hundreds of miles from home and we found a shared connection to the same area.

Kate tagged me in their fundraising page, and I was happy to donate £10 to support their amazing work. We wished each other well and went our separate ways.

Then today, I opened the Finding Rainbows donations and discovered that Charlie had made a generous donation of £100.

I was genuinely touched.

It reminded me that sometimes the simplest conversations can have the biggest impact. A chance meeting between strangers led to kindness being shared in both directions.

After spending the day at a conference focused on combatting loneliness, this felt like the perfect example of why connection matters so much. Taking the time to talk to someone, listen to their story and show an interest in what they’re doing can create ripples far beyond that one moment.

Thank you Charlie, Neil and Kate for the conversation, the inspiration and the kindness. Wishing you every success with your fundraising and your life-changing work in Uganda.

Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation. ❤️

https://www.justgiving.com/page/neil-a-charliedentaid27?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=OF

The link for the fundraising page, if anyone could share on socials etc that would be great!!

Also taking suggestions for any events / fundraising activities etc 🙂

Help Neil Airey raise money to support Dentaid

19/06/2026

the conference yesterday, I treated myself to some much-needed me time. I took a peaceful walk along the promenade, spent a while looking out at the sea, and then settled into a lovely little restaurant for some delicious food and a cocktail. It was the perfect way to unwind and I enjoyed every minute of it. 💕

18/06/2026

Today I had the privilege of attending the Campaign to End Loneliness Roadshow at The Salvation Army Blackpool Citadel.

The event brought together policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and people with lived experience, all united by a shared goal: tackling loneliness and strengthening social connection in our communities.

Through informative talks, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking panel discussions, we explored what loneliness looks like in today’s society, the impact it has on people’s lives, and the practical actions we can take to create more connected and compassionate communities.

I was honoured to contribute to the conversation around grief and loneliness by sharing my own personal journey. I spoke about how the loss of a baby or child can leave you feeling incredibly isolated, disconnected from others, and struggling with a loss of identity. When a child dies, part of your world dies with them, and it can feel as though nobody truly understands the depth of that pain.

What became clear throughout the day is that bereavement, whatever the loss, can be a very lonely place. Grief can change relationships, affect confidence, and leave people feeling unseen and unheard. Many people carry their pain quietly while trying to navigate a world that seems to keep moving forward without them.

The discussions highlighted the importance of compassionate communities, meaningful connections, and creating spaces where people feel safe to talk about their grief without fear of judgement. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply be present, listen, and acknowledge someone’s loss.

What made the day so special was seeing people from different backgrounds and experiences come together to contribute to a UK-wide conversation that will help shape future action on loneliness and social connection. The discussions and findings from these events will inform the Campaign to End Loneliness strategy and feed into discussions within the UK and devolved parliaments.

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, knowledge, and passion today. I left feeling hopeful that by continuing these conversations and working together, we can create communities where people feel less alone in their grief and more supported through life’s most difficult moments.

17/06/2026

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10/06/2026

10/06/2026

We would like to say a huge thank you to Ellie & Liam for raising a fantastic £85 at their beautiful rainbow boys, Archie's christening! Thank you so much for your amazing on going support

09/06/2026

🤩🧠 It’s Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, and we are focusing on ‘Attunement’.

Attuned relationships help support a baby’s brain development in the . Attunement helps with sensory & motor skills, emotional regulation, attention, and is also important for language development.

09/06/2026

We would like to say a massive thank you to Anna Keeling for supporting Finding Rainbows in the Manchester Marathon. We are so thankful for the support from Anna and her family! Anna raised an amazing £1,182 with her run!

justgiving.com/page/anna-keeling-1