To celebrate Occupational Therapy Week 2025 (3–9 November), Alison is joined by Occupational Therapists Zoe and Laura, and Denis, an expert by experience.

Together, they share Denis’s incredible journey through rehabilitation - a story powered by his determination and by Zoe and Laura’s willingness to do things differently.

Denis talks about how he went from spending 15 months lying in a hospital bed to being able to sit up in his chair, walk into his kitchen and back again, and how those steps transformed his life.

He also speaks movingly about the relationship he built with Zoe and Laura, and how their trust and teamwork made all the difference to his recovery.

This uplifting conversation is a reminder of what’s possible when people work together, and will inspire anyone listening to make the most of what’s available and keep reaching for their goals.

As we head through Autumn and into Winter, many of us feel the impact of the shorter days, lack of sunlight, and bad weather, not just in our routines, but in our moods and energy.

In this first episode of this Mental Health series, our colleagues from South Lincolnshire Rural Primary Care Network, Kavya, Melissa, and Leah, shine a light on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

What is SAD, why does it happen, and how we can support ourselves and each other through the darker months.

The trio explore the power of community support and self-care strategies that make a real difference, drawing on the evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing:

• Connect - Reaching out to friends, family, or local groups to feel less alone.
• Be active - Keeping your body moving to lift your mood, even if it’s simply getting off the sofa and going up and down the stairs.
• Take notice - Finding moments of calm and awareness in nature, art, or your everyday surroundings.
• Keep learning - Trying something new to spark curiosity and confidence.
• Give - Small acts of kindness or volunteering that help others and boost your own wellbeing too.

And for the Our Shared Agreement supporters out there, a key theme throughout the podcast is 'making the most of what we have available to us' (Our Shared Agreement's Foundation 5).

Whether you live with SAD or just struggle through winter’s gloom, this episode offers warmth, practical ideas, and gentle encouragement.

And remember, you’re not alone - and there’s more support around you than you might think. Let’s get through this, together!

Joining Alison as she sits down with Alice Carter and Phillip Watson from Lincoln City Foundation. Together they explore the Foundation's great work supporting individuals and communities to improve their physical, social, and mental wellbeing - and why what they do ‘isn’t just football’.

Stick with us to the end to hear about how proud Alice and Phill are about the impact their services are having on people - just don’t mention the dog and the naked photo shoot!

What does it really mean to work in a strengths-based way - and why should it matter to everyone in health and social care?

In this episode, Alison sits down with Hayley Eccles, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care at Lincolnshire County Council, to explore how a strengths-based mindset transforms the way we think about care and support.

Hayley shares her own journey from Support Worker to Deputy Director, and why those early working experiences still shape her belief that people’s strengths, relationships, and communities are at the heart of meaningful care.

Together, Hayley and Alison unpack what it takes to move from “fixing problems” to building on what people can do, creating independence and connection rather than dependence.

From culture change to community partnerships, Hayley makes a powerful case for being brave enough to do things differently - putting people, not systems, at the centre of everything we do.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about co-production, compassion, and the golden thread of strengths-based practice running through care in Lincolnshire.

To mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2025, Caty from the It's All About People Team sits down with Dee, Barbara, and Tommy from Lincolnshire Talking Therapies for an open and inspiring conversation about mental health and the power of talking.

Dee, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), shares some of her most memorable moments in therapy and how she uses CBT techniques not just with her clients, but in her own life too.

Tommy, a member of Voice2Change, a patient involvement group run by Lincolnshire Talking Therapies, talks honestly about his journey and the lasting positive impact that talking therapies have had on his wellbeing.

Barbara gives a helpful overview of the different types of talking therapy available in Lincolnshire and explains how you can self-refer or join a group if you’re feeling anxious, low, or simply need someone to talk to.

Find out more about Talking Therapies and how to get support: https://www.lpft.nhs.uk/talking-therapies

To mark Stoptober 2025, Gavin from the It’s All About People Personalisation Team sits down with Vicky, Kate, Ashlea, and Praveen from Lincolnshire’s Acute Tobacco Dependency Service to talk about how they support people on their journey to a smoke-free life.

They share how a truly person-centred approach, built on taking time to listen, empathy, understanding, and co-designing support, makes all the difference. By hearing each person’s story and tailoring care around what matters most to them, the team helps create change that lasts.

Tune in for inspiring insights, real experiences, and a powerful look at how person-centred care can transform lives.

In this second episode of the 'Everybody, Every Story' Cancer Awareness Podcast, host Kavya sits down with Dr. Lucy Rushworth and seven incredible women - Charlotte, Linda, Meena, Melissa, Namrata, Sadia, and Sue - to talk about something that can feel a little awkward but is absolutely vital: breast screening.

Screening can be scary to think about. Myths, misconceptions, and fears often hold people back, but putting off or avoiding screening can mean diagnosing cancer later, when it’s harder to treat. That’s why these women are opening up and sharing their stories.

In this episode, you’ll hear honest conversations about breast screening - the ups and downs, the fears, and even those awkward moments we all secretly worry about. You’ll also hear the facts that cut through the myths - and reminders that screening really can save lives.

Most importantly, you’ll meet women of different ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities who want to empower you with their experiences. Their message is simple: you’re not alone, and talking about screening makes a difference.

This podcast series is brought to you by South Lincolnshire Rural Primary Care Network.

In this episode, former Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) ReSPECT Project Manager Jenny Fryer is joined by Abi Alexander, Macmillan Clinical Team Leader at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), and Jason Abrahall, District Nurse and Clinical Team Lead, Community Nursing, based in Bourne and Stamford.

Together, they look at why the ReSPECT process matters so much from a community team’s point of view. Community nurses, who often know people and their families well, play a key role in starting ReSPECT conversations, reviewing them, and making sure a person's ReSPECT form stays up to date, always reflecting their priorities and wishes for care in an emergency.

Jenny, Abi, and Jason also take time to answer a range of questions, including:

• In a community or care home setting, who is best placed to have a ReSPECT conversation with someone?
• What should be done if a person’s wishes on their ReSPECT form don’t match what’s written in their Lasting Power of Attorney document?
• How prepared are community professionals to have ReSPECT conversations with people?