More Than a Tin of Beans: Food Banks, Dignity and What We Really Need

August 9, 2025.Reading time 3 minutes.

Walking into a food bank for the first time can feel like swallowing your pride in one giant gulp. There’s this idea that food banks are for ‘other people’ — people who’ve messed up, people who haven’t tried hard enough, people who don’t manage their money. But that’s not the truth. The truth is that […]

We’re hiring! Volunteer Fundraiser

July 16, 2025.Reading time 5 minutes.

Volunteer Fundraiser – Role Description Organisation: Mark Hewitson Foundation 💝 Location: Remote / Based in Coventry or surrounding areas (flexible) Time commitment: Flexible – a few hours per week, can vary based on availability Reports to: Trustees ————————————————————————— About the Foundation The Mark Hewitson Foundation 💝 is a UK-registered charity (No. 1194907) set up in […]

“You’re 18, You’re Free”… But What Now? A Post for Care Leavers

July 5, 2025.Reading time 4 minutes.

If you’ve just left care — or you’re about to — let me say this first:You’re not alone, and you’re not expected to have it all figured out. I won’t lie — the moment you turn 18, the world expects a lot from you. One minute you’re in foster care, a residential home, or supported […]

Navigating Through the Cost of Living Crisis – Finding Support in Coventry

July 1, 2025.Reading time 5 minutes.

I’ve been working on some stuff lately — both personally and via Mark’s Foundation — and one thing that keeps coming up in conversations is just how hard things have got for people. The cost of living crisis isn’t a headline anymore — it’s real life. It’s choosing between heating and food. It’s a gas […]

I’m down. Almost out. But not quite.

May 20, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

I thought I should write something and update you all. I have no idea what’s going to come but here goes. Firstly, thank you. Thank you, thank you for all of your support. Your words of encouragement, shares of my posts, blogs and tweets, and donations mean the world to me. In doing […]

Where to start?

March 19, 2017.Reading time 11 minutes.

Today I kinda ran a half marathon. Tonight, I don’t even want a Gin. There’s the context for this blog. Firstly, the good stuff. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your words of support and encouragement over the last few months, since I started this crazy-ass idea, this morning before my first official half marathon […]

I need you now more than ever

March 18, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

In 9.5 hours time, I will cross the start line and begin the first of my 3 halfs and 1 full marathon of 2017. To be honest, I’m feeling very nervous. No, that doesn’t quite cut it. I am shitting myself. I don’t know why because I know I can now run the required distance, […]

When ticking a box just isn’t good enough.

March 11, 2017.Reading time 11 minutes.

A week to go before the first instalment of this years Marathon Challenge begins. What have I learned about this running malarkey and myself this week? First up, let me acknowledge the good thing. I “ran” another 13.1 miles today and I even conquered the, officially titled, Radford Rd incline for the first time. It’s a […]

How a little run became 13.1

March 4, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

I am super proud of me today. My planned little run of up to 5 miles, having not ran since last Sunday, turned into 13.1 miles. I’m still not sure how it happened or why, but it felt right so I went with it. Until 3 miles in. I am running the route for the […]

Eyes on #covhalf – 3 weeks to go

February 26, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Today, I wanted to get “eyes on” and see the course for my first half marathon of the year, the Coventry Half Marathon. My initial plan was to run it and set a time. I picked up the first running belt I came across, one I haven’t used before by Kalenji Running, chucked in a […]