Journeying Forward: Mencap Week 17, Outdoor Exploration, and New Beginnings

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Welcome back to the blog! It has been another busy, fulfilling week of routine, growth, and reconnecting with nature. As Sunday rolls around, it’s time to check in, reflect, and share my Week 17 evidence for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award, alongside updates on my other weekly activities.

​Here is how everything shaped up this week:

​🌟 Mencap Gateway Bronze Award: Week 17 Checklist

  • ​1. Volunteering (Walk for Autism): Completed previously.
  • ​2. Fitness (Nature Walk): Kept up with my steps and physical activity in nature. 
  • ​3. Hobby (The Digital Parish & Prayers): Continued my rhythm of praying and documenting my reflections on faith right here on the blog. It remains a grounding anchor for my week.
  • ​4. Personal Challenge: Previously submitted and completed.
  • ​5. Lifestyle (Sensory & Advocacy): I have been actively managing my daily regulation using my Squiggle Society and other art supplies, fidgets, and sensory snacks.
  •  Alongside this, my advocacy work continues. This week it was about applying for a mobility component for one of the children's benefits claims. We are also thinking of trying another church in our long quest to find a suitable church for our complex needs family. Furthermore I took Lilianna to Bright Sparks ASN play. 

​To keep all of these habits and routines running smoothly, I am continuing to use the Finch app, which has been a fantastic tool for keeping me on track.

​🪵 Prescribe Nature at Newbattle Abbey College (Week 3)

​This week marked Week 3 of the Prescribe Nature program, and it was a deeply immersive, hands-on experience in the outdoors.

​We focused on sustainability by identifying trees that are in abundance and will replenish easily. From there, we got to work with some practical woodland skills—spending time sawing, whittling, and cutting wood.


​We also headed down to the water for some river dipping. We spent time identifying various fish and river life, learning about what we do want to see—and what we don't want to see—to maintain a healthy, thriving river ecosystem.

After working up an appetite, we enjoyed lunch together, checked on the plants inside the polytunnel, and listened to the peaceful sounds of the woods. I noticed some beautiful bird songs; though I couldn't spot the singer, I am fairly certain it was a Finch!

​👨‍👦 Dad and Me: A New Location

​There is a big update regarding the Dad and Me sessions. As many of you know, Midlothian Sure Start at The Beacon has unfortunately closed down. However, the sessions have officially restarted! We are now meeting at a new location in Mayfield, and it feels great to have this vital routine back up and running in a new space.

​🎙️ Podcast Rebrand: Above All Love Radio

​Finally, I have some exciting creative news. I have officially renamed the podcast! It is now called Above All Love Radio.

​The podcast will continue to share meaningful content, and will feature, among other things, the audio from Simply Fellowship. I'm looking forward to seeing how this project evolves under its new name.

​Thank you for following along on my Mencap journey and everyday adventures. How has your week been? Let me know in the comments below!

A Highland Theological College graduate and non-conformist follower of Jesus living at the crossroads of neurodiversity and faith. Writing on the wild grace of the Gospel.

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