Hello and welcome to our May blog! As you know, the month of May brings sunshine, warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and the fresh beginnings of summer – but it’s also a chance to reflect and safeguard our mental health.
That’s because Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off on the 9th of May – so to mark the occasion, we’ll be giving you our usual round-up, plus some mental health tips to try when you’re feeling a little low. We’ll be sharing them on our social channels across the month too, so remember to keep your eyes peeled!
Simple Pleasures of Spring
But first, we wanted to remind you that the deadline to submit your snaps in our photo competition is fast approaching – you’ve got until the 1st of June! Our theme is ‘Simple Pleasures of Spring’ and we want you to capture your favourite things to do and see this Spring in and around Oakley Vale.
To enter, all you need to do is follow the instructions on our Photo Competition page and the public will decide the winner. There’s a £50 prize up for grabs too – which is matched by an equal donation to the Oakley Vale Community Association.
If you’re in need of a little inspiration, check out this stunning panoramic snap of the Oakley Vale lakes at sunset!
The History of Oakley Vale
Now we want to let you in on a little secret! We all know that Oakley Vale is as quintessentially British as the oak tree and a fantastic place to live – offering residents an abundance of green space to relax and unwind, with a lovely lake, highly rated and highly successful schools, and heaps of activities right on your doorstep. But have you ever wondered about the history of Oakley Vale? And what was here before the thriving community we know and love today? Well, we can now reveal we’ve added a new page to our website titled – The History of Oakley Vale.
On the page, you’ll find the rich history of Corby which dates back to the 8th century and has many unique twists and turns! Fast forward to the 21st century and Oakley Vale is starting to forge its own history, with exciting news still to come…
We’d love for you to check out the page! Why not drop us a note and let us know what you think? Perhaps you have some old pictures of Oakley Vale you could share too?
What’s on in Oakley Vale & Corby?
As always, we wanted to share some of the events we can all look forward to throughout May! Here’s our pick of the bunch:
The Gruffalo – 5th till 7th May
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler!
The Johnny Cash Roadshow – 13th May
After a year-long hiatus, The Johnny Cash Roadshow is back and better than ever! This year, award-winning Clive John pays homage to the Man in Black, with a brand-new show featuring ‘June Carter’ and the Roadshow Horns.
Corby Community Service Awards – 25th May
The Corby Community Service Awards will shine a light on our very own Corby champions, individuals and organisations who made extraordinary efforts to help others and make a lasting difference during the worst of the pandemic – don’t miss it!
Mental Health Tips
As promised, we wanted to end with some mental health tips for you or your loved ones that could help when a bit of a boost is needed.
- Do something you enjoy
A good way to relax, unwind, and take your mind off stress is to spend time doing something you enjoy. Whether it’s playing the Xbox, practising painting, taking part in sport, or going to the park with friends, keeping your mind occupied will keep you feeling positive and upbeat.
- Get good sleep
While it can be tempting to watch ‘just one more’ late-night episode of your favourite show on Netflix, sleep is what keeps us feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Good-quality sleep allows our body and mind to recharge and makes a big difference to how we feel. Aim for a minimum of eight hours and remember to turn off your phone before you hit the hay.
- Talk about your feelings
One of the most important things we can do to protect our mental health is to open up, be transparent, and talk about our feelings – no matter if they’re good or bad. It could be a chat with a teacher, friend, sibling, or parent – simply getting things off your chest is a great feeling.
- Explore outdoors
Countless research has found that being out in nature and the great outdoors reduces symptoms of depression and simply makes us happy! Spending time walking, jogging, birdwatching, or even digging up those ever-growing weeds in the fresh air can help!
- Ask for help
Last but by no means least, if your negative feelings do become overwhelming, make sure you ask for help. Seeking help is a sign of strength — not a weakness.
All that’s left to say is we hope you all have a magical May and spend the month promoting positivity in Oakley Vale – see you in June!
