Jodie

Can it really be 12 months since Jodie joined the team at work?

In that time she's become a valued colleague, a deliverer of daily doses of positivity and sunshine, and a friend.

In these times of austerity - by which I mean vicious cuts to local voluntary and statutory services, including the mental health sector - it's proved impossible to find the funding to keep her on beyond these past 12 months. And so it was with heavy hearts that Sarah and I had to say goodbye to her tonight. Particularly as, in a piece of terrible timing, it's her birthday tomorrow... (or, today, as I'm back-blipping this!).

We took her out for a delicious meal at Mowgli and it was a lovely night despite the sad circumstances.

Our charity has been under severe threat for the past few months, and the future is still looking decidedly shaky, but we will do our best to keep fighting the good fight for as long as we can and I know we haven't seen the last of Jodie.

She's going to keep on writing and performing music with her band Mamatung www.blipfoto.com/entry/2221711485350971014 and I wish her all the best for a successful career, doing what she loves best, on her own terms.

She's proper awesome!!

Today's tune is, naturally, by Jodie and Mamatung... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrwZF2FzMPg

Thanks for everything, Jodie. You're a one-off and it's been an absolute blast working with you! X