Jo’s Blog

Last night, a dear friend told me about her mother-in-law’s desperate sadness at her increasing frailties. 87, mind sharp and focused, her body nonetheless betrays her. She cannot sleep at night as she fears losing control of her bladder; [...]

95 year old women form their own special strata in the Annals of the Indomitable. Not many of us make it to this level. Those who do command respect and warrant further study: How do they do it? What is their secret? I’ve got one in my [...]

Here’s what we believe: if you plan for the most vulnerable, the world works better for everyone. Organize a busy street so a deaf child with a physical disability can cross it safely and suddenly you’ve got a street safe enough for [...]

When I was expecting my children, I saw pregnant women everywhere. It felt like an epidemic – where had they all been hiding till now? Later, while breastfeeding, I would spot other women in parks and malls and church services. Discreet or [...]

I keep getting invited to weddings. Voluntary organisations are famous for first jobs and volunteer opportunities, which is to say we have a lot of young people around all the time. Young people tend to throw themselves headlong into their work [...]