TWO Bolton businesses teamed up to create a lifeline to help those recovering from life changing experiences.

Boo Coaching & Consulting and A Year of Dates collaborated to support those with from illness and mental health.

The companies designed a box of inspirational and motivational quotes and activites called A Year of Strength box.

The box is filled with cards suggesting simple activities, a motivational saying and a song choice designed to be there to dip into when you need it most.

Kate and John Greenhalgh who run the online business A Year of Dates saw a way to help but didn’t know where to start.

Kate said: “We had the idea for A Year of Strength in 2019 and it was something we wanted to create but it was outside of our experience, so with anything that is hard we put it off. In Spring 2020 we realised this box was needed and reached out on social media for help creating the cards and getting the tone right. We had loads of people get involved; sending in ideas, proof reading and advising, it really has been a collaboration.”

As part of the process the gifting business knew they wanted to donate to charity, the NHS Charities Together.

A further 20 boxes have also been sent to Marie Curie to support their bereavement team.

Kate said: “No one could have predicted the way 2020 was going to pan out and it’s fair to say the event of the last six months have affected us all in some way.

“We’re so glad to have been connected with the team at Boo Consulting and having the girls on board was has helped shape the product into what it is. The least we could do was pass on some boxes for them to distribute to people who will benefit from them.”

Amy, Business Development Lead for Boo Coaching & Consulting said: “We were honoured when Kate asked if we could take a look at their Year of Strength box whilst it was still in development. It was so important to them that they got this right, and we think they’ve done an amazing job. A Year of Dates is a small, Bolton-based business gone global – our favourite kind! They really do put their heart into their products.”

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