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The past year has been incredibly challenging for all of us. We have been forced to adapt to a very new “normal” and have faced many difficult challenges and decisions at home, at school, at work (often with all 3 under the same roof!) …and in the community. The main aims of our new ERC online community hub are to connect with you, to offer care in the community, and to serve a reminder to you that we are In This Together. We hope to reinforce that message by presenting you with our online event this weekend.

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, under its theme #choosetochallenge – I reached out to women at home among family and friends near and far, in school, and in the community. I challenged them to consider sharing a story on how they have stepped outside of their comfort zone to face any form of life’s trials and tribulations. I have been truly blown away by the responses received. I promise that you are in for a treat as you browse through our diverse collection of tales of courage. It will be time well invested, and something that will leave you feeling inspired, encouraged and even perhaps a bit braver than before. I felt it important to also include the male voice on this platform and am honoured to share stories from our past Principal and friend Peter Friel, our current acting Principal and legend Paul Berne; who have both been very much a part of the online community hub journey here at ERC, and finally from Patrick Ottley-O’Connor, an ambassador for the HeForShe movement. We also have behind the scenes contribution from the very humble but awesome David “Data Dave” McClelland, ERC Senior Leader and internet wizard. Without him, this hub would not exist and we wouldn’t be able to bring you this fabulous online event.

I’d like to draw particular attention and recognition to Claire Bannatyne who has very bravely shared her honest and incredibly inspiring journey through mental illness to support the current focus of Mental Health and Well-being on our online community Hub. It is a story that will move you and I would encourage you to share with anyone you feel it may offer support to. Claire has kindly offered to speak to anyone personally affected by her story and you can request this via the feedback link below. Please also check out the fantastic “Resilience Toolbox” workshop from Sharon Clarke, Belfast Hub Deputy of Lloyds Bank, for some really useful and practical tips on developing resilience and how to face life’s day to day challenges. There is a story of love and marriage found online, a journey through IVF, a parent sharing her account of the challenges she and her daughter face with ASD, an honest insight into Imposter Syndrome, the challenges in career and mature student journeys, the challenges of female leadership and females in sport and fitness, advice on a great book to read as well as two wonderful poems, advice on how to be kind to yourself, some family stories and inspirational quotes, and just all-round inspirational awesomeness from real people sharing real life experiences.

So please pour yourself a cuppa, put the feet up, and browse through our presentation of honesty, bravery and care. We hope you enjoy and can take something positive away with you - perhaps some useful nuggets of wisdom and encouragement. I’d like to thank you for taking the time to visit our hub today. We are so pleased to be able to connect with you at home in this way and are very excited for all the great things still to come. Please share the link to our online hub far and wide! If you’d like to leave a message for a contributor or provide feedback on our event today, please feel free to get in touch using the link shown below. Tell us who you are, where you’re from, and even a bit about your own “challenge” story. We’d be delighted to hear from you!

Finally, I would like to personally thank our panel of contributors for taking the time out to challenge themselves and for sharing their stories with us. A special thanks to Maire Thompson, Principal of Hazelwood college, who is here to represent @WomenEdNI today. I developed the idea of this event following her invite to take part as a panellist in a female leadership webinar last weekend for the ever growing and ever empowering Women Ed community. This was me stepping out of my own comfort zone and a chance to challenge and silence my inner critic - “why would anyone want to hear from me?” Maire encouraged me to take part and I am so glad I did. I took this photo for social media afterwards and as you can see, I survived, and was left grinning like a cheshire cat. It was a fabulous experience and has me yearning for more.. and just look at what it led to - the creation of this event.

My advice? Don't believe everything you think! Don’t be afraid to fail - failure is not the opposite of success, it’s a part of it. Challenge yourself. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die. Step outside of it once in a while and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve - that is where the true magic happens.

“Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.”

Amelia Earhart

Warm Regards,

Colette Deery

Head of ERC Community

**I'd like to dedicate this event to a very special ERC lady on her 70th Birthday - Not just Mum to Mr Berne himself, she is the original Mummy ERC..

Happy Birthday Mary Berne xxx