Recharge and Revive in 2025 – Changing Lives—Thank You for Being Part of It!
On Tuesday 25th February, we hosted an Inspire Cheshire event in the Garret Theatre at Storyhouse - continuing our mission to bring together local professionals and businesses, providing a platform to connect, collaborate, and thrive. It was fantastic to see so many people engaging and leaving feeling inspired.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, Storyhouse for the great space, service and food and our three inspiring speakers, who each shared powerful insights on wellbeing, leadership, and growth:
⭐ Adrian Dakers, Founder of Little Blackbird – spoke about the four pillars of wellbeing:
1️⃣ Mental wellbeing – managing thoughts, feelings, resilience, and imposter syndrome.
2️⃣ Physical wellbeing – focusing on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and recovery.
3️⃣ Continuous learning – developing emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
4️⃣ Connection – the power of community, charities, and social support.
Adrian challenged us to identify which pillar of wellbeing is wobbling for us—and to take action in the next 48 hours to address it. A powerful reminder that we must put on our own oxygen mask first!
⭐ Gareth Preston, MD of Aptitude Fitness – highlighted the importance of routine in finding time for our physical fitness and how just 10-15 minutes of putting yourself first each day can deliver results. He gave the example of using that time for stretching, Pilates, and or yoga and how that can improve posture, reduce pain, and boost energy—especially for those of us with desk-based jobs.
Booking in the time to exercise was a key take away and how making that a priority for our physical health has a profound effect on our mental wellbeing. Gareth’s presentation dovetailed perfectly with Adrian’s – a key pillar in our well being.
Gareth also shared his journey of starting and expanding his gym business, hi-lighting that resilience and adaptability are key to success.
⭐ Annabelle Turpin, CEO of Storyhouse – spoke passionately about female leadership, support, and collaboration.
I met Annabelle when she first took the position of Chief Executive at Storyhouse and I knew from that very first meeting that she would be a driving force behind strong leadership and collaboration in our city. Her vision of bringing together leaders from public, private and voluntary sectors to mentor the next generation is already making an impact. I wasn’t surprised to hear in her talk that when she set out her vision of West Cheshire Women in Leadership programme to some key female leaders in our city that key partnerships were quickly formed and fully committed. Annabelle reminded us that there isn’t one single way to lead—the best leaders are authentic, not superheroes. Vulnerability, self-awareness, and learning from mistakes make stronger, more confident leaders.
A new intake is planned for 2025/26 and the evening generated interest in what I am sure will be another impactful course.
I am witnessing first hand that the programme has been incredibly valuable for Louise Holmes, head of our Wills and Probate team. I listen with great interest every time she returns from one of the monthly sessions and I’m enjoying seeing her flourish. I always ask for her key takeaways from the leadership sessions so here are mine from our Recharge and Revive in 2025 event!
Key Takeaways from the Evening:
✔ Prioritise your wellbeing—identify your “wobbling pillar” and take action. Small steps make a big difference.
✔ Routine is everything—consistency in health, learning, and leadership leads to long-term success.
✔ Authenticity in leadership matters—trying to be someone you are not exhausting. The best leaders support others, show vulnerability, and keep learning.
✔ Strong connections drive success—whether in business, leadership, or personal wellbeing, surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference.
Thank you again to our speakers and everyone who attended—your energy and engagement made the night a huge success. We’re already looking forward to the next Inspire Cheshire event. Watch this space!
