Why Is It So Hard To Take Baby Steps? 

a hand putting small wooden building blocks into a tower, symbolising baby steps

This blog post is a creative piece written by Astriid candidate and volunteer Lucy Judd. ‘Baby steps,’ I say under my breath as I try to lift a foot off the ground, ‘just take a step forward.’ But my foot is stuck to the garden decking, as though the wooden planks are varnished with some […]

Rediscovering My Self-Worth Alongside Chronic Illness

woman drawing a star/spiral shape with a blue pen, discovering her self-worth

Today, Astriid candidate Lou shares her journey of rediscovering her self-worth and addressing her work-life balance alongside managing chronic illnesses and awaiting a vital transplant. Keep reading to find out more about her story! In May 2019, I was diagnosed with two rare conditions: essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and Budd-Chiari syndrome. ET is a chronic myeloproliferative […]

How can businesses retain talent in a post-Brexit and COVID-19 landscape?

illustrated image of a female boss looking at four hands holding up copies of their CV to retain talent

Written by Astriid Volunteer Sabeeha Kassam. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is a non-profit organisation that seeks to promote the interests of businesses. The organisation has highlighted a big efflux from the UK labour market of half a million people since 2020. Job vacancies are now at 1.3 million which is a consistent high […]

Making Self-Care Part Of Your Workday

woman sitting at desk sipping from a mug

Today’s post is by Astriid candidate and volunteer content creator, Holly Garrow. Keep reading to discover her advice for making self-care part of your workday! Self-care is important for everyone but especially for those who are chronically ill. We spend so much time actively looking after our physical health, that sometimes mental health can take […]

The Chronic Entrepreneur Helping People Build Their Businesses

the chronic entrepeneur lisa porto on her sofa in her home, holding a cup of tea and smiling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Porto, founder of The Chronic Entrepreneur. Her mission is to help people with a chronic condition build a business around themselves, and she has recently written her first book (The Chronic Entrepreneur) to ensure her knowledge reaches even more people. Keep reading to find out more! Hi […]

Success Story – Finding Work With A Long-Term Illness

finding work illness

Finding work with a long-term illness can come with many invisible barriers. However, with Astriid’s help, Victoria began to secure interviews with reputable organisations. “It took me 20 years to get my first job. A lot of that was recovering, learning how to manage my illness well enough so that I could take care of […]

Success Story – Finding Work After Blood Cancer

work blood cancer

Cancer treatment and recovery can be a gruelling process, but many cancer survivors aim to return to the world of work. However, as Tim found out, finding work after blood cancer can be challenging. “It was a wonderful endorsement, just to be able to reach out and get through the door, talk to somebody and […]

Success Story – Finding Flexible Work In The Charity Sector

charity sector flexible

Finding flexible work in the charity sector can be demanding, especially for people with energy-limiting conditions. Keep reading to find out how Pippa went from signing up as a candidate to becoming part of the Astriid team! “Whenever I describe my condition to others, I refer to myself as an ’in-betweener’. I’m not ill ‘enough’ […]

Success Story – Recognising Your Employability After Cancer Treatment

employability cancer treatment

Many people have concerns about their employability after going through cancer treatment. However, Claire’s story shows that with the right support, it’s possible to find accessible and fulfilling work. “I was very qualified for the jobs I was applying for, but I felt that I was being overlooked because I was declaring that I was […]

Eating For Energy: A Guide For Your Working Day

Food and diet are individual and subjective, especially when you have a chronic illness and specific dietary requirements. You know your body better than anybody, but today we have a guest post from trained nutritional therapist and blogger, Gillian Francis, about eating for energy. You can find more from Gill on her website!  ~ The food […]