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(⚠️ Trigger Warning - emotional and detailed)

It's #YoungCarerActionDay and this year's theme is #GiveMeABreak.

1️⃣ The 3 of us siblings somewhere during the early days of mum suffering being in and out of hospital before she was eventually declared disabled and the years ahead shifted our lives and childhood forever.

2️⃣ embarassing) pic is of just-become-8-years-old me trying my best to smile and show happiness as that photo was taken to be shared with mum who had just been rushed into hospital after her first major stroke in the morning before the school run.

💭I remember being confused, scared, but most of all feeling an overwhelming sense of being other to those around me and feeling responsible for my younger siblings, and a desire to 'self-sacrifice' to aspire for them to live a "normal life".

I was far from perfect, I didn't always get it right...but I was a child myself. And after many years spent self blaming and feeling guilt, I can finally look back with a certain level of detachment and feel incredibly privileged to now have a friendship with my siblings I love the most rather than feeling (and acting) like a parent with them - this was tough. It's an aspect I've not spoken about publicly.

👉 Before we got recognised as #youngcarers, when we were young carers and when we lost our mum - I went through such a range of emotions which were difficult to navigate, ones that were arguably things I shouldn't have had to, but those were the cards dealt.

That's why I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the support of an amazing local young carers service that allowed us to have that break @northantsyoungcarers and open support, guidance and friendship during a challenging time, I certainly wouldn't be who or where I am without that, and all those who I met since then who never shunned from me speaking about these experiences.

Being a young carer taught me so much, but it wasn't always easy and it's not an experience which is commonly recognised in society. That's why this day is important, to learn about who they are, enhance support for them and recognise the challenging situations from which they are navigating life.

‼️ Today, learn about them. by @_kajol.d

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a year ago

Being entrusted with this responsibility to contribute towards @womeninfootballofficial 's great work by being part of their EEDI advisory board feels like a personal milestone and im incredibly grateful for all the people who have supported, taught and push me to improve! 🪨

Swipe to read more about me ➡️

Drop me a DM, a text, call, let's go for a coffee. I'm keen to learn and support. Let's talk!

Share your thoughts! ⚽️💭✍️

It's not just a tick in the box, its an opportunity to have voices heard, I feel privileged to be in the position to represent and so, I want to emphasise my openness to hearing YOUR perspectives to ensure I can intentionally represent. by @_kajol.d

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a year ago

ranjanbaa 🥺🤍
what a woman. 4ft 10 of absolute compassion, love and strength.

that's it. that's the post. by @_kajol.d

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a year ago

really do crack myself up sometimes 💀

when the bollywood-y garba type songs come on and you forgot about the recording LMAO

#anyonecanmakealoogobibutwhoc anbendaballlikebeckham #iykyk

#bollywood #desiballers #SouthAsianSport taken in Wembley Stadium connected by EE by @_kajol.d

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5 days ago

I've sat with reflecting on this visit for a few weeks.

The Holocaust Memorial Centre isn't an easy place to visit. Nor should it be.

It confronts you with one of humanity's darkest chapters and the unimaginable consequences of what happens when we stop seeing one another's humanity.

What stayed with me just as much, though, was learning that the Centre was founded by people who weren't Jewish, but who recognised that these stories belong to all of us. That remembrance isn't just about the past - it's a shared responsibility for how we act in the present.

Listening to a 97-year-old survivor speak with such grace, humour and compassion had me thinking more about human nature...

Fear. Pride. Envy. Shame.

Emotions we all carry.

I wonder whether the real problem isn't to think we're above them or can squish them down but learning to recognise and hold them before they shape the way we see other people.

History shows us those emotions at their most devastating extremes.

I left wondering how often they quietly appear in our own everyday lives, and what it really takes to keep choosing compassion over division. And how the centre so beautifully demonstrates, the creation of beauty in amongst the deepest depths of grief and pain.

Thank you to St Philips Centre for the opportunity for this powerful experience🙏🏼 by @_kajol.d

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12 days ago

"Be curious, with courage."

Probably the smallest thing I said on the panel a few months ago... but maybe the biggest thing I believe.

As a toddler/child I asked too many questions, my Baa never stopped me from asking them, and always told me to learn from everyone and acted the same back.

That never left me. I learnt -

Every conversation changes you a little bit if you let it.
Every person knows something you don't.
Every question has the potential to take you somewhere unexpected.

It's funny. I went back as an Alum of UOB for IWD, but I still left feeling like the student.

Thanks for having me back, UoB. What an honour to be back. 🤍🗼(there's no old joe emoji - blasphemy!) taken in University of Birmingham by @_kajol.d

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17 days ago

"I haven't been back to Grace Road for 16 years."

That one sentence summed up Friday for me.

After months of listening, building relationships and trying to show that cricket can be a space for everyone, seeing so many people walk through the gates, many for the first time, made it all worthwhile.

There are still loads of barriers to break down, but hearing things like "I'll be back" and "I finally understand cricket" reminds me why this work matters.

(So excuse my knackered face - the heatwave was intense)

Huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making Unity Blast happen. Here's to building on the momentum. 💚🦊🏏

#UnityBlast #CricketCities #Leicester #Community #cricketforgood by @_kajol.d

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a month ago

recent moments ✨️🫰🏼

(cuz im technically a gen z 🙂‍↔️✨️) by @_kajol.d

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a month ago

I've been tested in ways I never expected in the last 18 months and I'm still coming out of hiatus...hi 🥴

But one thing I've learnt is that I'll always have dust off and try again🤷🏽‍♀️...eventually

A few years ago I found Tash's kickboxing classes (@thisgirlcanfight ) Through Tash, I found Jenna (@jenergy.fitness1 ) Through both of them, without realising, communities that have shown me consistency, challenge and taught me acceptance of change

this one is simply a THANK YOU.

To strong women, strong people, in every sense of the word, who remind us who we are.

mirror our best selves and teach us to dance in the imperfection of life (or in my case, versions, physically and mentally, of ourselves we don't recognise!)

Also... Tash's classes are back btw. Coincidence? I think not - hello Universe✨💁🏽‍♀️ by @_kajol.d

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2 months ago

slay to the end of may.
ten weeks.

moments.

re-wiring le brain by @_kajol.d

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2 months ago

‼️ Nearly a decade ago

as a uni student, I found myself with the opportunity to be working on comms for the Sporting Equals awards

seeing the names of those in the room and wondering if I would ever be there one day.

🗣 last week, I graduated from the LeaderBoard Academy and stood on that stage.

“luck is where preparation meets opportunity.”

that didn’t feel like luck.
it felt like preparation, people taking a chance on me,
and being trusted with opportunities I didn’t always feel ready for.

thank you to you all (you know who you are and I'm incredibly grateful)

there’s still a lot to learn, but I’m starting to understand what it means to step into these spaces
and, in small ways, do the same for others along the way.

for now...grateful to be in a room with leaders in the sector, on and off the pitch,
learning from them, having a laugh or two,
aannnd… who doesn’t love a dress up, especially while celebrating the lifetime achievements of people who have given so much to the thing we all love — sport.

onto the next phase 💭 by @_kajol.d

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3 months ago

Last week. One night.

But it started years ago watching @fatima.whitbread choose a sleepout over an awards stage.

Last week... I did it.
24 hours later - back at an awards event.

Finally able to put into action the type of values-driven lifestyle I admire.

On the night tho... a 2:30am wake up by a Fox.

You settle.

But for many, that’s just life. Vulnerable to the world.

Sometimes sat in our comfort, we can forget this reality. Vowing to continue speaking about this and doing what I can.

Thank you to everyone who supported...it will go a long way! 🙏🏼

#CEOsleepout #homeslessness by @_kajol.d

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3 months ago