Latest news with #PennyNewton-Hurley
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Staying strong through money strain – Stroud coach's practical guide
Oakridge-based communications expert Penny Newton-Hurley discusses how to stay connected when experiencing financial stress (Image: Rachel Jane Photography) (Image: Rachel Jane Photography) Column by Penny Newton-Hurley Top five ways to stay connected when financial stress strikes UK consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest since 2023, squeezed by rising living costs and fresh US tariffs. When money's tight, conversations at home often follow suit. As someone trained in non-violent communication by Dr Marshall Rosenberg, I support families and businesses in staying connected—even under pressure. Here are five ways to help: 1. Hold a Weekly Money Chat Pick a calm moment each week—over a cuppa, perhaps—to talk about what's coming in and going out. Focus on planning together, not pointing fingers. ADVERTISEMENT 2. Acknowledge the Stress—Not the Fault Say, "I'm feeling the strain of the bills this month," instead of "You're always overspending." It invites empathy, not defensiveness. 3. Steer Clear of Blame Share your emotions without blame. "I feel anxious when our account dips," is more constructive than an accusation. 4. Set a Shared Goal Whether it's paying off a credit card or saving for a picnic, working towards something together builds a sense of team. 5. Celebrate Little Wins Found something in a sale? Cancelled an unused subscription? That's progress. Noticing what is going well lifts spirits. Money worries don't have to damage your connection. With a little empathy and teamwork, your family can come through stronger—not just leaner. About Penny Newton-Hurley ADVERTISEMENT Oakridge-based communications expert Penny Newton-Hurley is launching a new series of online courses designed to help people navigate difficult conversations with colleagues, family members, partners, teenagers, and toddlers. Find out more at Penny trained under renowned American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg in the art of nonviolent communication — a transformative process for fostering partnership and resolving conflict in relationships, workplaces, and wider society. Penny has delivered training for leading organisations including the central government offices, Lloyds Bank, and the Ministry of Defence. She lives in Stroud with her family.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oakridge consultant discusses teenage emotional crisis
Column by Penny Newton-Hurley NETFLIX'S Adolescence is striking a national nerve — sparking urgent debate among parents, schools, and government. Writers Jack Thorne and Stephen Grahame shine a spotlight on the harsh realities teens face today. The series shows how, in just a few harrowing moments, one life is extinguished, another's potential lost, and trauma ripples outwards. Thorne's overriding concern is: "how do we stop this growing crisis?" He believes conversation and legislation are the first steps — including accountability for social media platforms, exploring a 'digital age of consent', banning smartphones in schools, and promoting healthier role models. "...Openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they're seeing, and exploring the conversations they're having with their peers is vital..." - Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer The show also raises urgent questions about parenting in a digital world. Despite our best efforts to raise happy, confident kids, we're up against forces beyond our control — social media, peer pressure, and teens' search for identity and belonging. "Jamie is not a simple product of the "manosphere". He is a product of parents that didn't see, a school that couldn't care and a brain that didn't stop him" - Jack Thorne, co-writer of Netflix series, Adolescence Teenage brains aren't fully developed until their mid-20s. The underdeveloped prefrontal cortex affects emotional regulation — often triggering reactive behaviours with tragic outcomes. Yet neuroscience is barely taught. PSHE is non-statutory and inconsistent. There ought to be a whole new compulsory subject on emotional and psychological development — taught with the same priority as English, maths, and science — from primary school onwards. If this was standard education, imagine who today's children might become. About Penny Newton-Hurley Oakridge-based communications expert Penny Newton-Hurley is launching a new series of online courses designed to help people navigate difficult conversations with colleagues, family members, partners, teenagers, and toddlers. Find out more at Penny trained under renowned American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg in the art of nonviolent communication — a transformative process for fostering partnership and resolving conflict in relationships, workplaces, and wider society. Penny has delivered training for leading organisations including the central government offices, Lloyds Bank, and the Ministry of Defence. She lives in Stroud with her family.
