A Colwick teenager has recorded a new podcast to share her experience of coping with grief following the tragic loss of her younger brother to a brain tumour.

Ella Mai Blower is the first guest for series three of the The NottAlone Podcast which will focus on youth voices for Children’s Mental Health Week during 9-15 February,

The first episode of the podcast is released on Wednesday, February 11.

Leo was just six years old when he passed away from a terminal brain tumour four years ago, leaving Ella and her family devastated. 

As many young people do, Ella turned to social media to find other people who had also lost siblings, but was unable to find anything that resonated with her. That’s when she decided to create her own TikTok account @girl_vs_grief, to share her memories and help other people going through grief and loss. 

Ella said: “The world goes quiet when you lose someone that close. It felt like time was paused, I felt numb. I just missed everything about him. Nothing mattered. The only thing that mattered was Leo.” 

Ella had therapy after the loss and encourages anyone going through something difficult to reach out for support.

“If you do therapy, you have someone to talk to, someone who’s there to listen to you.,” she said.

“If you don’t want to talk to your family and friends about something, you can talk to your therapist, because they’re not going to judge you. I really recommend it for anyone struggling.” 

Reflecting on the loss during the podcast episode, Ella talks about the things that helped her.

“It is important to find your own thing that helps you.” she said.

“Therapy helped. Talking to my family really helped, they’ve lost Leo too and they know what it’s like. We do things to remember him, and we have a bench for him that I go and sit on sometimes. 

“I’ve got so many amazing memories of him; so I’ve still got Leo.” 

Co-hosts of The NottAlone Podcast, Dr Órlaith Green and Dr Maddi Popoola are eager for people to listen to the new series. 

Dr Maddi, NottAlone co-founder and Educational Psychologist at Nottingham City Council, said: “I’m absolutely in awe of the young people we’ve had on the podcast for the new series. Their stories are so different but the one thing that carries through each episode is how articulate, courageous and open each of these young people has been when talking about their individual struggles.” 

Dr Órlaith, NottAlone co-founder and Principal Educational Psychologist and Group Manager, Psychology and Inclusion Services at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I think our listeners will agree that these are some of our most powerful episodes yet.” 

The new four-episode podcast series explores some challenging topics, hearing young people’s first-hand experiences of grief, loss, eating disorder recovery and overcoming anxiety and panic attacks. 

You can listen and subscribe to The NottAlone Podcast for free wherever you get your podcasts. For mental health advice and links to local support services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, visit www.NottAlone.org.uk  

Nottingham City Council say work is ‘going well’ to complete a new footbridge over the River Trent near Colwick as they prepare for its opening this spring.

“We’re now working on walking and cycling connections that will help safely link up those on bike and on foot with the new bridge,” a spokesman said.

“The project includes a three-metre shared-use path along the southern side of the pavement on Daleside Road, including a new planting area providing separation between the new path and the road. It’s being funded by the East Midlands Combined Authority.

“On site, work is taking place to prepare the area ready for the smaller basin bridge and the ramps and footpaths that will lead to the main bridge on each side of the river.”