Helen Gruber and Marilyn Rixhon of Pastora

Starting June 2025

Thrive & Shine

A 6 week drop-in series for care professionals to reflect, connect and grow.

Managers
Carers
Thrive with Nursebuddy
Helen Gruber and Marilyn Rixhon of Pastora

What is Thrive & Shine?

Thrive & Shine is a warm and welcoming 6-week series for those working in and leading care teams, designed to support with space to reflect, connect, and grow.

Each 30-minute interactive session explores a key wellbeing theme through gentle facilitation, open conversation, and shared insight, all in a safe, relaxed space where you can just be yourself.

Led by care-experienced coach facilitators, these sessions offer a regular pause to reconnect with your inner strength, share your experiences, and shine a light on what helps you thrive, even in challenging times.

Weekly themes

  • ❤️ Needs – what you need to feel well

  • 💪 Strengths – recognising your unique qualities

  • ⚡ Energy – explore what fuels you

  • 🗻 Challenges – problems don't define us, how we respond does

  • 🛑 Boundaries – protecting your space, time, and emotional energy

  • 🪴 Thrive – bringing it all together

Why join?

Because you give so much and you deserve time to reflect and reconnect with what helps you shine.

No prep needed, just bring yourself and a cuppa. 🍵

"The Thrive & Shine sessions are certainly worth investing your time in. It's time for you, in a safe space. I highly recommend it."

- James Burgan

What to expect

  • Facilitated discussion with thought-provoking prompts

  • Peer connection in a supportive, non-judgemental space

  • Practical takeaways you can apply right away

  • No pressure to share - come as you are, listen and/or speak

Ground rules

  • Be on time

  • Have your camera on

  • Listen without judgement

  • Be curious

  • Be open to change

  • Be supportive

Register: Thrive & Shine for Managers

When: Tuesdays at 1.00pm (UK time)
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Zoom

Manager sessions will start on Tuesday 17th June and take place weekly at 1pm for 6 weeks.

They are aimed at anyone in a leadership role within a care business, who has direct responsibility for managing or leading others, e.g.:

  • Registers Managers
  • Team Leaders
  • Business Owners

The sessions are restricted to peers at a similar level to you - this is a safe space when you can openly share and reflect on what's happening for you at work.

Thrive & Shine will be limited to 12 participants on a first come, first served basis. Exclusive to Nursebuddy, this edition of Thrive & Shine for Managers is being offered completely FREE, so don't miss out!

Register: Thrive & Shine for Carers

When: Thursdays at 1.00pm (UK time)
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Zoom

Care worker sessions will start on Thursday 19th June and take place weekly at 1pm for 6 weeks.

They are aimed at anyone working on the frontline of care.

The sessions are restricted to peers at a similar level to you - this is a safe space when you can openly share and reflect on what's happening for you at work, without fear of repercussions.

Thrive & Shine will be limited to 12 participants on a first come, first served basis. Exclusive to Nursebuddy, this edition of Thrive & Shine for Carers is being offered completely FREE, so don't miss out!

Meet the facilitators

Pastora

Pastora is a care-experienced training and coaching consultancy for leadership and wellbeing in social care.

Co-founders Helen Gruber and Marilyn Rixhon provide proven, impactful solutions to tackle high turnover, burnout, and rising demands in the care sector.

Empowering care professionals to thrive, Pastora offers tailored support that nurtures self-awareness, resilience and confident leadership.

 

Helen Gruber and Marilyn Rixhon of Pastora
Helen Gruber, Director at Pastora Ltd

Coach & Trainer

Helen Gruber

Helen started out as a carer, working with people who have learning disabilities, as well as older people, for over 25 years. She became a registered manager in 2006 and subsequently worked as an operations support manager in services that required improvement.

She stepped away from care at the end of 2021 and has since been focusing on her own wellbeing and development as a coach and trainer. She has a BSC Hons degree in Care Management and is a certified coach and trainer with One of many®.

Marilyn Rixhon, Pastora

Coach & Trainer

Marilyn Rixhon

Marilyn has worked with people of many different walks of life, including youth at risk and autistic children, as well as spending 6 years managing carers in a private household. She is passionate about supporting individuals to thrive, as well as creating teams that bring out the best in each other in order to deliver excellence. 

A member of the EMCC, Marilyn has an MSc in coaching and development and a certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis.

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