Hello, I'm Hannah Louise, and I am the owner of Lists, Plans & Journals, Oh My! This journey began over 12 years ago when I published my first website, with the aim of raising money to buy suitcases for those in foster care.

Over the past 12 years, I have been planning and delivering various community groups, most recently working together with children & young people aged 12–25 with SEMH difficulties, in particular, those within the foster care system.

Alongside work I have been doing within my own business, I have also spent time working for Ambassador Theatre Group & in roles such as Wellbeing Lead & Activity Coordinator within residential settings. Recently, I also spent time managing a cafe that opened to offer work experience opportunities to those with additional needs.

I started this website after growing frustrated with the overall quality of the 'Life Books' I was seeing. After looking through a great number, I was left with the overwhelming feeling that they just weren't special enough to serve their purpose. Most, (if not all) local authorities in England require carers with long-term placements to complete a 'life book', however, there really isn't any policing over the standard. Many were black and white, with no pictures, and were seriously lacking in any 'real' information. This is when I decided to design my own, hoping to create something in which the quality mirrored importance. Working closely with young people currently in care, those who have left, and their parents - biological, adopted, and foster. I gained a true understanding of what's really important, creating a more thoughtful and (hopefully) a more aesthetically pleasing template. It is through intentionally not including sections dedicated to specific milestones & events that we were able to create a template that can be fully completed for any child, at any level, without any gaps. I understand that most foster carers would not have the luxury of time to create elaborate life books from scratch even if they want to because they're the ones out there doing it and it's hard, so, I really tried to balance quality with ease of use.

Since then, I have been fortunate enough to work collaboratively with social workers, foster carers, counsellors, holistic practitioners, &  other front-line workers to create a number of fostering and wellbeing templates that I believe truly meet the needs of their user.  

In 2021, I began developing and later delivering a wellbeing programme that caters to each of the eight dimensions of wellness. Drawing from ideas of philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato and Hegal, and incorporating modern-day aspects of holistic, trauma-informed care, we have been able to create a programme that truly keeps service users at it's heart. It is through my work with trauma- experienced individuals of all ages, that I have been able to see the powerful impact of therapeutic journaling and 'unsent letter writing'.  As such, this has been incorporated into the wellbeing programme at every level, although how this will look will differ depending on age (chronological & developmental), communication styles & preference.  

In 2024, following an injury, I was forced to take a break that changed the way in which I would be able to deliver the programme moving forward. Due to this, I created a detailed folder for handovers, which I was later asked to share further. This is when I designed the downloadable 'Wellbeing Bundle'. Containing over 500 documents, spreadsheets, files & videos you will be provided with a step-by-step guide to setting up a well-being programme that has seen proven results within community and residential settings. A model that is easily scalable to meet the needs of settings of all sizes, with customisable options available to suit a wide range of services & budgets, whilst still taking into consideration the latest CQC assessment framework*. 

During our research surrounding the wellbeing programme, we found that a lot of those working within roles such as 'Activity Coordinator' or similar were interested in the 'Activity' section of the programme without a need for the whole package. Due to this, we are now pleased to offer our 'What's Next?' lists, a series of booklets each containing categorised lists of over 200 activity & event ideas that can help build a well-rounded and robust wellbeing and activity programme. These include; Community Services (Expressive/ Receptive Aphasia & Other Communication Difficulties), Community & Residential Services (Older People & Dementia Care), Day Services (Learning Disabilities), Creative Arts within Residential Care, Intergenerational Care, Community Groups (Youth Services), Therapeutic Journaling ( service users & those in caring roles),  Nurseries & Other Children's Groups, & PA's on Home-to-School Transport.  

We also offer our 'Unsent Letter's Template'. We understand that undirected writing can be a challenge for some, and this should not be a barrier to experiencing the therapeutic benefits the practice has to offer. Our templates and prompts are the perfect place to start when a blank page feels too overwhelming.  

Otherwise, our products are split into four main categories: Wellbeing, Nurseries and Other Children's Groups, the 'What's Next?' booklets, and our main category – 'Foster Care'. Here you will find products such as our Guide to Transitioning from Foster/LA Care to Independent Living, Pre-Placement Key Questions, the 'Welcome to Our Home' book and the 'Let us Know Journal'. The main aim of the products within this category is to promote open communication and, hopefully, in turn, help to prevent placement breakdown.

Quick Facts- Qualifications, Training, Experience & Results

I have dedicated over 4,80o hours* to learning in relation to the products and services offered within my business.  Completing training and qualifications in areas such as trauma-informed care, equity in social care, SEN & disability law, and holistic approaches to care. Alongside this, I have spent time studying, and gaining qualifications in areas such as Business, Auditing and Inspection, & Health & Safety in Care Settings to ensure we are safe, effective, and sustainable. I am fully committed to continued learning.

To learn more about the qualifications, training, and experience of those involved in the creation of our well-being programme, please get in touch via the form below. 

The Results 

Based on test setting one (Mid-sized* Community):

Within the first quarter we saw a huge increase in engagement (>85%) which we maintained moving forward (12+M) . Participants expressed feeling 'happier overall with the service provided'  that they're 'really being listened to'  and that 'feedback had been actively sought and taken onboard in a timely & effective manner'. 

* For all numbers, definitions, research, certification & results please get in touch via the form below prior to purchase.