Journey Skills Podcast

Social interactions are an essential part of being human, providing us with connections and often a purpose. In this episode with Jenny Good from the Friendship Group and Colleen Maytham and Mario Antoon from Active Lives we explore the ways to make and keep these connections and the increasingly important role of technology in helping bring people together to explore common interests and support each other. Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Sharing our lives is what we all do but often we don't realize the impact we can have on other people's lives. In this episode with David Matthews  – Head of Service Shared Lives we are talking about what the Shared Lives scheme is all about and exactly how it works. We also discuss why it is such an effective way to support people to progress towards more independent living as well as why it offers a powerful way to fight social isolation and promote inclusion. Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Having the right to choose how we live our lives is a fundamental human right and one that in the past many people with additional needs haven’t been given. In this episode with Paul Barker  – Head of Service, Choices Brighton & Hove at Grace Eyre we discuss how to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to choose their own future. We also talk about the importance of expectations and how that is driving change.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Moving into a place of our own is a major life event. For a person with additional needs it can often be the first significant step on their journey to greater independence.  Just what that place might look like and how it all works is the focus of this episode with Chris Hill, Head of Housing & Estates at Grace Eyre. Chris explains the different housing options that are available.  He also talks about how housing preferences and the level of support needed will inevitably change over time as well as the importance of finding people the right place to call home, not just a place to live.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

The future can be scary if you really don't know what your options are. Having a roadmap with ideas of where to start would help and what that involves is the topic of this episode with Tom Conroy, the new business manager at Grace Eyre. Tom talks about not only his role as the first point of contact and what that can mean from identifying employment opportunities to explaining housing options, but also the challenges of the role. These challenges often occur because people are unaware of their options. Tom explains what a transition roadmap should look like and how having one would make the future not only easier to navigate but might also open up more opportunities that haven't been previously considered. Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Welcome to the first episode of this Profile Series on The Grace Eyre Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting people with additional needs to live their lives exactly how they want to. In this episode I’m talking to Jackie Reeve about the Sharing Our Voices project. This episode is about starting at the beginning, looking at the history of the organization not just from a timeline perspective but from what can be learnt from history. You will hear from Jackie how this project provided not only a better understanding of how the Grace Eyre Foundation came into existence but also the impact it had on the lives of the individuals who got to share their stories. All effective organizations change over time, this project, initiated by Grace Eyre, illustrates the right way to look back at the past and learn from it to move forward. Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show o

The Bridging The Gap series has been all about highlighting some of the organisations that are providing solutions for young people, so they have more options when they want to move from school into employment. The key is to both engage with potential employers as well as provide young people with the skills and support they need.  But the role parents play in bridging the gap shouldnt be forgotten. In this solo episode I talk about what we as parents can do For and With our children to ensure we set them up for a successful transition from school towards a life with purpose.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

In this part 2 of my conversation with the team at Forward2Employment (F2E) the focus is on the role of the job coach as well as hearing from current interns and from graduates of the supported internships program.  Two of the job coaches, Robert Harris and Christine Richards, talk about why their role encompasses more than just coaching the intern in the workplace but also helping them build the skills they need as they move on from this program.  We hear from some of the current interns about why they chose the supported internships route and what positive impacts they've already seen from being involved. Two successful graduates of the program, who have transitioned into employment, talk about their journey and what being in a paid job means to them.  The F2E supported internship program has already proven that when the right support is in place and the right people are involved then change will happen.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Forward2Employment: https://www.forward2employme

In this episode of the Bridging The Gap series I’m talking to the team at Forward2Employment (F2E) about their supported internships program. This episode is really about getting the foundations in place with Liz Halton, the Head of F2E, explaining why the program came about and how it was created as well as the vision of F2E to change the employment expectations of young people with additional needs. Angie Gillett, the Employment Engagement Officer, discusses how they have sold their vision to employers and along the way changed opinions about what young people are capable of, when given the right opportunities. Tina Pincott, a job coach at F2E, addresses the importance of training the other employees in an organisation and why it leads to increased understanding and greater potential for an inclusive workplace for everyone.  Like many organisations that support our young people F2E grew out of a gap in provision but they are doing more than just providing a single solution, they are changing the expectation

Time for a celebration and to reflect on the journey so far. It all started out with an idea that there had to be more out there for my daughter. I saw that she and other children, with additional needs, need extra support, in specific areas, to build the skills that will enable them to live more independently as adults. This became our Route Map, and the topics of the podcast. There are 4 lines on the Route Map: Purpose, Daily Living, Relationships and Financial Independence. Each line needs to be travelled along but where to stop along the way will depend on each individual. In this 100th episode I talk about where my daughter is on each line and why I see the overall journey becoming easier.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Connect with Debra -https://www.facebook.com/debra.caldow Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @expandingworlds Also if you could take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts that would be amazing. They really help other people find the podcast and I alwa

In this the second part of my conversation with staff and students from The Oaks Specialist College it’s all about the results. We hear from Joshua Epstein, the Careers Leader, about his role and the importance of job coaches but also making sure the young people they work with develop skills they can use when any support is removed. I also speak to five of the students from The Oaks about their experiences of work. Every single one of them has a clear presumption of employment, evidence that the approach at the Oaks is actually bridging that gap between school and the next steps in life. Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ The Oaks Specialist College https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

In this the first episode of a new series on Bridging The Gap I’m talking to two people from The Oaks Specialist College based in the UK. This episode is really about vision. Gordon Tillman, the CEO, discusses why The Oaks came into existence and its role not only in changing the lives of the young people it supports but also changing the perceptions of businesses and communities. Jackie Thurtle, the Project Manager at The Oaks, discusses the challenges with bringing the vision into reality and the importance of reaching out to like minded individuals and organisations. The Oaks has a clear vision to bridge the gap by developing strategies to ensure they help as many young people as they can progress from school into the world of work as well as helping them build the skills they need to live the life they want.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ The Oaks Specialist College https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Po

In this the final episode of this Ways into Work series I’m doing a solo episode to talk about my learnings from the past 8 episodes. It’s definitely not a recap of the previous episodes but more my ideas around the two things I see as being pivotal in enabling many more young people to get into paid employment.  Firstly perceptions, if we change these we change everything. The soft bigotry of low expectations is there for young people with additional needs and through employment and helping employers understand so many of their perceptions are wrong the world of work will become more accessible and workplaces more inclusive.  Secondly parents, our role is to nurture and protect but it must also be to encourage our children to leave us one day, because we will have to leave them at some point. If we start developing in them a presumption of employment then it is much more likely they will one day move into the world of work in a way that empowers them. Hiring Chain: https://hiringchain.org/  Please take a min

In this episode the focus is on Apprenticeships as one of the Ways Into Work. Mark Capper, the Business Development Manager at Mencap UK, discusses the role that supported internships and traineeships play in preparing people for work. He outlines how apprenticeships differ from these and the challenges that young people can face in getting an apprenticeship, often related to the apprenticeship standards as well as a reticence from some training providers to deliver more accessible programs. Mark details the ways in which apprenticeship could become more accessible, particularly through more flexible Maths and English requirements. He also provides an overview of the work Mencap is doing to help change policy in this area so that apprenticeships become a viable alternative for young people with additional needs. Mencap Employment Services: https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/employment-services Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

In this episode of The Ways Into Work series, the focus is on the barriers that prevent many young people, with additional needs, getting and keeping paid employment. Kirsty Timberlake from Neurodiversally Unbroken discusses the barriers that are in place and ways to break those barriers down. Kirsty is on a mission to educate and enlighten people, through her own life experiences and by sharing the latest research, to break down stereotypes and encourage people to think not assume. Kirsty discusses workplace stereotypes and the ongoing need to educate employers, particularly around workplace adjustments as well as why acceptance is always better than awareness.   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

The focus of this episode, in the Ways Into Work series, is Supported Employment with David Stenning from The Education People. David talks about the Supported Employment model and putting the young person at the centre but also supporting those around them. He discusses how vocational profiling helps in teasing out the transferable skills that a young person may have.  David explains why employer engagement and educating employers about issues like reasonable adjustments is so important. He also talks about the role parents can play as well as the importance of early career’s guidance from specialists in that area. The Education People: https://www.theeducationpeople.org/ Resources:  12 core values:  https://www.base-uk.org/nos  5 stages of Supported Employment:  https://www.base-uk.org/what-supported-employment Quality framework for Supported Employment:  https://www.base-uk.org/sites/default/files/knowledgebase/SEQF_THEORY%20interactive.pdf Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us o

In this the second part of Ways Into Work - Inclusive Job Boards Jane Hatton from Evenbreak discusses the importance of young people with additional needs learning to truly value the transferable work skills they already have, which have often been developed because of their life experiences. She also talks about the role parents play in helping create that sense of self worth in their children, reminding them of their unique talents and why these will be useful when they look for work. Jane also explains why employers are coming to the realisation that neurodiverse candidates are exactly what is needed in a changing workplace where being used to doing things differently is an asset. Finally she outlines the different resources and support that Evenbreak are able to provide to help every individual maximise their potential.      Evenbreak: https://www.evenbreak.co.uk/en Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on App

In this episode of the Ways Into Work series we are talking to Jane Hatton from Evenbreak about how their inclusive Job Board is connecting employers with premium employees. Young people with additional needs can be extraordinary employees because they have already dealt with all the challenges their disability and often society has thrown at them. Evenbreak supports people to realise and maximise their own value and connects them with employers who appreciate their skills. As Jane explains, the barriers that exist are often based on employer and often societal perceptions, not the actual reality of an individual's unique skills and potential for contributing to an organisation.  Evenbreak: https://www.evenbreak.co.uk/en Hiring Chain Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKku4RAWa4M Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Latest episode in the Ways Into Work series. In this episode we discuss with Richard Lamplough from My Employment Passport the role of local communities in providing paid work opportunities for young people with additional needs. In addition he explains how our own networks of friends and colleagues can be a valuable source of employment and work experience opportunities.  My Employment Passport https://www.myemploymentpassport.com/ Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

In this episode we continue the series Ways Into Work exploring the role of employers, education providers, government agencies and parents in creating Supported Internship programs that help young people with additional needs find and retain paid work. Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project Search also discusses why developing employability skills along with the presumption of employment needs to become the place we start at when it comes to education for our children.  DFN Project Search UK/Europe https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/ Project Search USA https://www.projectsearch.us/ Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts