239: The Lived Experience Coaches Transforming Support Services for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism

In this special episode, our host Julie Flower, dives into an inspiring conversation with guests Lindsay Henderson and Shaun Armour from Your Voice Counts, a charity based in Northeast England. Discover how they are challenging perspectives with a groundbreaking scheme that trains people with learning disabilities and autism to coach the professionals responsible for their support. Shaun, one of the coaches and Lindsay, Head of Communities, share how co-production and lived experience aren’t just buzzwords – they are essential tools for transforming support systems, empowering individuals and creating meaningful change.   Learn how this innovative model developed, the training process and the shift in power dynamics in during the coaching relationships. Lindsay and Shaun offer honest reflections on what it takes to make this approach work, why accessibility and representation matter and how the scheme is making a tangible difference for both coaches and professionals. They also share their hopes for the future, including plans to expand the model and embed it into services across more regions. If you're looking to make your coaching practice more inclusive, authentic, and impactful, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!   You will learn:   ·       How lived experience can reshape professional coaching and improve services for people with learning disabilities and autism. ·       The importance of co-production and accessible training in building inclusive coaching programs. ·       The challenges and triumphs of implementing a lived experiences coaching model within professional settings.   “Having a coach opposite them with a learning disability or autism, and they're communicating with them in an equal power relationship, was just my favourite bit of the whole thing, because it started to challenge people's perceptions about people, about people's opportunities and about what people can achieve.”    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-good-learning-disability-autism-lived-experience-coaches

In this inspiring episode of our Coaching for Good series, we dive deep into the transformative power of coaching and mentoring for disengaged and vulnerable youth. Host, Julie Flower is joined by Duncan Cherrett and Ana Collier from Young Devon, a leading charity in the southwest of England dedicated to supporting young people who need more help than traditional systems offer. They share how using a coaching philosophy in their work has provided empowering lifelines for many young people navigating complex life challenges.   Duncan and Ana discuss the evolution of their innovative mentoring programs, the requirements and qualities needed to become a young person’s coach, the challenges of securing consistent funding, particularly for preventative work, and the significance of local knowledge and partnerships. They also explain the significance of different methods of evaluation in demonstrating the impact of their programmes. Listen and learn how a relational, coaching-based approach can reignite potential, foster trust, and build futures that once seemed out of reach.   You will learn: ·       The importance of building trust and rapport with young people ·       Specific projects and initiatives by Young Devon aimed at supporting youth ·       The training and support they provide to their coaches and mentors   “The Empowering Enterprise Project was probably our most successful, where the freedom to be able to select the timeline, which was really important, and I think allowed far more success than you normally would get with some of those fixed term mentoring programs.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-good-young-people-mentoring  

Listen to this podcast episode to hear how an innovative coaching program is helping survivors of domestic abuse ‘dream big.’   Our host, Julie Flower, is joined by the creator of the “Writing for Resilience” coaching program, Charmaine Pollard, as well as two of the participants, Priya* and Shari*. Charmaine, a coach and certified poetry therapist, explains how the evidence-based, 20-week programme uses a combination of writing, poetry, 1 to 1 and group coaching to help survivors of domestic abuse rebuild their lives. Priya and Shari share their challenges and transformative experiences, highlighting the programme’s impact on their confidence and personal growth. They emphasise the importance of group support and accountability, goal-setting and creative expression in their healing journeys. Charmaine explains how the programme’s integrative approach, utilising the power of writing with coaching, creates deep and meaningful change.   This episode will challenge perspectives about survivors of domestic abuse. It is both moving, hopeful and a testament to the courage and resilience of these women.   *names have been changed to protect the participants   You will learn:   ·       What motivated Charmaine to create this programme ·       About the different elements of the programme ·       The evaluation of the program's effectiveness and its positive outcomes.    “The program enabled us to have that cocoon into a butterfly moment, where we could flourish and become a newer, brighter version of ourselves.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-good-writing-for-resilience-domestic-abuse

Did you know there are 6.5 million unpaid carers in the UK? These individuals dedicate their lives to supporting loved ones, often at the cost of their mental health, physical well-being, finances, relationships, and self-esteem. But what if coaching could help?   Join host, Julie Flower and Pam Thomson, Carer Community Manager and Penni Norris, Coach Coordinator, to explore an innovative coaching programme making a real difference to unpaid carers in West Sussex, UK. Discover the inspiration behind this ground-breaking coaching initiative. Learn how the pilot programme developed and was assessed for impact, the biggest challenges faced, and how the programme currently runs, as well its future plans.   Listen to real-life success stories that have empowered carers across the region. Pam and Penni share how carer feedback and involvement has shaped the programme and why this work is a shining example of coaching for social good. Be inspired by the passion and commitment of Carers Support West Sussex and your ability as a coach to have real impact on communities.   You will learn:   ·       The values that are the foundational blocks of the scheme ·       The incredible positive outcomes for carers ·       Their future goals for the coaching programme, including sustainability and outreach improvements    “The uniqueness of this offer, it's we're helping to prevent carer breakdown. We're reducing, and the decreasing the feeling of them being lost. So, we're reducing the isolation that they're feeling and living in.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-good-unpaid-carers-coaching-programme  

Where does mental health meet culture and race equity?  Coach, trainer and TedX speaker Leyla Okhai joins host Maxine Bell to answer this question. This honest and insightful conversation is part of our Day in the Life series where we talk to real coaches about their real lives. Listen to be inspired, pick up top tips and feel less alone in your coaching journey.   Leyla shares her insights from her coaching practice, emphasising the importance of culturally appropriate approaches to mental well-being. They discuss Leyla’s experiences at school, working at the University of Oxford, the intersection of race and class and the challenges of navigating a predominantly white spaces and models. This episode challenges societal norms and highlights the need for inclusive approach to mental health and coaching.   You will learn:   ·       Why and how Leyla found her passion and shaped it into her current business ·       How race, class, and cultural backgrounds influence mental well-being ·       The importance of fostering equity in personal and professional spaces “I used to call it the quarantine room, like I was a mosquito infecting everyone with my work on race equity, and they really wanted to squash it down.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_day-in-the-life-of-coaches-mental-health-edi-culture  

How can African leadership transform global perspectives? Join Claudia Day and her guests, Gamu Matarira and Nicola Strong, co-founders of African Leadership Global (ALG), a data and training company that takes a fresh perspective on the diversity of intelligence to include the Global South. In this episode, they dive into the intersection of African philosophies and global leadership, sharing their research on the ‘Stories of African Leadership.’ Exploring themes of Ubuntu, community-driven leadership and cultural frameworks, Gamu and Nicola critically assess how African values differ from Western-dominant models.   They discuss real-world stories and the duality faced by the African diaspora. Coaches and leaders will gain insights into adapting tools ethically and fostering dialogue across cultures as well as being invited to participate by joining their LinkedIn group. Learn how African traditions such as reconciliation, connectedness and co-creation shape leadership today and inspire a future of inclusivity and innovation.   You will learn: ·       The ALG's research results ·       How valid Western models and tools are when coaching African clients ·       What can coaches learn from the philosophies from Africa     “What we're saying is coaching is a Western terminology, but the practice of it has probably been going on in African communities anyway. The practice of it has been going on since the African child was a child and growing up into adulthood.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-self-awareness-insight-tools-african-philosophies-culture-leadership

Listen to this insightful conversation on cultural awareness in coaching. Our host, Claudia Day is joined by award-winning coach and best-selling author, Philippe Rosinski to explore why cultural awareness is so important for enhancing coaching effectiveness, fostering inclusion, innovation, creativity and strengthening leadership. They define culture and suggest we all have multiple cultures which come dynamically together to create our cultural identity. Philippe introduces his Cultural Orientations Framework assessment – a tool designed to raise awareness of cultural differences and gives listeners an opportunity to complete the assessment for themselves. The COF is comprised of 17 dimensions grouped into seven categories, providing a vocabulary to understanding cultural variations, in areas such as how we communicate, manage time, organise ourselves, think, define our identity and more generally engage in our various activities. Tune in to gain insights on how cultural diversity can be leveraged for deeper connections, improved team dynamics, and a more inclusive workplace environment! You will learn: ·      What culture is and why cultural awareness helps us leverage cultural diversity to benefit us all ·      The Cultural Orientations Framework (COF) assessment - foundations ·      Applications and examples of the COF: individual, team, organisational and societal “We need to be culturally aware if we are going to coach other people, because if we don't have cultural awareness, it's going to be very difficult to coach other people.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-self-awareness-insight-tools-cultural-orientations-framework

Want to take your team coaching to the next level? In this episode, our host Claudia Day is joined by expert team coach Kimberly Lewis Parsons to share how assessments can be a game-changer for fostering collaboration, trust, and effectiveness. With a background in technology and corporate leadership, Kimberly explores the strategic use of assessments from three key perspectives – what she calls the “me view,” “us view,” and “team view”—to help teams recognize both individual and collective strengths. She also highlights the essential role coaches play, in partnership with leaders, in guiding teams through these insights.   Kimberley discusses how coaches can create a safe environment for honest conversations, the impact of leadership on assessment outcomes, and the power of trust in shaping team dynamics. She explains the concept of the team as a ‘third entity as well as the benefits and pitfalls associated with team assessments. Whether you're a coach, leader, or HR professional, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to make assessments a valuable tool for improving team dynamics and effectiveness.   You will learn: ·       The role of coaches in leveraging assessments for team growth ·        How assessments can enhance team effectiveness and collaboration ·       Strategies to create a safe space for open and productive discussions   “A benefit of using this level of team assessment is it gives voice to the entire team to tell the story of what's working and not working, where the team has strength, and where the team doesn't have strength.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-self-awareness-insight-tools-team-coaching-assessments

Ever wondered what truly drives you and your team? Dive into the world of Motivational Maps with host Claudia Day and her guest, business motivator, Susannah Brade-Waring to explore how this powerful tool can transform the way individuals and teams understand what fuels motivation and how to harness it for success. Susannah shares her journey into leadership and team coaching and why she is passionate about understanding motivation.   Susannah defines motivation, the significance of recognising individual and team motivators, and the theoretical framework behind Motivational Maps – a tool that offers a unique way to measure and analyse the core drivers that shape decisions, productivity and happiness. She explains how motivation evolves over time, how life stages influence our drivers, and how coaches use Motivational Maps in organizations to enhance team performance, recruitment, and growth. Susannah stresses the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in understanding motivations and how to utilise the maps for team dynamics and conflict resolution. This is an engaging conversation about a proven powerful tool for coaches.   You will learn: ·       Why motivation matters in both personal and professional life and how it shapes success ·       How Motivational Maps work and are used in coaching ·       The role of motivation and assessment tools in emotional intelligence   “The motivational map is a self-perception inventory. It's actually a tool for a conversation.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-self-awareness-insight-tools-motivational-maps

Unlock the secrets to well-being in coaching and leadership development in this insightful episode with host Claudia Day and expert guest Audrey McGibbon, a chartered occupational and coaching psychologist. Audrey shares her journey into the field and explains why well-being isn’t just a personal pursuit—it’s a critical factor in effective leadership and organizational success.   Together, they explore the multi-dimensional nature of well-being and Audrey introduces her comprehensive Global Leadership Wellbeing Survey (GLWS), designed to measure well-being to assist coaches in supporting leaders and their teams. They discuss the challenges many face when trying to improve their well-being, including the impact of workplace environments, stress, and sleep. Audrey explains how team coaching can play a transformative role in fostering collective well-being and unpacks the science behind well-being assessments, their reliability, and why they matter in today’s evolving workplace landscape—especially in light of changing regulations around psychosocial health.   Tune in to gain valuable insights on how to integrate well-being into your coaching practice and leadership approach and walk away with practical strategies to create a healthier, more resilient environment for yourself and those you support.   You will learn:   ·       What wellbeing is and why is matters in organizations and leadership ·       The challenges for leaders and organizations wanting to improve wellbeing ·       The 6 dimensions of the Global Leadership Wellbeing Survey (GLWS)     “It was a crisis of conscience really that made me think I actually can't do this work without also considering how are you in all of this and how is your own well-being then impacting your leadership shadow on the organization or the teams that you're trying to lead.”   Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-self-awareness-insight-tools-wellbeing-leadership-organizations