The AC Podcast

In this episode, our host Julie Flower discusses the transformative power of coaching within the criminal justice system with Jeffrey Wotherspoon, a coach from the charity Spark Inside, and Elliot, a participant in the Black Hero's Journey program. Jeffrey explains Spark Inside's mission and programs, including the Hero's Journey and Black Hero's Journey, which help young men in prisons challenge their beliefs, understand their identities and embrace their potential. Elliot shares his personal experience, emphasizing how coaching helped him gain self-awareness, and envision and create a brighter future.

Jeffrey explains the criteria for young men to join the programme, emphasising they choose to come through their own desire for change. Learn about the qualities and skills needed to join Spark Inside as a coach and hear the outstanding results that are being achieved. Elliot shares what he is doing now and what his plans are for his future. This episode demonstrates the power of coaching to help transform lives and pays homage to the resilient young men brave enough to step forward into a new future for themselves.

You will learn:

·       The role of coaching both prisoners and prison officers in the criminal justice system

·       Why the Black Hero’s Journey was needed and how it is helping young black men in the criminal justice system

·       Future directions and goals for Spark Inside and its coaching initiatives

“The impact has been very positive. I found out my true potential and realized that if I really wanted to achieve something, I could literally achieve it…and that’s what I’m doing now.”

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For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-good-black-heros-journey-prisoners-transformation

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