The Change Makers

Simon Evans, Wye and Usk Foundation, on why our rivers matter and what we can do to protect them

For Simon Evans, his passion for rivers has always run deep. If you'll excuse us the pun there! While his friends were down the pub, he was walking along canals, always fascinated by the beauty and diversity of our waterways. That passion led him to his current role,  as chief executive of the Wye and Usk Foundation, an environmental charity that works to restore and protect the rivers Wye and Usk.  In an inspiring and thought provoking conversation, we hear from Simon about why our rivers matter, the huge challenges facing them, and why we should all be fighting to protect them.  * Find out more about the Wye and Usk Foundation [https://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/]. * If you would like to get in touch with The Change Makers team, email thechangemakerspod@gmail.com or find us on Instagram @thechangemakerspod.

Elysha Paige, Bloody Good Period, on finding her purpose, tackling stereotypes, and knowing your own menstrual cycle

It was during the C0VID-19 pandemic that Elysha Paige became disillusioned with her work in tech consulting. Sat cramped over her kitchen table,  staring endlessly at the screen in meeting after meeting, she knew she desperately needed a change.  Elysha had always been passionate about feminism and gender issues, but didn't think it was possible to turn that into a career. Little did she know that the perfect role was just around the corner.  Two years ago Elysha took a leap of faith and joined the charity Bloody Good Period,  as programme manager of Bloody Good Employers, who are on a mission to create fairer and safer workplaces for people who menstruate.   It was a major career and life shift, but one she doesn't regret for a minute. In fact, Elysha told us,  it feels like she's well and truly found her calling. It was an absolute pleasure to chat to Elysha about her role and tackling stereotypes around the menstrual cycle (wave those sanitary towels in the air, people!), how it feels to find a job she is truly passionate about, and what success looks like for her. A truly inspiring conversation that made us both reflect on how we talk about periods.  * Find out more about Bloody Good Period. [https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/] * If you would like to get in touch with The Change Makers team, email thechangemakerspod@gmail.com or find us on Instagram @thechangemakerspod.

Karen Delin, Saint Francis Hospice, on nursing at Christmas, myths about hospices and her love of caring for others.

Caring and making change at Christmas.  Karen Delin is a ward sister at Saint Francis Hospice, based just outside Romford in East London. She knew she wanted to be a nurse from the age of 5, and during the early years of the career she had dreamd of, she quickly realised palliative care was her passion.  Our Christmas episode is a beautiful listen. Karen works every Christmas Day, so she shares what they do at Saint Francis Hospice to make the day as special as it can be for the patients on her ward and their loved ones.  She also explains what it is about caring for people that she loves, she tackles a few of the common misconceptions about hospices (that they are scary and only for the end of life), how she deals with the highs and lows of a job that people assume is always sad, and why hospices offer so much value to the medical world.  We recommend you listen to this whether you've experienced hospice care and you know how fabulous they are, if you have always wondered how the incredible staff do their jobs, or whether you believe hospices are sad, dingy places where nobody wants to be (because Karen will prove you wrong). * Find out more about Saint Francis Hospice [https://www.sfh.org.uk/]. * Learn more about Hospices in the UK [https://www.hospiceuk.org/].  * If you would like to get in touch with The Change Makers team, email thechangemakerspod@gmail.com or find us on Instagram @thechangemakerspod.

Patricia Parker OBE, Kids for Kids, on the reality of life in Sudan , why it matters that we know about it, and the power of goats.

Patricia Parker OBE was approaching a stage in her life where she hoped she could finally use her studio for the purpose for which it was intended: being creative.  Instead a trip to see her son who was working in Sudan quickly turned into her next mission to make things better for others. More than two decades later, her studio remains the office where she runs Kids for Kids, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of children and their families in what they call, the  forgotten Darfur, an area of the country which faces tremendous hardship and is blighted by the horrors of war, genocide and extreme poverty.  It’s a part of the world which receives little press coverage in this country, so prepare to learn lots and be inspired by a woman who is relentless in her quest to make lasting change, child by child, goat by goat. Content warning: There is a brief reference to female genital mutilations (FGM). Visit the Kids for Kids website. [https://www.kidsforkids.org.uk/]

Marcia Lewinson, CEO at WAITS, on why campaigning for women's rights is in her blood

The statistics around domestic abuse in the UK make for grim reading. Shockingly, the police receive a call regarding domestic abuse every 30 seconds, but the majority of incidents are never reported. One in four women experience domestic abuse in their lives, and rates are thought to be higher for women who are Black, Asian and minority ethnic in this country. Marcia Lewinson has committed her career to supporting women through domestic abuse. Based in Birmingham, Marcia has been involved with WAITS since its early days, helping the charity to shape its work by listening to the needs of women in the city. Three decades on, she's at the charity's helm as its chief executive and is as passionate and determined as ever to reduce those statistics. In this powerful and inspiring conversation, we hear about why campaigning has always been in Marcia's blood, what we can all do to fight for women's rights, and why she won't stop until every woman in her community can feel safe. Another incredible woman making change. Content warning: We do discuss the topic of domestic abuse in this episode, so please take care when listening. If you need support, please visit the WAITS website [https://www.waitsaction.org/] or Refuge [https://refuge.org.uk/]. * Find out more about WAITS and its services: https://www.waitsaction.org [https://www.waitsaction.org].