Episode 17 - In Conversation with...David O'Coimin of Nook Pod Ltd

Episode 17 - In Conversation with...David O'Coimin of Nook Pod Ltd

Joining Stephen on the show today in a AWP podcast first...thanks to the powers of online, we are joined all the way from sunny Amsterdam (yes, Amsterdam!) by  product designer and founder of Nook Pod Ltd, David O'Coimin along with one of AWP's co-directors Emma Eager.  With his time split between Bristol & Amsterdam, David has had a varied career helping manufacture other people's designs until he came up with the idea for Nook. Flashforward to today, the Nook Pods brand have installed a variety of neuro-inclusive spaces to enhance work, learning and calming environments across the UK and the US; through his work, David came into contact with Emma from the Autism Wellbeing Project, now some of our lived experienced autistic community are volunteers at the Sensory Nook at St. Helen's Rugby Stadium for the Liverpool Women's football and St. Helen's Rugby fixtures.  Emma talks about the "safe space" that the Sensory Nook brings to the fans at the St Helen's stadium, which is not exclusive to neurodiverse people but for anyone that needs a moment to regulate and to breath. Having the Autism Wellbeing Project involved in the Sensory Nook means a lot to David as he passionately talks about the importance of lived experience in the work that he does. he believes in a very simple philosophy in that "everyone should be able to live the life that they want as long as they aren't hurting anyone else". With the Autism Wellbeing Project, we are so honoured to be a small part of the Nook's story through volunteering and promoting a space that is for everybody to use.  David shares about his love and passion for sports, the adaptability and evolution of the design, how neurodivergence surrounds his world especially on a personal level and his childhood experiences that eventually came to the idea of where Nook was born. From all of us at the podcast and The Autism Wellbeing Project, we want to say a massive congratulations to David and his team at Nook Pods, who are celebrating their tenth birthday this month!  Get in touch, we'd love to hear your thoughts [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570590/fan_mail/new] Want to know about The Autism Wellbeing Project and the amazing activities that are provided for free for autistic adults?  Come and be a part of our inclusive and welcoming community that supports over 300 people across the UK! For more information, please click for the link to our website here [https://www.theautismwellbeingproject.co.uk/]

Episode 16 - Maria Moreira talks about her journey to becoming a therapist at AWP

Hello! Welcome to the Autism Wellbeing Project's new podcast, the Autism Wellbeing Podcast, which has been created by the community members who use the services that they provide to autistic adults in and around Cheshire and across the UK! Joining Stephen on the show today is one of our incredible therapists and Therapist Co-Ordinator at the Autism Wellbeing Project, Maria Moreira. From working in an opticians to now working as a Therapist at the project and with her own private practice, Maria is really passionate about the work she does and making sure that she provides a safe space for those that really need it. Born in Portugal, Maria shares about her early years moving to England not knowing the language and how her curiosity about human behaviour was sparked from her formative years observing schoolfriends and classmates. After first meeting Emma Eager on her counselling course at Warrington & Vale Royal College, fate would bring Maria into Emma & Emily Abbott's vision of support for the adult autistic community joining originally as a volunteer. After she completed & received her qualification from her course, she was then asked to join AWP's therapy team. Our Research & Admin Extraordinaire of the podcast team, Kath has a message for our listeners about Maria and the work she does: "If you are autistic, thinking about therapy or even if you've tried it and it's not helped, please take a listen to this episode! Even for those who felt that therapy wasn't for you, Maria has made such a difference to so many of us that we are delighted that she's come on our very own podcast!"  Maria also shares about how exercise is an outlet for her when she's not working, what working with the neurodivergent community has taught her and about being involved with the mentoring circles and wellbeing walks with AWP! Get in touch, we'd love to hear your thoughts [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570590/fan_mail/new] Want to know about The Autism Wellbeing Project and the amazing activities that are provided for free for autistic adults?  Come and be a part of our inclusive and welcoming community that supports over 300 people across the UK! For more information, please click for the link to our website here [https://www.theautismwellbeingproject.co.uk/]

Episode 15 - In Conversation with...Nicola Haigh talking about Kaleidoscope Festival at the Storyhouse, Chester

Hello! Welcome to the Autism Wellbeing Project's new podcast, the Autism Wellbeing Podcast, which has been created by the community members who use the services that they provide to autistic adults in and around Cheshire and across the UK! Joining Stephen on the show today is Community Manager for multi-purpose venue. Storyhouse, Nicola Haigh, on-location for the first time! Recording in this incredible renovated grade II listed Art Deco Odeon cinema, Storyhouse is a charity and an award-winning independent arts centre based in the heart of Chester in the North West of England which is home to theatres, libraries and cinemas as well as free community spaces for groups to meet. Nestled in The Den of the Children's Library of this incredible building, Nicola is interviewed in this incredible space talking about one of the festivals she co-creates with the community, Kaleidoscope Festival, a week's celebration for those with learning disabilities, neurodiversity and disabled people through different events from dance workshops to a talent show extravaganza. This year, the Autism Wellbeing Podcast has been asked to be a part of this special week as a pop-up podcast, where we will be interviewing people attending the festival on Wednesday 8th July! To be interviewed by the team, slots can be booked through the Storyhouse website (link will be listed below). Nicola shares about how the idea of the pop-up podcast event that we are hosting  came to fruition, how working at the Storyhouse on co-production projects with the Learning Disability and/or Neurodiverse communities has made Kaleidoscope Festival so unique and what other festivals Storyhouse has to offer. Get in touch, we'd love to hear your thoughts [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570590/fan_mail/new] Want to know about The Autism Wellbeing Project and the amazing activities that are provided for free for autistic adults?  Come and be a part of our inclusive and welcoming community that supports over 300 people across the UK! For more information, please click for the link to our website here [https://www.theautismwellbeingproject.co.uk/]

Episode 14 - In Conversation with...Chris Barlow from Remtek Workplace

Hello! Welcome to the Autism Wellbeing Project's new podcast, the Autism Wellbeing Podcast, which has been created by the community members who use the services that they provide to autistic adults in and around Cheshire and across the UK! Joining Sarah on her debut as co-host on the show today is Business Development Manager at Remtek Workplace, Chris Barlow. Remtek Workplace is a business that creates inclusive solutions for neurodiverse & disabled people based on their personal requirements, not just by their diagnosis. From assistive technology to ergonomic solutions, they go above and beyond to help tailor accessibility recommendations to help countless employees and students perform the best that they can in further education and the workplace. Being labelled as "the best kept secret", Remtek Workplace has made its presence in the neurodivergent world by being this year's headline sponsor for The National Neurodiversity Shows, which will be in the North West this week alongside The Autism Wellbeing Project and many other neurodivergent-affirming businesses from the region and beyond! After being there for over 20 years, Chris talks with such passion about the work that they do, the changes he's seen to the assistive technology over the years and how COVID changed their business model for the better. Chris shares about why taking part in events like The National Neurodiversity Shows is so important for him, how Access to Work effects his colleagues and how her assistive technology helped with his child's schoolwork. Get in touch, we'd love to hear your thoughts [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570590/fan_mail/new] Want to know about The Autism Wellbeing Project and the amazing activities that are provided for free for autistic adults?  Come and be a part of our inclusive and welcoming community that supports over 300 people across the UK! For more information, please click for the link to our website here [https://www.theautismwellbeingproject.co.uk/]

Episode 13 - In Conversation with...Deanna of One Hundred Acre Moments Photography

Hello! Welcome to the Autism Wellbeing Project's new podcast, the Autism Wellbeing Podcast, which has been created by the community members who use the services that they provide to autistic adults in and around Cheshire and across the UK! Joining Stephen on the sofa today is SEN & family photographer and business owner of Hundred Acre Moments photography, Deanna. Being a mum to her autistic child, who is non-verbal, Deanna saw that traditional photography sessions weren't very accessible to her child: expecting her child to sit still perfectly posed in a brightly lit environment or travelling far away for a photographer that was more SEN-affirming just wasn't working. That's when the idea for Hundred Acre Moments was born! Deanna shares about her life as a SEN parent, why people need to have a better awareness of what autism looks like and an important message that she always says to her child: be the best version of you! Get in touch, we'd love to hear your thoughts [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570590/fan_mail/new] Want to know about The Autism Wellbeing Project and the amazing activities that are provided for free for autistic adults?  Come and be a part of our inclusive and welcoming community that supports over 300 people across the UK! For more information, please click for the link to our website here [https://www.theautismwellbeingproject.co.uk/]