Emily Thornton
“A diagnosis didn’t change me it helped me understand myself.” Emily Thornton shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with autism at 24, living with OCD and navigating severe mental health challenges. Through an honest conversation about identity, recovery and hope, Emily highlights the importance of understanding neurodiversity, seeking support and creating a more […]
Farah Rehman
“Being a mum is the most exhausting but rewarding thing you’ll ever do.” Farah Rehman shares her remarkable journey of growing up mixed race in Rochdale, overcoming racism, navigating pregnancy loss and rediscovering herself through motherhood, volunteering and community. Reflecting on the influence of her mother’s belief in education, experiences of miscarriage and stillbirth, and […]
Rich Jones
“I lived in the darkness of mental health struggles, but now I live in the reality of hope.” Rich Jones is a charity leader, author and social innovator whose journey has taken him from burnout, mental health challenges and homelessness to a place he now describes as “living in the reality of hope.” In this […]
Maura Jackson
“Our job is to give young people hope, opportunity, and belief in themselves.” In this Deep Dive episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we sit down with Maura Jackson, Former Chief Executive of Backup North West, for an honest, eye-opening conversation about youth homelessness, resilience, and what it truly means to lead with purpose. […]
Cherelle Mitchell
“It’s not healthy, it’s not kind and it’s not ok!” I am Cherelle Mitchell and this is my Tales to Inspire; about my journey through hardship, discovery, and self-acceptance. I want to share these lessons with you in the hope that they’ll offer inspiration or insight as you navigate your own challenges. Growing up in […]
Jo Bradshaw
“Life is too short to play it safe” I never imagined that my life would take me from being a business advisor in Cambridgeshire to standing on the summits of the world’s highest peaks. My love for the outdoors started early. I grew up in the beautiful countryside of Cambridgeshire in the 70s and 80s, […]
Jon Berry
“Life isn’t about constant acceleration—it’s about pacing yourself to thrive.” My name is Jon Berry, I am 48 this year born in the West Midlands. I was brought up in a fairly typical working-class family as the youngest of three kids. My dad was a graphic designer while my mum worked in various shops throughout […]
Kerry Tottingham
“Social inequality can only be combated by giving those who have been a victim of it, a voice and power to implement change.” My name is Kerry and I started a family business around greater Manchester that offers support for organisations involved in social work. I was the oldest sibling and I was a bit […]
Amit Ghose
“For me, what it means to adapt is to be you, to be yourself, but to shine, let your personality shine so people can see beyond the looks” I’m Amit Ghose, and adapting to circumstances has been something I have had to do my entire life but now I am using my lived experience to […]
Kate Appleby
Trigger Warning: This story discusses experiences of mental health struggles, mention of suicide, sexual abuse and chronic illness. “I believed I was a burden to those around me, and that by removing myself from the equation, I was being considerate. I wasn’t thinking about the impact it would have on others; I just wanted the […]