Caregiving is so much more than a job to pass the time; it’s a career that can last a lifetime…

While Charlotte Snowshall is early in her journey with us in Short Breaks, she has a transformative story that will inspire the passionate, curious minds thinking of care as a career!

Join us on Reasons to Care this week, as we hear what turned a temporary role into years of life-changing work, and just how far her career could take her.

This episode covers:

• Charlotte's journey from short breaks crew member to management, showing that care work offers genuine career opportunities

• The transformative impact of initiatives like Little Squirrels

• The personal passion and energy that underpins caregivers’ careers

• Misconceptions around care work as a temporary job with no progression

• How care goes above and beyond basic support, creating meaningful experiences for those with additional needs

Clare Rochford

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

Head over to our website to check out how you can get involved - https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

Forget what you know about day centres - The Beehive is a world where creativity and connection thrive!

Chelsey Mills is Manager at The Beehive, and she’s perfectly placed to show us what joy Diverse Abilities’ day centre for adults with disabilities really brings to the lovely people we support.

This episode covers:

• Fostering understanding and acceptance of disabilities through early interactions, especially with children

• How individualised care adapts to each person's unique communication style to provide tailored support

• The diverse and engaging activities that The Beehive offers

• How personal connections and family inspire fulfilling careers in care and disability support

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

The people we support are all capable of extraordinary things, and they deserve a chance to be recognised for every step of progress they make.

That’s how the OPT Award came to fruition, and its creator Lynda Larke is with us to kick off our latest series of Reasons to Care!

Join us to discover how the OPT Award can help inspire the people we support to achieve the impossible, step outside of their comfort zones, and create opportunities!

This episode covers:

• The introduction of the OPT Award, and the success stories that it’s given rise to

• Educating society about the capabilities of the people that we support across Diverse Abilities and beyond

• How structured support helps people to overcome fears and break boundaries

• The importance of empowerment through recognition

OPT Award

https://www.optaward.org.uk/

Clare Rochford

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

Sports and movement should be for everyone, which is why people like Helen Montgomery are such heroes for bringing sensory sports to life at Langside School!

Mirroring real life events like the football World Cup, Wimbledon and Olympics can be the source of inspiration, creativity and delight for all the children we support - discover how sensory sports unlock doors as Helen joins us on another charming episode of Reasons to Care.

This episode covers:

• The unique, dynamic role of a physiotherapist at Langside vs being a community physio

• Transformative experiences enabled by creatively adapting sports

• The confidence and social development that comes from creating such inclusive opportunities

• Incredible events that Helen has brought to life, like the ‘Langside Olympics’

Clare Rochford

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

Diverse Abilities this year celebrates its remarkable 70th anniversary, and so it’s a joy to look back at how Dorset’s disability charity has grown with the daughter of our Founder!

Diverse Abilities was set up to support Wendy Barfoot’s sister, Marilyn, and Wendy joins us to share the evolution of Diverse Abilities, her growing role in its history, and how our impact has grown from such humble beginnings.

This episode covers:

• The heartwarming origin story behind Diverse Abilities

• How Marilyn inspired a movement that’s grown into a lasting legacy

• Care through the decades, and how it’s changed with the times

• The power of community, and building something incredible together

Clare Rochford

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

Oh what a wonderful time of year to spread love and Christmas cheer, and there’s nowhere more caring and kind than the hearts of our Christmas caregivers.

In one of our most heartwarming episodes of Reasons to Care, we’re celebrating all those who give so much at Christmas time by sharing our favourite stories - from trees carrying on a beloved man’s legacy, to Secret Santa and bauble-swapping shenanigans!

This episode covers:

• Heartwarming holiday traditions with team members and those that they support

• The rewarding nature of how much joy caregivers bring to families at such an important time of the year

• The many incredible ways that those in care can inspire people

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

David Flatman is not only an England Rugby star and pundit, but he’s an incredible ambassador for the Down’s Syndrome Association, and his story is such a heartwarming one…

Having grown up with a brother who has Down’s Syndrome, it’s a joy to hear him share how the family bonded together to give him a life of fulfilment, independence, and love!

This episode covers:

• The unwavering dedication of parents caring for David’s brother

• Unique and profound bonds between SEN siblings

• Where to find the right support and resources to enable independence

• Redefining our perceptions of a ‘normal’ childhood

  
  

David Flatman: https://www.instagram.com/dflatman/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-flatman-5972b517/

Clare Rochford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team: https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities: https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/