There are so many potential stars in the care industry whose only barrier is realising it’s a place for everyone to shine!

Men make up such a small percentage of caregivers in the UK, one of whom is a local favourite in our on-call team at Diverse Abilities, and has been with us for nearly five years now.

With International Men’s Day around the corner, it’s a perfect time to explore his journey into care, and what we can do to encourage more male carers in to the profession!

This episode covers:

• The qualities of a great male carer

• Life in the on-call team

• What we can do to encourage more male carers into the profession

• Unique qualities that men can bring to a caregiving team

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/

Welcome back to Reasons to Care, and it’s a joy to bring you the first of a new run of episodes where we share the inspiring story of Anne, one of the lovely ladies we care for at Diverse Abilities!

Anne’s story is one of independence and fulfilment, shining a light on the empowerment that our support gives to so many that come to us in adult services, and it’s a pleasure to share her experience on this month’s episode.

This episode covers:

• What a normal week looks like with the support of Diverse Abilities

• The friendships that such support enables

• Anne’s life-changing holiday experience

• How Anne chooses the activities in her life independently

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/

The partnerships that we can make between charities and businesses can transform countless lives, and every piece of that puzzle counts!

We’ve been Colten Care’s chosen charity, which has led to improvements at Langside and beyond, and Jess Farwell’s role in the community is a perfect example of how we can collaborate and achieve so much together.

Jess joins us in this episode of Reasons to Care, where we also bust the myth that caregivers need prior experience, and share more heartwarming notes from our Happy Jar!

This episode covers:

• Examples of community support that Jess has been a huge part of, like their recent ‘Chocolate Elf Campaign’

• The importance of partnerships between charities and local businesses

• Encouraging people to contribute their skills to a fantastic cause

• Transition support for individuals with disabilities from childhood to adulthood services

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/

Being both sides of the caregiving coin is an experience that gives you unending gratitude for the work that carers do - such is the case for the remarkable Pam Wills.

She worked for Diverse Abilities from 1997, and her son Graeme has had some wonderful experiences under our care, so it’s a joy to share Pam & Graeme’s story in this emotional and uplifting episode of Reasons to Care!

This episode covers:

• Pam’s discovery of the caregiving profession and how rewarding it’s been to her and those she’s worked with

• The impact of dedicated workers on whole families

• Emma Wray’s ‘angelic’ nature and how it gave such joy to Graeme and his family

• Why the myth of caregiving being a lonely profession is so far from the truth

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/

Merlin’s Magic Wand is more than a mystical trinket - it’s a charming organisation that creates experiences like no other for those who need them most.

At Diverse Abilities we’re so fortunate to work with the international children’s charity, and Elin Parry’s job title captures the joy we can conjure for families - she’s their Magical Programmes Manager.

Elin joins us on Reasons To Care for a thrilling episode where she shares all the opportunities and heartwarming bonds that Merlin’s Magic Wand creates.

This episode covers:

• The importance of accessibility, additional support, and sensory experiences in helping families enjoy days out

• How Elin’s background and love of theme parks led her into care with Merlin’s Magic Wand

• The impact of support services on not only those needing care, but their families too

• Highlights from Elin’s work, and the rewarding tales of bringing families together to form lifelong bonds

Elin Parry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elin-parry-213428a8/

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/

There’s a plethora of opportunities within the caregiving world, and through the roles that Aine Penfold has experienced, every single one has brought her happiness and joy.

In this episode of Reasons to Care, we look back over the many years that she’s been with Diverse Abilities, and share both what drew Aine towards care, and why it’s been such a rewarding role ever since.

This episode covers:

• Aine’s various roles within Diverse Abilities

• The detective-like experience of her time as an Occupational Therapist

• What instigated Aine’s desire to go into care

• Joyous moments with the families of those she’s helped

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/

Caregivers are among the most compassionate people you’ll ever meet, and in her over 20 year tenure with Diverse Abilities, Emma Wray is a perfect example.

Emma’s been with us for such a long and illustrious time - there are so many heartwarming stories to tell, and she gives us a glimpse into her journey and the role of compassion throughout it, in this episode of Reasons to Care.

This episode covers:

• Emma’s past roles in sales and running a bar, before finding her current calling

• The huge variety in all that being a Team Leader entails

• How you can see the impact of your work on extended families of those being supported

• Busting the myth around caregiving as a ‘short term commitment, not a career’

Join the Diverse Abilities Team:

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Learn about us:

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

Introducing Reasons to Care: the amazing new podcast brought to you by Dorset’s disability charity, Diverse Abilities!

We’re really excited to bring the world of care to life and share stories that’ll bust myths, open eyes and question perceptions of what it means to be a carer.

This first episode we’re dedicating to ourselves, hosts Michelle Turner and Clare Rochford, to share our own journeys in care and how we’ve changed lives through our work - and more importantly how it’s changed our lives in return…

This episode covers:

• Michelle and Clare’s journeys into the caregiving world

• The breadth of services on offer

• What we hope to achieve throughout the podcast series

• Tales from our ‘Happy Jar’

• The heartwarming stories that have been written throughout our time at Diverse Abilities

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

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/