Matty worked as a registered mental health nurse for many years before a personal loss gave him the final push he needed to set up the community social enterprise First Person Project, dedicated to providing innovative mental health services and community connections in Liverpool.

Listen to discover Matty's views on supporting good mental health, how we can all help each other, and how his work links to his role as a Trustee at MacIntyre.

Nicola reflects on starting out as a support worker in Milton Keynes moving through roles in our community coffee shop, dementia-focused project work, family engagement, and eventually into strategic best practice. A clear thread runs through her story: learning. From picking up new skills on the frontline to seeking out specialist knowledge and bringing it back into practice, Nicola describes a career shaped by curiosity and courage.

The conversation then turns to the Innovation Hub, a dedicated space designed to help MacIntyre focus on change more deliberately and collaboratively. Rather than lots of disconnected initiatives happening in parallel, the Hub provides a structured, joined-up approach to projects, allowing ideas to be tested, refined, and learned from (even when things don’t go quite to plan). Nicola is open about the importance of allowing room for mistakes, reflection, and honesty, and how this culture of trust underpins improvement.

The Hub’s first major focus is self-advocacy and co-production. Nicola explains the aim to ensure that, by the end of 2026, every local area across MacIntyre has access to advocacy, creating real, everyday opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to have their voices heard and influence decision-making at all levels. She shares insights from the team’s recent roadshows, where people with lived experience have been central from the very start, helping shape the work and connecting with others across the organisation.

She also describes the value of MacIntyre's collaboration with external friends such as Beth Britton, Debs Aspland, ARC England and Learning Disability England.

She describes MacIntyre's successful involvement in the Homes not Hospitals initiative.

Far too many people with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues are trapped in long-stay secure hospitals, often for years, causing huge distress to the person, and at huge expense to the taxpayer.

Cath describes the way in which MacIntyre provides an alternative which works for all concerned.

MacIntyre works closely with Ann Craft Trust, which was set up 30 years ago to support people with a learning disability to live full, rich lives, while remaining safe.

In this episode, Stuart discusses the way in which Ann Craft Trust supports MacIntyre and our Head of Compliance and Safeguarding, Rowan Jackson.

He describes some unusual ways in which Ann Craft Trust is focusing on "eyes and ears" in the community, using training to give roles such as park-keepers the ability to become active bystanders.

Stuart urges us all to go green for Safeguarding Week this year and start conversations about the importance of safeguarding and prevention of abuse.

Carly outlines the differences and similarities between the Welsh and English jurisdictions, and how she and all MacIntyre's staff are continually learning and challenging outdated practices.

She recognises the important work by Rowan Jackson, MacIntyre's Head of Compliance and Safeguarding, and her team, in developing our resources.

We explore how crucial it is for people supported by MacIntyre to be part of their local communities, shown in our Everyone Everywhere approach.

Content warning: in the context of a discussion about mental health towards the end of this podcast episode, there is a brief mention of suicide.

We discuss how Angela has been using her external perspective to work with staff teams in Chesterfield to develop new ideas and look at Everyone Everywhere with new eyes.

We also hear from Angela about her project with Sian Lockwood, When I Get Old.

Connor, together with Carole Hodgson from MacIntyre, explains his training and volunteer work, and what they mean for him in his life.

In today's conversation, Bruce Smith, Head of No Limits describes the advantages and the difference we can make.

Find out more at this link, or email hello@macintyrecharity.org for more information.

Karen Gunn is one of the daughters of Ken and Marjorie Newton Wright, MacIntyre's founders.

Here she shares some incredible stories of what she describes as the "chaos" of MacIntyre's early days, and how proud and moved she is to know her parents' vision continues.

And we talk to Nicola Payne, MacIntyre's Families Manager, about what we're doing today.

They share their personal stories in the context of all the resources MacIntyre provides to support autistic people, including MacIntyre's online events, which are open to everyone.

We find out how the Everyone Everywhere concept came about, how we're helping people, and how the ripples of community growth are spreading across the country.

Steve talks about the work him and his wife Joyce have done to support other families.

Dosh supports people with a learning disability to be able to manage their money, providing financial advocacy, appointees for benefits and account management.

Have a listen to find out more.

Penny talks about the time 3 years ago when Zoe was moving to the school, and about her own experience of going through that transition: how important it was to be included in plans and conversations about Zoe's future.

Liz shares information about how young people are supported through further education.

No Limits aims to enable young people with disabilities and complex additional needs to successfully transition from school environments to adult life .

You will hear about MacIntyre's approach and how we use some key resources to offer support to families and staff teams to make sure that relationships are supported from the very start .

The conversation is a honest reflection of the impact this has had on both brothers. Also sharing the supportive network that they have built at Heeley City Farm in Sheffield.

www.heeleyfarm.org.uk Heeley Farm

www.tvfhcfdementia.com/ The Valerie Trust Foundation

www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ Alzheimer’s Research UK

https://www.tvfhcfdementia.com/films/4594636725  series of films about Lee and Andrews family life through the world of Dementia

The focus of the conversation is younger onset dementia and the support that Dementia UK and MacIntyre can provide for families.

The focus of the conversation is to talk openly about anxiety - how this can affect people in different ways and how anxiety affects us all on a daily basis. 

Host Nicola Payne is joined by Debs Aspland who contributed greatly to MacIntyre's work with families. They spend time sharing highlights and new resources that have been created to support our staff teams and families when working together.

We are also showcasing the Co-Pro song which we hope you enjoy.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

•  Matt Haig “Reasons to stay alive” http://www.matthaig.com/books/reasons-to-stay-alive-2/
• https://lifeas-pland.com/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
• https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/
• https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/
• https://www.mind.org.uk/

• https://bethbritton.com/
• http://d4dementia.blogspot.com
• https://www.macintyrecharity.org/our-expertise/resources/
• https://www.waterstones.com/book/shes-still-my-nan/jo-allmond/jess-hiles/9781781326398
• https://dementiacarers.org.uk/
• https://www.carersuk.org/
• https://www.sibs.org.uk/support-for-adult-siblings/ebook-for-adult-siblings/ https://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/m1d

MacIntyre is committed to improving health outcomes for people with a learning disability and reducing inequalities that exist in our communities and society. We are doing several things within MacIntyre to achieve this, but one way we are doing this was to introduce and use The NHS’s Anticipatory Care Calendar (Health Calendar) which provides an innovative approach to assessing health on a daily basis and is designed to alert social care staff to changes (even the most subtle) noticed in a person’s health. The calendar also provides clear directions about accessing care. We have taken a ‘whole organisational approach’ to successfully empower our social care staff to develop a high standard of health record keeping, monitor health changes and ensuring people access NHS Screening Programmes and Primary Care services.

We want to bring the Anticipatory Care Calendar to life, raise awareness of this great resource and to share with you the benefits it brings people.

Lorraine’s role involves working with local communities, staff, people we support and their families as well as with local businesses.

She told us about how MacIntyre has been supporting people and their families through the lockdown and the experience of isolation. A huge part of this work involved technology, which is often not covered by the costs of care and support.

Carly’s role involves working with families of people who move from Assessment and Treatment Units back to their communities and to MacIntyre support. Understanding the needs of the family and clear communication of the staff team with the family are crucial parts of any good transition from a long stay institution. By connecting everyone in the circle of support, Carly makes sure that the person remains at the centre of the transition.

Link to resources mentioned in the episode https://paradigm-uk.org/what-we-do/reach-support-for-living/

• Steve Hardy who is a qualified learning disability nurse since 1994 and has worked in both clinical and educational settings. Currently an independent consultant nurse for people with a learning disability, Steve shares information and develops resources which is one of his passions. Steve will help support and facilitate platforms for people loving with a learning disability to be heard . As Steve mentions in the podcast, he has survived a stroke and at times can get his words mixed up @SteveHardyLDN
• Karina Marshall Tate, a consultant learning disabilities nurse working to reduce inequalities in mental and physical health @KMT_RNLD
• Ruwani Ampegama. Ruwani is passionate about people with a learning disability making a positive influence in the world of care and support through research, training and development @TrabelsiRuwani

Links to resources mentioned in the podcast:

• Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing for Staff Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
• Learning disabilities training (Estia Centre)
• Action for Happiness
• Anticipatory Care Calendar
• Sharing your lockdown experience with Steve steve3@gmail.com 

Jim is a leading nurse in Learning Disabilities and an independent consultant nurse in Learning Disabilities, a health advisor at the British Institute of Learning Disabilities and an associate professor at Kingston and St George's Universities.

Jim is passionate about hearing from the voices of people with a learning disability and ensuring that active lives are an option which is supported in accessible ways that make sense to each person .

Jim has a passion and drive for inclusion, health justice and everyone to be included and informed about their own lives.

Jim is also a patron of Dance Syndrome which is such an inspiring initiative, Jim is involved in the movement to enhance and improve care of people with learning disabilities.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Twitter: @jimgblair
• https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/
• "Made Possible" by Saba Salman
• https://dancesyndrome.co.uk/

In this episode of MacIntyre Family Podcast you will get an insight into Jo’s life and hear Jo speak about the importance of including Jess in big future decisions and having family affairs in place for the future.

Debs favourite role, however, is Mum to three amazing teenage children. Each one with Special Educational Needs or Disability. As Debs says “life is never dull”

Debs can be found across social media @lifeaspland or visit her website for more details

Links :

 Web https://lifeas-pland.com

Festabilty https://festabilty.co.uk

BAPS https://www.myfamilyyourneeds.co.uk/baps/