MacIntyre's Family Podcast

At MacIntyre No Limits™ we offer community-based bespoke education packages to young people aged 16-24 who have a variety of additional needs including learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, and social and emotional needs.  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.

We had a very special guest to help us celebrate Families Week in 2025. 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.

In this episode we hear from Jess Sutton, MacIntyre's Autism Self-Advocacy Lead, and Sonya Cox, one of our Best Practice Facilitators. 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.

In this episode, we talk to Kathryn Yates, MacIntyre's Culture and Communities Manager, and Sian Lockwood, long-term friend and advisor to MacIntyre. 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.

In this episode, we welcome a very special guest, MacIntyre's Chief Executive, Sarah Burslem, who tells us about her role, why she still goes to bed every night feeling proud of what MacIntyre does, and why there is no better career than in social care or special education.

Nicola and Tess are sharing an exciting change to the MacIntyre Families' Podcast , take a listen to find out more

In conversation with some of the team behind the scenes who run this wonderful group. To share good practice and learning on a wide platform, always hearing from guest speakers. Beth Britton, Nicola Payne, and Meg Wilding share why they are all so passionate about the Dementia Special Interest Group

Take a listen to Beth, Meg, and Nicky in conversation about the wonderful DSIG . Find out how you can get involved in MacIntyre's Dementia Special Interest Group and how it has become such a strong group that supports everyone in learning about dementia over the past 10 years .

MacIntyre has created a pack to support families and circles of support to be prepared for the future. In this podcast you will hear from a family member, Jo Allmond, and Debs Aspland from Life Aspland sharing what is preparing to support and why should you sign up to receive the pack.

In this episode conversation takes place with ARC England's Clive Parry, and the team behind the loss and bereavement workshop, Beth Britton, and Jess Hiles. An example of true co-production.

Paul Payne talks about his role of 18 years at MacIntyre and the importance of working together and connecting with people with a learning disability and working together for the best outcome.

Beth Britton and Nicola Payne chat about the focus and commitment MacIntyre has when supporting people living with dementia and a learning disability. Beth talks about World Alzheimer's Month and how you can support a loved one or yourself to be aware of the risk reductions a person can do and potentially even prevent the onset of dementia

In this episode, you will hear from 3 members of MacIntyre staff who are involved in the Victoria and Stuart Project. The project enables conversations to start and people with learning disabilities to think about their own futures and plan a good death. David, Mika, and Meg share how they are involved and what this project can offer people.

Hear from Julie and Sue who share information on books beyond words and how you can go about setting up a book club. Also, Rachel Furniss talks passionately about how MacIntyre uses this great resource and how the books supports many people to understand difficult topics.

Hearing Debs Aspland talk about the importance of connecting and welcoming families, and sharing information about the wonderful Let's Come Together forum.

In conversation with Catherine Farrell and Paul Payne bringing to life MacIntyre's Big Plan and sharing the message of the importance of allowing everyone to be seen and heard and contributing in ways that makes sense to everyone.

In this episode you will hear Steve Raw talk openly and passionately what it is like being a father to Bettina who lives with autism. Steve talks about the work him and his wife Joyce have done to support other families.

Gary Bourlet is the co-founder of Learning Disability England and shares with Nicola Payne his journey from a young child to where he is now and how People First was born in the UK. Gary also shares information about Learning Disability England and brings to life the Good Lives framework .

In this edition of MacIntyre's Family Podcast Nicola is in conversation with Claire Willis, a financial advisor at Dosh. 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.

In conversation with Dance Syndrome

Take a listen to find out what Nicola Payne and Debs Aspland have planned for MacIntyre's 2nd Celebrating Families Week starting on the 25th April 2022. Being joined by some great guest speakers who will be sharing lots of wonderful information with you .

In conversation with Rebecca Hyman . volunteer for Mencap . Becky is sharing with you information on the Mencap Treat Me Well Campaign and speaking about reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability

In the final episode of 2021 you will hear mother and daughter Jo and Jess share their experience and story of a recent hospital stay and what this was like from the beginning to where Jess is now. Speaking honestly and hoping to see changes nationally to support others to have the similar experience to Jess

In this episode Nicola Payne is joined by Penny Thatcher, mother of Zoe who attends MacIntyre residential school. 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.

In this edition of the MacIntyre Families Podcast Nicola Payne chats to Liz Lyman, Programme Co-ordinator for MacIntyre No Limits in Milton Keynes. 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 .

In this edition of the Families Podcast, host Nicola Payne is joined by Rowan Jackson, an Area Manager at MacIntyre . Rowan and Nicola chat about How to make sure that when families come into MacIntyre, they are made to feel welcome. 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 .

In this edition of the Families Podcast, host Nicola Payne is joined by Lee and Andrew Pearce . Lee and Andrew are brothers who have lived experience of caring for their Mum Valerie who lived with Frontotemporal Dementia( FTD) 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  

In this edition of the Families Podcast, host Nicola Payne is joined by Victoria Lyons. Victoria is a senior consultant admiral nurse working at Dementia UK. The focus of the conversation is younger onset dementia and the support that Dementia UK and MacIntyre can provide for families.

In this edition of the Families Podcast, host Nicola Payne is joined by Nicki Willis, MacIntyre's Learning Disabilities Nurse who is working closely with our staff teams in Milton Keynes and people supported by those teams. 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. 

In this special edition of MacIntyre's Families Podcast, to mark Celebrating Families Week we look back on the last 12 months. 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.

In this podcast we are joined by Paul, Iain and Sui-Ling from MacIntyre's Co-Production working group. We talk about the importance of working together - the benefits as well as reassurance that it can bring to people. We are also showcasing the Co-Pro song which we hope you enjoy.

Jo Allmond joins MacIntyre Families Podcast for the second time to talk about her mental health and how she manages it in her day to day life. Jo and Nicola share ways they cope with stresses on their mental health. They discuss the importance of talking, also signposting you to support networks along the way. 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/

In this episode of MacIntyre's Families Podcast we are joined by Beth Britton. Beth is a content creator, consultant, trainer and mentor, campaigner and speaker specialising in issues affecting older people, health and social care and specifically dementia. Beth's passion came about after her father's 19-year journey of living with vascular dementia. Beth wants to improve health outcomes for people and provide knowledge for families, circles of support and staff teams. She works alongside MacIntyre's Health, Dementia and Wellbeing Team as an external consultant. https://bethbritton.com/ http://d4dementia.blogspot.comhttps://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

In this episode of our MacIntyre Families Podcast, Sarah Ormston MacIntyre's Health, Dementia and Wellbeing Manager talks about the NHS Anticipatory Care Calendar. 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.

In this episode we talk to Lorraine Devereux, MacIntyre's Events & Corporate Fundraiser. 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.

In the latest episode we talk to Carly Morrissey, MacIntyre's Transition Co-ordinator. 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/

Jane has worked in the care sector for over 28 years. During this time Jane has supported older adults with Dementia and associated conditions. Jane has worked with children and adults in many different settings. Jane has completed her diploma in Learning Disability nursing and has worked to help implement transforming care agendas, helping support communities and ensuring family's needs are taking into consideration .

This episode features: 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 @SteveHardyLDNKarina Marshall Tate, a consultant learning disabilities nurse working to reduce inequalities in mental and physical health @KMT_RNLDRuwani 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 DisabilitiesLearning disabilities training (Estia Centre)Action for HappinessAnticipatory Care CalendarSharing your lockdown experience with Steve steve3@gmail.com 

In this episode we speak to Jim Blair. 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 Salmanhttps://dancesyndrome.co.uk/

Our guest in this episode is Jo Allmond. Jo is a Mum whose daughter has a learning disability and is supported by MacIntyre. Jo invests lots of her time to support MacIntyre and has fundraised in such brave and creative ways over the years alongside her daughter Jess too. In addition Jo loves to walk, be in her garden and spend time with her family and friends. Jo enjoys going to the theatre and has a much loved passion for dance. 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.

Our guest in this episode is Debs Aspland is a life coach/mentor, motivational speaker and trainer, Debs also a NLP practitioner, an accessible music festival organiser, co-founder of the BAPS awards. In addition Debs is a beach lover and avid fan of anything to do with genealogy. 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/