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pop up play village in and around cleethorpes

Our aim is to provide a safe and inviting space in which children and their parents can unleash their creativity and let their imaginations go wild. Pop Up Play village is made up of role play areas. We’d call these sets or scenes if we worked in the glamorous worlds of TV or theatre – but sadly we don’t! We have a hospital, vets, baby nursery, supermarket, café, construction site, library, baby play area, art studio and outdoor explorer zone. Each one filled with high quality toys, props and dressing up kits – specially sourced and impeccably clean. What Makes Us Different? We’re often asked whether we’re a playgroup or a drop in toddler play session. Yes, we have toys to play with, things to dress up in and caffeine on tap but our village is about much more than that… Our play sessions have been specially designed by an expert in early years education to help children learn and develop through play. Each of our areas provides them with the tools to develop socially and learn more about themselves, their peers and the world we live in. And whilst this is about education and development, our key priority is having fun. That means fun for everyone. There are no adult wallflowers here. Parents and carers are welcomed into our village and actively encouraged to lose their inhibitions and play together with their children in a way that’s often just not possible at home. And whilst we love our village and all the characters who live in it, we realise it’s good to shake things up a bit from time to time. That’s why we often invite guests to play – dinosaurs, pirates, mermaids, unicorns and dragons – to name a few. We also mark events and the seasons as we pass through the year. Laying The Foundations It was back in 2007 when I started teaching my first ever class that the first foundations of the Play Village were laid. Watching the children in my reception class acting out real-life scenarios in the role play corner, I realised the true value of learning through play. I’d always worked hard to create engaging and realistic areas in which the children could let their imaginations run free. I absolutely loved teaching and gained six fantastic years of experience before having my first child. When my son was 2, I found at weekends it was really hard to find fun, exciting places to take him. It was on one cold, dreary Sunday afternoon in February that the idea of running pop up role play events came into my head along with the name Pop Up Play Village! I thought about it for many months after this vision and it wasn’t until after my daughter was born in June 2016 that I decided it was time to go for it by opening up the world of mobile role play to children and their parents in my local area. Of course, Pop Up Play Village didn’t pop up overnight and as with any build, a great deal of research and testing came before. I wanted every element of the village to be the best it could possibly be and so sourcing the right toys and props took time. Safety, durability and play-ability were key and thankfully, as well as many years of teaching experience behind me, I had two excellent testers in the shape of my children – who were inspiration and guinea pig in equal measure! The doors finally opened on Pop Up Play Village in 2017 and we’re proud to say we’ve undergone huge expansion since. We’re now popping up all over Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire. We run sessions for families and schools, entertain children at weddings and events and host their birthday parties. We’ve already been accredited by the Approved Franchise Association and also have the support of two major high street banks – Lloyds and NatWest. But we’re not sitting back. We’ve got ambitious plans and there’s plenty more to be done if we are to bring the Pop Up Play Village experience to many more families across the country and beyond.

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laura batten - hello baby brighton

My name is Laura Batten (she/her); I'm mum to Joshua (11) and Martha (5), wife to Leigh and I'm the founder of Hello Baby Brighton. We live in the Preston Park area of Brighton and have done for the last fourteen years. Being beside the sea is such a privilege. There's something about being right on the edge of the land - the sense of freedom, the waves and even the pesky seagulls add character! My pregnancy in 2010 with Joshua was very straightforward and complication-free. I absolutely loved being pregnant and felt carefree and marvelled at my growing bump. My labour, however, was a rollercoaster of stops and starts, and I felt out of control and I didn’t know how to help myself. It ended in the birthing pool - which is what I'd wanted - but looking back (knowing what I know now) I was getting in my own way. I wasn't letting my body do what it needed to do and without realising, contributed to my labour stalling. But in those final two hours in the pool with the most incredible midwife, I felt invincible. I knew immediately that I wanted to do this for other women. I'd never even heard of Hypnobirthing back then, so I originally thought about re-training as a midwife. Since then, sadly, I've experienced the pain of three consecutive miscarriages, and I deeply empathise if you've been through this trauma of any type of loss. How I was treated through one particular journey really cemented my passion of becoming a care-giver who can meaningfully change someone's experience of birth in a positive way. I’d had so much pregnancy and birth trauma and anxiety before I came to Hypnobirthing and I wanted to change that for myself, and for others. In 2017 I gave birth to my daughter, at home in the birthing pool, using Hypnobirthing techniques while my son slept upstairs! It was such a calm and empowering experience and I put it entirely down to my practice during pregnancy, and the mindfulness I used. I can't quite communicate in words how it feels to be able to teach women and couples to be completely empowered and have a birth they feel great about afterwards. So many don't think it's possible; they've had a bad experience before or heard horror stories; generally conditioned through the media and society that birth is painful and long; scared to believe that they're capable of a positive experience of birth. Hello Baby Brighton was founded with a passion to not only work with couples to help change their experience of birth, but also with the goal of continuity of care - something which is quite rare these days. From the moment you say ‘hello baby’ (however you have come to be pregnant or intended parents) to the moment you're holding your baby for the first time, it is the most wonderful and crazy journey of very mixed emotions. My Group and Private Mindful Birth Courses give you the tools you'll need to stay calm and focused, throughout pregnancy and during the birth of your baby and my online monthly Pregnancy Relaxation classes will help you feel grounded and looked after. And of course if you choose me to work alongside you as your Doula, we will have many opportunities together in your pregnancy to prepare you physically and emotionally. I trained in Hypnobirthing back in 2016 and have supported hundreds of couples since. I now teach the Mindful Birth Group course - an incredible 1st-4th-trimester package, which is rooted in mindfulness (and hypnobirthing techniques) but gives you so much more. You can read about them here. I would absolutely love to come alongside you in your pregnancy or new parenthood in one of my courses, classes or services. I feel so strongly about the right antenatal education and the magic of a Doula, that even if you don't choose me, please do choose fantastic pregnancy and birth support - it always, always makes a difference, whatever type of birth you have.

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sophro by nature

I'm a mum of two, and a certified Relaxation & Sophrology Therapist based in Kings Heath and Stirchley in Birmingham, UK -consulting online and in-person, in French and English, for stress & anxiety management, pregnancy and birth preparation, children, sleep issues, mindset coaching and self-development, and life transitions and challenges. ‍ My Approach ‍ Sophro by Nature was born from my passion for People and Nature, and my desire to promote a healthier and deeper connection between our body and mind, and the world around us. Sophro comes from the Greek "Sos" and "Phren" meaning awareness/balance of the Body-mind connection, and "by Nature" refers to the fact that this connection/awareness is natural - but with life's busyness we tend to forget about it. It also refers to my passion for bringing therapy to the outdoors. ‍ I use relaxation therapy along a holistic therapeutic method - called sophrology - that combines classic relaxation techniques with mindset coaching, and which blends the best of Western science (hypnotherapy, positive & behavioural psychology, relaxation techniques, guided imagery, counselling skills) and Eastern traditions (mindfulness, yoga, breathing, visualisation, meditation) to balance the body-mind connection and provide a more serene approach to life challenges. (see FAQ for more info on Sophrology). ‍ All the techniques I use are advocated for by the NHS on their website and have been shown to be effective by research studies - my own background is grounded in science with a (honour) MSc in Environmental Studies and Ecotourism from Edinburgh Napier University. I've also spent over 400 hours in training and supervised therapy for two years in a state-accredited school in France to become a Relaxation and Sophrology Therapist :) ‍ About Me After I became a mum for the first time in the US, I was looking for a new way of being a working mother. When we moved to Luxembourg, I set up a project coming from my heart: working with children and families. This led me to create my own Professional Training Center in Language Development and Nature Education in Luxembourg. Thanks to this experience, I've worked with people of all ages, walks of life, cultures and nationalities - parents and babies, young children with special needs, mums and dads to be, grandparents, language therapists, and early-years educators. ‍ Working with parents and children also naturally led me to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, general well-being, and stress management. This is what started my life-long mission, and prompted me to train as a Relaxation and Sophrology Therapist: to provide support and ways to alleviate stress-related issues that I witnessed - much too often - in people's daily lives. My own experience living and working in various countries with different cultures expanded my cultural and diversity sensitivity - this is why I chose to specialise in children, families, and especially expatriates/immigrants and Third Culture Kids. What I love most about my work is the flexible and therapeutic nature of the methods I use; one day I can prepare a pregnant mum for birth and dealing with pain and fear, the day after I can help a child deal with stress and anxiety, the next day I can help a client improve sleep issues, and the following day I can provide emotional and pain relief to someone going through chemotherapy... It is never boring and always feels so rewarding! As a holistic practitioner, I enjoy taking into account all aspect of your life(style), so that I can provide tools and techniques to empower but also lead to another way of being yourself - a happier and healthier self :) I've always be a Nature lover (I was a Climbing Instructor and trained in Primitive Skills and Nature Education too), and I combine this important value of mine with relaxation and sophrology when I design sessions for my clients, as I firmly believe that the natural world - our world - is a great source of appeasement. In my spare time, I enjoy running, gardening, spending time in Nature, photography, reading, crafting with my kids, and experimenting with fermented food.

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summitpeople

Ripon

John is a highly experienced consultant with over twenty-six years of applied practise in the fields of education, coaching, mentoring and leadership within the context of sport. John is a skilled educator. He is a qualified teacher, specialising in physical education. John is also a higher education lecturer, teaching leadership and coaching and mentoring practise at Manchester Metropolitan University and elite coaching practise at Sheffield Hallam University to sports professionals and coaches. John has also educated internationally having worked in the USA, Asia, Africa and South America. John is an accomplished and experienced executive coach/mentor. John has a master’s degree in coaching and mentoring, accredited globally by the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) at senior practitioner level. John coaches/mentors numerous individual and team clients within corporate and elite sports performance settings. Current and recent clients include, The Football Association, the Brazilian National Football Federation (CBF), Malawi Football Association, Denmark Football Association, Thailand Football Association Technical Director and MK Dons, Sporting Director. “Excellent. Our meetings are really insightful. Overall, John has been able to clarify specific aspects of my approach to the team and also promote further discussions in terms of the reach and possible tools to use as a coach and leader.” (Cleber Xavier, Assistant Coach, Brazil Men’s National Football Team) Further, John has educated and supervised mentors, executive coaches and teachers. He is highly experienced at developing, implementing, and evaluating coach and teacher education programmes, having done this successfully as part of his role at The Football Association. John has developed executive education and coaching programmes as an expert consultant for large corporates, such as, Bidpath Global and is currently a FIFA Expert in technical leadership, providing training and supervision to FIFA mentors and Technical Directors globally. Additionally, John is skilled at directly delivering training and action learning to coaches and mentors in the fields of education and executive education, such as his recent work with University Academy 92. Underpinning John’s coaching and mentoring expertise is his experience as a professional sports coach and coach educator. John holds numerous UK national governing body coaching awards. Being a level 4 qualified coach, John has coached The FA England Partially Sighted National Football Squad to a world ranking of third. John has also coached elite children between the ages of 8 and 18 within boys, girls and disability performance environments within the UK. In addition, John has coached and mentored children and adults within grassroots clubs both in the UK and USA. Further supporting John’s executive coaching and mentoring is his experience as a strategist and business leader. John is a successful business owner, having established his growing consultancy, Summitpeople Ltd. John has been a CEO for an award-winning County Football Association and Regional Manager and National Manager for the Football Association. He successfully achieved continual performance improvement through the education and skilful mentoring of many senior leaders within The Football Association and County Football Associations in the UK. “I have been working with John for several months on a 1 to 1 basis. He is able to connect quickly with clients and provide insightful and professional coaching relevant to the environment I currently work within. It’s without doubt I have developed my thinking and leadership qualities from the experience so far.” (Liam Sweeting, Sporting Director, MK Dons Football Club) Finally, John is also a scholar; he believes in a growth mindset and the human drive for self-actualisation. Further, he uses this belief to establish relational and engaging learning environments where individuals can grow and discover for themselves. John uses these beliefs to inform his own continual growth. John’s research to date includes, leadership, coaching and mentoring and inclusive education. John has helped me become more self aware, expand my thinking and unlock extra (hidden) potential. I love our regular sessions as we shape and evolve my personal development plan. Leading can often be lonely and isolating, so these sessions are critical to me. Thanks for everything to date John, I'm truly grateful and look forward to what lies ahead. (David Brindley, CEO, Bidpath)

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alder grange school

Lancs.

Our school is a unique and special place. There is a real sense of family and community within the school. Alder Grange is a school where everybody is inspired to be the best they can, where excellence is nurtured by everybody and a community in which everybody cares. Our desire is to successfully develop the whole child. We place considerable emphasis on developing the foundations of personal achievement; their emotional and physical health and well-being, their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, creativity and individuality. Our intention is to help our young people grow to become outstanding, independent, resilient and effective citizens in an uncertain, global 21st Century world. We strive to deliver a personalised curriculum alongside a rich offer of extra-curricular activities, enrichments and life skills for all our students. Naturally, academic progress and attainment are also extremely important to us, and you will find our results reflect this. This is due to a total commitment to excellent teaching and learning by a highly skilled and dedicated staff, constantly reflecting upon and developing their own practice. Many members of staff are former pupils. Our school is inclusive in nature and values young people of all abilities from year 7 to year 13. We encourage them to care for one another and the school, to work as a team and to take on leadership roles. There is also a genuine care for and partnership with the young people in our care and their families. Our current priorities in school include a focus on wellbeing, particularly mental health for both staff and pupils. The development of a curriculum intent that ensures all pupils are able to develop their knowledge and passions is taking place within all subject areas in school. During the seven years our pupils are with us they are given the skills and access to opportunities needed to make the next steps in to their adult lives. As a school we are never quite satisfied and build ongoing self-evaluation in to the school calendar to allow us to constantly review and reflect on our practice in order to improve. Alder Grangers are rightly proud of their school and our often repeated phrase, ‘once an Alder Granger always an Alder Granger,’ reflects the strength of feeling our young people have for their school. I have been a member of staff at Alder Grange since 1998 and I feel immensely proud and privileged to be Headteacher. I love the school and am passionate about ensuring it continues to go from strength to strength. You would be welcome to visit and see our wonderful school in action at any time.

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early intervention aberdeen

Aberdeen

Lara Goldie is a dedicated and passionate Speech and Language Therapist and mother to 4 young children. She has a BS in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, and a Master's Degree in Communication Disorders and she is fully certified in the United Kingdom and the United States (CCC-SLP, MRCSLT, and HCPC-cert) and has 12 years of post graduate experience. Lara has worked in a variety of settings including Early Intervention, hospitals, Schools and voice clinics. She is skilled at treating a wide range of speech, language and voice disorders. Lara has worked extremely hard in her education and training in order to understand communication difficulties and to know the most efficient way to treat them. She is committed to providing current, research-based, and effective treatment and it brings great satisfaction for her to be a part of someone's journey to improve. linda Linda Lumsden is a local business woman and mother to 4 children, she became one of the United Kingdom’s youngest entrepreneurs, at the age of 18 with the assistance of the Princes Scottish youth business trust. She has owned and operated her businesses for over 21 years. In the late 1990s - early 2000s, She was one of three entrepreneurs involved in a Scottish government initiative “Think Business” which was part of the secondary education curriculum to inspire the next generation of Scottish entrepreneurs. Linda has a BA (Hons) degree in Law and Management and various SVQs and HND units in Business, Law and Childcare, She recently completed a Post Graduate certificate in Autism and Practice and is currently in her final year studying a Masters in Education at The University of Aberdeen. Her final research project is focussed on Pathalogical Demand Avoidance (PDA). Linda was deprived of schooling at the age of 14, when she was failed by the education system. She also has vast experience navigating the local authorities social care system following her brothers aquired brain damage. One of Lindas sons is twice exceptional and has an Autism Spectrum Condition diagnosis. His progress since working with Lara at the age of two has been phenomenal. The lack of funded support and services offered to improve the life chances of neurodivergent children, particulary those considered to be at the high functioning end of the spectrum, has given her the determination to help empower other families in similar circumstances. amanda Amanda Nicolson is a dedicated and passionate Social Care Professional with substantial experience at senior management level and comes with a proven track record managing large services and staff teams. Amanda started her career in care homes for the elderly as a Carer. She also has vast experience working with various vulnerable groups including children and adults with learning disabilities, the elderly and those with mental health challenges. Amanda is passionate about quality service provision, social justice and meaningful inclusion. Amanda met Linda while they were both studying at university. They both believe that everyone can flourish if they are given the support and resources to access the same opportunities that many of us can take for granted. Amanda has a BA (Hons) degree in Law and Management where she opted for modules that were relevant to her work experience including Child Care Law. She also has various SVQs and HND units in Business, Law, Health and Social Care. Amanda is currently studying several courses covering health and wellbeing topics at the Open University. Michelle Blake is a self-employed neurodivergent counsellor/coach with extensive experience working with neurodiversity. Michelle has lived experience of being both Autistic and ADHD as well as having children who are Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic, and hearing impaired as well as a deep theoretical understanding of both ASD and ADHD. Michelle’s professional background includes working as a counsellor/coach primarily within educational settings specifically working with students who are neurodivergent. In 2013 she co-founded a Social Enterprise Company specialising in delivering Ecotherapy projects outdoors, supporting neurodivergent clients to access green space. The projects developed through Michelle’s love of research when she identified that ‘those who are more active in natural spaces have a greater sense of wellbeing and have lower rates of depression and anxiety (www.mind.org.uk/ecominds). All her work centres around her core passion for supporting and advocating on behalf of neurodivergent individuals and their right to be included. Michelle has an Honours Degree in Person-Centred Counselling as well as being a qualified Clinical Supervisor and is BACP registered. She has recently completed her PG Cert in Autism and Learning at the University of Aberdeen and is currently completing her PG Cert in ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Conditions. Once finished Michelle plans to complete her Master’s degree with a research project on Autism and ADHD

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tracey duncan taking care of training

Developing a blended approach to training As a child I dreamed of having a relationship as you saw in the films, galloping along a beach, tackless, with the wind in my hair in complete harmony with my horse. As I grew up I followed many horsemen/whisperers and played with the riding school horses in my own way. I fell in love with a new arrival that was on trial; he was proving way too much for riding school customers and was going to be sent back. I pleaded with the owner of the school and she said "I’ll give you a chance to turn him around". He was about 6 years old and I was about 13 years old at the time, and he’s only just retired from the riding school at the grand old age of 30. He was one of her best ponies. From this I went on to riding the neighbour’s horses, and this is where I caught the eventing bug. I went to an Agricultural College and gained a First Diploma, National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and BSC in Equine Sports Performance, as well as gaining my BHS Stage 3 and PTT. Alongside my degree I was working for top international Eventer Francis Whittington. I have always been interested in good horsemanship, but my current horse, Woo, is the reason that I now believe in it being the most effective way of communicating with horses. Woo was bought from a dealer’s yard – chosen in part for her undeniable jumping talent, but also because I couldn’t bear to see how unhappy she was on that yard. She had a look in her eye that said “Don't leave me here”. The nerves of the dealer’s groom when asked to show her and her skittish manner should have been the warning signs that this was not an 'easy' horse, not to mention that the dealer had said I would be her 5th home this month! After I got Woo home, it was very apparent as to why the groom had dreaded riding her so much. Not only was she 'crazy' to ride, she was just as dangerous on the ground, both when led and in her stable. All of my trainers at the time advised me to have her put down or to sell her (if I could!) because she was so dangerous, but something inside me knew that she was misunderstood. I could sense that she didn't want to react in the way she did all the time. I found a form of horsemanship that helped micro manage her, but I wanted more. After attending a Horsemanship event in 2009, I haven't looked back. It gave me the direction and tools to build a meaningful relationship with Woo. She is now the best partner I could have ever dreamed of. She has gone from a horse that I was advised to put to sleep due to her being so dangerous, to my best friend and soulmate; she has toured the UK with me demonstrating our partnership. She's gone from physically shaking in a show jumping arena and stopping at fences to loving show jumping and being a great team member for the local riding club, and is successful at British Eventing. For me good horsemanship has become more than something to turn to in order to resolve problem. I have found it a more effective foundation for any horse’s training. I believe good horsemanship is the best way to start and to develop any horse's training. It can help whether you want to learn how to understand your horse better, enjoy your horse more (and that could mean having a horse that loads easily), stands still to mount, jump whatever you ask, being calmer at shows, or if you want to ride bareback and bridleless. I am passionate about good horsemanship and competition and enjoy the two becoming one. I have spent the best part of a year over in the USA, learning and developing myself as a horseman and teacher. I continue to strive to be better each day as a horseman and instructor My approach starts with listening and reading your horse, identifying what are they trying to tell you, and what do they need from us for the partnership to grow. How can we adapt the way we are with them so they are happy and you can have a harmonious relationship.

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nina cooke business growth mentoring

Hi, I am Nina Cooke. I’m a Mindset Coach for entrepreneurs. I help entrepreneurs breakthrough limiting beliefs to achieve their business goals, to create more impact & make more money. I’m a coach for business owners who have internal blocks around growing their business. My superpower is DIGGING DEEP to find the root cause of why they’re struggling. And then showing them how they can clear out their resistance. So they can charge their value, serve a wider and deeper audience, and have easier relationships. I get a huge kick out of seeing my clients have a 180 degree turnaround – from looking to the outside world for the solution to their business struggles to looking within themselves and finding the answer. And then they experience richer, freer, and easier lives which is a bigger result than they signed up for. (And they aren’t complaining 🙂 ). And I’d love for you to have that, too I know you’re a busy business owner and don’t have much time to work on yourself . Which is why my coaching doesn’t require you to carve out any prep or homework time. All changes happen within the sessions. And you make the changes deep within your subconscious, so you don’t have to use will power or effort to keep the changes in place – they’re permanent. Here’s what Linda has to say after working with me: “I loved working with you, Nina. The work that we did together was the most transformational of any work that I have done with anybody – ever. It went way beyond mere concepts, and answered the toughest question I have run across to date – how do I change my limiting beliefs? The change that you facilitated is at such a deep level, and affected the ‘me’ that I am, to such a degree that I quickly ‘became’ the change that we created. With that kind of freedom, I’m excited about how much fun and success I will be experiencing as I keep on stepping out to grow my business.” – Linda Flynt Why I started to coach people like you I’ve always been curious why some people are courageous and see a world of opportunities, while others are fearful and see a world of limitations. I trained in NLP and hypnotherapy to sort out my own fearful stuff and find my courage. But my life changed when I bumped into Morty Lefkoe because he showed me how to clear out my limiting beliefs that had kept me small and fearful. A couple of years after training with Morty, I worked with a successful business owner. I’d known her for quite a while and I’d always thought things were going really well for her. However, she was frustrated because her business wasn’t growing the way she wanted it to. She thought it was because she kept hiring the wrong team, when really it was something internal keeping her stuck. Since then, from the many conversations I’ve had with successful, but stuck, business owners, I’ve seen, time and time again, that one of the biggest reasons they’re struggling to grow is this: They believe it’s something practical, something that’s going on out there in the world (virtual or in-house teams, systems, etc), when actually it’s an inside job, something in their head they’re doing unconsciously. Working with business owners on a one-to-one basis allows me to go deep and help them breakthrough their hidden blocks so they can build a deeply satisfying and fulfilling business. My favourite things (in this order): My family – especially when we’re sitting round the table enjoying my husband’s delicious food (I bought him a cookery course for his birthday – best money I ever spent). My friends – I’m grateful to live in friendly Saffron Walden. Green tea (I carry my green tea bags in my handbag, just in case) – in my favourite giant-sized plain white mug. Yoga – it’s hard work but I know it’s doing some good 🙂 Knitting – I picked up my needles after 12 years, encouraged by Ann, my patient knitting mentor and friend. I’m excited to see my stripey jumper grow day by day! Meet Eddie. His favourite things (in this order): Long walks – particularly if squirrels and rabbits are around. Swimming – he likes to swim in circle, barking. He looks crazy, but he’s happy. Food (especially his favourite snack, a juicy sausage, after a long walk)

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darryl syms music

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13, with no prior experience on any other instrument. I lived in the UK at this time, and was inspired by my former guitar teacher to take up the instrument. I was very lucky to be guided in talented hands, and continuously inspired and challenged to strive for success as a musician. I remember taking every opportunity outside of school classes to hang out and watch my teacher and his best students, I found it memorising and inspiring. Within the first couple years of playing I was sure that I wanted to pursue music as a career. Through my teen-hood I would be practicing anywhere up to 10hrs a day, taking my guitar everywhere that I went. I did this for nothing more than the enjoyment it gave me. Around 16 during the early growth of YouTube I felt inspired to get my hands on a camera. For a few years I had to pinch my parents in secret (sorry Dad) since I couldn’t afford my own. I quickly grew to enjoy the art of video production, which compliments audio production like sand does the ocean. I posted a handful of YouTube videos at the time but I was extremely self critical and scared of what others might think, so it was never long before I took the videos down and re-did them over and over. It took me a few years to get over the barrier of self-confidence, and when I eventually began to accept myself for who I was I would post very occasional videos and considered my YouTube channel to be a portfolio of my own achievements. This “portfolio” didn’t receive much recognition at all, but it helped greatly when I decided to create a website and advertise for guitar lessons in my city. I quickly became quite established as a guitar teacher because unlike 99% of other teachers, I had video proof that I could play guitar and people found that inspiring. As adulthood approached me I was lucky enough to have a range of career opportunities to choose from, but my heart was always set on playing the guitar as a career, somehow. This was understandably a bit disappointing for my family because they saw my academic potential and hoped that I would strive for a more “reliable” and “stable” career. It certainly would have been easier that way in some regards, but I took the hard route because I just can’t resist a good challenge and I saw no alternatives to my primary passion. Teaching seemed like the easiest and most accessible way to make money, but as a newbie on the scene it wasn’t nearly enough for me to buy a car, pay rent, and endure the costly life of an adult. I took a job in retail and booked my guitar students around that. Cycling was my method of commuting everywhere, and cycling through steep hilly terrain on a single-speed bike with a guitar on your back is no fun, trust me.. but it had to be done! Despite the challenges, I worked incredibly hard to deliver the best job that I could to my students. After years of perseverance I finally had enough students to quit retail, and I had a car which saved so much time on transport. With the extra time I could reinvest it into my own practice, and create YouTube videos again… oh and surfing. Whilst I’d love to talk all about my surfing experience/career, you’re not here for that so let’s just say that for a few years hereafter I was just cruisin’. During this time I also worked in two high schools as a guitar teacher. In 2018 one of my YouTube videos got significantly more exposure than usual, and consequently I quickly reached 1000 subscribers – this was an incredible achievement for me! “Making it” on YouTube was always a ridiculously farfetched dream of mine, but it was at this point that I realised that – maybe it doesn’t have to be a dream. Fast forward to now, my YouTube channel has over 35,000 subscribers and over 3,000,000 views! I’ve created my own successful online guitar school with students across 60+ countries, worked and collaborated with a number of industry leading brands, and done session work for a mixture of clients both live and in studio. It’s been a tough ride, but a fun one!

agilehub

It’s simple. We love Agile. We live and breathe agility. We know the benefits and we want everyone to have them! We want to give you access to Agile learning, so that you can absorb all the skills, techniques, principles and practices you can find here on AgileHub. Learning Agile is a journey that we invite you to join us on. It is an ever- evolving field, striving to continuously improve and add to our previous skills and knowledge. It is simultaneously challenging and rewarding and there are often surprising benefits to engaging on this path! OUR MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE TEAM AT A TIME! WE WANT TO MAKE WORKPLACES MORE ENJOYABLE AND FULFILLING AND HELP ORGANISATIONS TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE AND EMPOWERING LEARNING CULTURE. WE WANT TO MAKE AGILE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. Whether you are just starting out on your Agile journey or you lots of Agile experience, you will be aware of the range of Agile learning, training and certification options you have available to you. We are here to support you through your learning, so that you can help us on our mission of ridding the world of boring workplaces!

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