Andrea Bridges Smith public
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A Very Special Relationship is the natural-ish culmination of hundreds of years of British-American foreign relations. British comedian Matt Johnston from The Interesting Times and American comedian Andrea Bridges-Smith from The Fenix News Network join forces to ask each other, what the bloody hell is going on over on your side of the pond? If there's one thing both our proud nations have in common, it's that our politicians are nuts!
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The Expanding Worlds podcast Shares Stories and Shares Solutions to expand what people believe is possible. We talk to individuals and organisations who are driving change to enable people with Additional Needs to live the independent lives they aspire to.
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When opportunities aren’t available, sometimes we need to create them. That is part of the reason that Little Gate came about. In this episode Andrea Randall-Smith, CEO of Little Gate, shares the history and ethos of the organization and how they work to change the future of the young people they serve by giving them to skills to move into paid wor…
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In this episode, I share my journey of navigating parental fears and learning to trust my daughter's abilities. Despite her successful year in her job, my unspoken concerns about her future surfaced, impacting her more than I realized. This episode reflects on how difficult it is not to let our fears limit our children’s potential. I also talk abou…
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Every journey starts somewhere, and for most of us, it starts at home with those closest to us, encouraging us, and believing in us. In this week’s episode with Laura Davis from BASE we discuss the important role families play in shaping the future outcomes of children. We discuss the challenges of navigating the support available and the role of s…
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Collaboration can speed up change, but it requires coordination and management to make that happen. This week’s guest Laura Davis, Chief Executive of the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) knows all about this. In this episode, she not only shares her personal journey but also discusses the pivotal role BASE plays in championing em…
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Having more opportunities for paid work for young people with additional needs relies on finding more employers to offer those opportunities. In this episode Andrea Randall-Smith from Little Gate explains the strategies they use to manage the relationships with the employers they work with to ensure more of these opportunities become available. She…
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In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of structured planning for children with additional needs and having short, medium and long-term plans for various aspects of their life around daily living, purpose, relationships, and finance. This ensures not only continuous progress but is also better preparation for their futures. A good plan h…
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We all want good neighbors but of course what makes a good neighbor differs for everyone. In this second part of a conversation with Ann Wilkinson from WeBUILT we talk about how they have built a neighborhood where people look out for each other when they need to. Ann explains how the focus on choice, predictability and autonomy has helped to reduc…
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When we live in a place that we like everything else is made just that bit easier. But sometimes finding that place can seem an impossible task. In this episode I’m sharing one family’s journey to find that place for their son. My guest is Ann Wilkinson from WeBUILT who shares her story from exploring various options and realizing these didn't fit …
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Self-employment is viable option, but it becomes even more so when there is clear evidence of how well it can work. In this episode Sam Everard, founder and CEO of Samee Charity shares some examples of where young people with additional needs have created great businesses based not only on their skills but also on their passions and often, because …
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One way into paid employment is to work for yourself and that’s the focus of this episode with Sam Everard, founder and CEO of Samee Charity. She discusses the organization's mission to support young people with additional needs into becoming self-employed. Sam also discusses the barriers, how to address these, and what supporting someone into self…
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In this solo episode, I discuss what independence really means for young people like my daughter. Is it just about having the skills to do more for herself or are there other things that she should have the opportunities to consider? I discuss this using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory as a way to structure my thoughts on whether or not it's eno…
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Learning new things, having new experiences and giving back to our community build self-confidence and self-esteem. However, to often people with additional needs aren’t given the opportunity to do any of these things. In this second part of my conversation with Lex Ali, from Big Life Adventure, we talk about the value in lifelong learning and the …
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For most people one of the great things about becoming an adult is getting to make their own life choices, dreaming about what they want to do, and making decisions about how their life will look now and in the future. But for many people with additional needs these opportunities aren’t easily available. In this episode my guest Lex Ali from Big Li…
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Breaking down the barriers to inclusive employment opportunities is proving to be a challenge. But progress is being made and what that looks like is one of the things I’m discussing in this week’s episode with my guest Vinny De Falco from Think Forward. We talk about the programs that Think Forward have previously run, what they learned from those…
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The transition from education to employment for young people with additional needs requires planning in order to be effective. In this episode with Vinny De Falco from Think Forward we talk about the importance of early transition planning and how a structured and supportive transition program with personalized coaching can help young people develo…
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This week we go inside Michael Cohen's testimony in the Trump trial, discuss red lines on Rafah, and end things with a bit of hope! Do you remember hope? It's that feeling like good stuff might happen? We used to have it a long time ago? Anyone? Check out Matt's channel @theinterestingtimesuk for more from Britain!…
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The use of technology is embedded into our work lives and for people with additional needs it is often assistive technology that enables them to do their job. But often the right technology is not in place or provided by employers and that is one of the topics discussed in this episode of the podcast with my guest in this week’s episode Alex Barker…
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When we think of assistive technology or any technology that can support our young people with additional needs to become more independent, we often start at the point of thinking it could be expensive or complicated to learn to use. But the reality is that today the first bit of assistive technology that our young people should access is their pho…
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First of all, let us very clearly state: WE ARE PRO-PUPPIES. Now that that's out of the way, election news from both sides of the pond, and we take a deep dive into campaign emails from the UK vs the US! They are...VERY DIFFERENT. For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesu…
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When we think of community, we first think about the friendship element of being around other people. But there is more to being part of a community than just that. When we become part of a community, we have the opportunity to learn from those around us. These are the other benefits of being in a community. And why this is such an important part o…
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Community is defined as people with common interests living in a particular area but in reality, it’s less about location and more about belonging, about connection and feeling part of something. In this episode, my guest is Sarah Towler and the organization we are talking about is CASPA which does all of these things and more. CASPA stands for Com…
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This week, Trump's in court, Liz is prattling on about the deep state, and Nigel and Suella get the boot in Brussels! What does the next election hold? We'll give you a hint! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: https://www…
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Every day we all do the same things the same way because it’s these habits that make it easier to live our lives. Habits are just skills we have that we use over and over again and for my daughter with additional needs, all the skills she has built over time are now habits that allow her to live more independently. Those skills she has like cooking…
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The barriers to employment for young people with additional needs are high but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible as this week’s episode shows. In part 2 of my conversation with Adam and Deb, Adam talks about his experience of work and why his current role is working for him. Adam believes it comes down to the right support at the right time and m…
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Sharing our stories helps us realize we are not alone. Hearing someone else’s story can also be a great way to learn new ideas we can use in our own family’s lives. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of Adam and his family. My guests are Adam, and his mother Deb. Adam talks about moving schools from a mainstream school to a specialist school as…
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We should all have the right to choose how we live our lives, even if that means taking risks and making mistakes. But too often people with additional needs aren’t being given opportunities to take risks and to learn from their mistakes. My guest this week Carol Smail shares her experiences of the impact this lack of choice has, as well as what ca…
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Brother, can you spare a...lot? We explore how American healthcare can be performed with a few basic office supplies, and we settle the question of whether Kate Middleton is a cyborg working with Obama to destabilize the globe! (Spoiler alert: no! That was easy!) For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.…
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Finding friends with common interests can be difficult for anyone and for young people with additional needs it is often more challenging because their social network is smaller. That is why projects like Gig Buddies are so important as my guest in this episode Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney explains. Carol not only talks about the vision behi…
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Too often low expectations for people with additional needs have translated into fewer opportunities, particularly when it comes to paid employment. For change to happen, around work, more employers are needed which means employers will need to change their attitude toward employing people with a disability. But what is also necessary is a change i…
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Inclusive employers change the future for our children, but there simply isn’t enough of them. In this episode with Peter Bacon, CEO of Disability Employment Australia, I’m discussing why this is the case, and what actions could be taken to get more employers to become inclusive employers. Is some form of legal framework necessary, as Peter suggest…
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This week we take a fond look back at CPAC, a look ahead at our career prospects as House speaker, and sideways at Lee Anderson and some other politicians that have been behaving badly! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: …
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On this week's episode, there's lots of news afoot! Trump's quaking in his boots over legal fees, but will he inspire other world leaders to try and fill his shoes? For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: https://www.youtube.c…
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This week, we discuss all things Super Bowl! (And by that, we mean jigsaw puzzles!) Plus, revenge is a dish best served with a side of prawns! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: https://www.youtube.com/@fenixnewsnetwork…
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Immigration is front and center, but what about the Taylor Swift psyop? Plus, a complete breakdown in British-American relations with one cup of tea! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: https://www.youtube.com/@fenixnewsne…
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Election updates from the US while a waterlogged UK prays for Rishi's ouster! Plus, a baby duck recipe to calm you right down! It's the season premiere - let's go! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network: https://www.youtube.co…
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In this final episode of this Finance Future series, I’m talking to Graham Caldow about the value of giving financial independence gradually and building financial skills over time. We discuss the things that have worked for our family including multiple accounts and tracking spending. Finance is just one part of our legacy to our daughter but in l…
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Planning for the future is difficult when restrictions exist around how much money you're allowed to save. In this episode with Jill Cornfield, I’m discussing how ABLE accounts can help mitigate this restriction and enable people to think longer-term and plan their financial future. ABLE National Resource Centre Follow us on Instagram/Facebook @exp…
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Managing our own money is challenging. The temptation to spend is never far away and we need tools and techniques that can help us make the right choices most of the time. In this second part of my conversation with Karen Hassett from PATF we are focusing on some ways to help our young people develop those money habits that will help them make bett…
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Suellla's out, David's back, Markwayne is an actual name, and Marjorie Taylor Greene is the voice of reason?!?! It's the season finale of AVSR, so enjoy this one il we're back in January! For more, check us out on YouTube: Matt Johnston's The Interesting Times: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterestingtimesuk Andrea Bridges-Smith's Fenix News Network…
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Getting started on developing any plan can be a challenge but when it comes to our finances we can often get stuck at the first step. In this episode with Karen Hassett from PATF we talk about how to get started by thinking about a decision-making process when it comes to money and using simple ideas like tracking spending and identifying prioritie…
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