My journey at Your Voice Counts

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, listened to and able to grow and we’re proud to employ people with lived experience of the services we provide.

For us, inclusion goes far beyond making reasonable adjustments and a key part of our approach is our Inclusion Support Worker role. This is a role that we introduced to make sure our colleagues with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism get tailored support so they can thrive in their roles.

Sarah joined us in this position last year, rebuilding her confidence and developing new skills after some time away from employment. Since then, she has moved into a new job within Your Voice Counts, showing what’s possible when the right support and opportunities are in place. Here, she shares her story:

"I began my journey at YVC having been off work for approximately one year. When I was offered the position of Inclusion Support Worker, it was part-time as I felt I needed more time to move into longer hours.

"I started as an Inclusion Support Worker and expected my confidence to be low and for me to feel anxious and tired. However when I began working, I started to feel more comfortable and more like myself again. The nerves I thought I would have diminished and I felt confident and competent again within my role. The longer I worked at YVC the more my confidence and ability grew and I began to feel like my old self again. I had not expected to feel this way and as such decided that I wanted to take on a new challenge.

"When I started my role was split between supporting staff with lived experience at YVC and supporting staff with lived experience within the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training team. I hadn’t delivered training for quite some time and again expected that I would struggle and find this too difficult however that was not the case. I flourished and my confidence began to build even more.

"With positive feedback from both of my managers, I felt like I had finally found the role that I had been looking for. So when the opportunity arose and a Senior Facilitating Trainer post became available, I applied. I was thrilled to be selected for the role and moved into this position in late February.

"Since moving into my new position, I have continued to work on myself both personally and professionally and feel in a better place than ever. The support from my managers and relaxed atmosphere has helped me significantly. I continue to feel good in my role and feel supported and appreciated."

Sarah’s story highlights the impact of the right support, opportunities and inclusive culture in helping people rebuild confidence and progress in their careers and we're delighted to have her on our team.