Turn your inclusion goals into real, practical change
Training and consultancy for organisations who want to build inclusive workplaces for
neurodivergent people and people with a learning disability led by people with lived experience.
Turn your inclusion goals into real, practical change
Training and consultancy for organisations who want to build inclusive workplaces for autistic people and people with learning disabilities – led by people with lived experience.
Our approach
Intention is a start.
Action is what changes things.
When you want your organisation to be more inclusive, it's not always clear where to start, what meaningful action looks like, or how to avoid well-intentioned work that doesn't actually change anything.
That's where we come in.
Your Voice Counts helps organisations turn intention into action – with practical training and consultancy, co-designed and delivered by people with lived experience of a learning disability and those who are neurodivergent.
What We Offer
Choose from any of our
Training & support Options
★ Discounted rates available for VCSE organisations – contact us to discuss
SUPPORT
Inclusion Checklist
FREE
A simple self-assessment to help you reflect on how inclusive your workplace, services and communication really are.
CONSULTANCY
Inclusion Health Check
Contact Us
A bespoke consultation to identify barriers and give you clear, practical next steps.
SUPPORT
Easy Read Support
Contact us
Guidance and training to make your information accessible and inclusive for everyone.
TRAINING
Inclusion Training
From £895
Tailored training to help your teams hire, retain and support employees with a learning disability and neurodivergent people, and build a more inclusive culture.
TRAINING
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
From £895
Accredited training to help health and social care organisations meet required standards.
Why it works
Built on lived experience, not assumptions
1
Designed and delivered by people with lived experience
2
Focused on what actually changes behaviour, not just awareness
3
Practical, clear and relevant to real workplaces
4
Helps you demonstrate credible, meaningful social value
5
Designed to create lasting change, with follow-up impact reporting available
“Your Voice Counts training has helped make our facilities more inclusive and our communications more accessible so that we can support everyone to improve their own physical and mental health.“
Christine Winch
Community Engagement Officer, South Tyneside Council
Meet the trainers
Learning from people who truly understand
Our training is co-designed and co-delivered by people with lived experience, meaning your team learns directly from people who understand the barriers – and what good looks like in practice.
Expert by Experience
Andrew Halliday
Bio
Coming soon...
Oliver McGowan Trainer
Annette Kooij
Bio
Annette has a background in HR, management, training, coaching and advocacy. She is passionate about equality and making sure people’s voices are being heard and this shines through each training session she delivers.
Expert by Experience
Chloe Doud
Bio
Chloe has worked for Your Voice Counts for almost 10 years, working on a variety of projects including leading on the rollout of our Easy Read services. They have worked as a social worker supporting families. They received an autism diagnosis as an adult and is a wheelchair user, and is passionate about sharing their lived experience to help others.
Expert by Experience
Dave Drummer
Bio
Dave has worked as a quality checker for Your Voice Counts, helping hospitals improve their services for those with a learning disability and autistic people. He has been a co-trainer with the Oliver McGowan team for over two years, sharing his lived experience of learning disability to help health and social care staff make good reasonable adjustments.
Expert by Experience
Dharma Simmons
Bio
Dharma has over 25 years' experience as a trainer, having written and delivered courses on everything from housing law to mindfulness. He received an autism diagnosis several years ago and seeks to bring that lived experience into every aspect of his work with Your Voice Counts.
Inclusion Support Worker
Jacqui Wiley
Bio
Jacqui worked in Primary Care for many years including within Management and Commissioning. Jacqui has experience working with a range of patient groups and services and currently supports the team as an Inclusion Support Worker.
Expert by Experience
Jodie McCarthy
Bio
Jodie has worked or volunteered with Your Voice Counts for over 3 years. She has worked on our Travel Champions project and inputted to care and treatment reviews. Jodie is an Autism Expert Trainer for the Oliver McGowan team as well as YVC's own range of Neurodivergence training.
Oliver McGowan Trainer
Kate Murphy
Bio
Kate has worked in education as a one-to-one Learning Support Assistant to autistic children. She also supports Your Voice Counts clients in Gateshead and seeks to use this experience and understanding to support the delivery of our training.
Expert by Experience
Leah Kennedy
Bio
Leah is Head of Communities at YVC, with over 10 years' experience designing and delivering impactful training. Her background spans professional sport, community development and co-production. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, Leah is passionate about helping people understand neurodiversity, challenge barriers, and empower individuals with ADHD to recognise and realise their potential.
Expert by Experience
Midnight Memphis
Bio
Coming soon...
Expert by Experience
Ricky Richardson
Bio
Coming soon...
Expert by Experience
Ricky Usher
Bio
Ricky has worked or volunteered with Your Voice Counts for over 4 years. His roles have included peer support, inputting to care and treatment reviews as well as training delivery for the Oliver McGowan team. Ricky shares lived experience of learning disability and autism as well as being a family carer.
Oliver McGowan Trainer
Sarah Southerton
Bio
Sarah has worked within nursing and social care and supports the team as a Senior Facilitating Trainer. Sarah has experience in supporting people with lived experience and brings her experience within these roles into training.
Expert by Experience
Shaun Armour
Bio
Shaun has worked for Your Voice Counts for almost a decade. He is a Commissioning Officer for Sunderland & South Tyneside, chairs the Workforce Expert Advisory Group with Skills for Care and is a Senior Expert Trainer. He has a learning disability diagnosis and brings that lived experience into all his work with Your Voice Counts.
Ready to take the next step?
Let's move forward together
Whether you're starting your inclusion journey or looking to build on existing work, we can help you take meaningful action with clarity and confidence.
Visit Our Main Website
Your Voice Counts – inclusion powered by lived experience
Tel: 0191 478 6472 (freephone: 0300 303 1248)
Email: mail@yvc.org.uk (secure email: yvc.uk@nhs.net)
Registered Charity No. 1125719. Company limited by guarantee No. 6654142.
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