Episode #7 Laura Yates is a community producer for an arts programme covering Bootle, Sefton, and Crosby Libraries, aptly named, Human Libraries. She talks of the many arts, domestic and nature initiatives they’ve organised and run for the community and how much they worked to assist so many areas of Liverpool, during Lockdown and beyond. She discusses the challenges and highlights of their numerous projects and the ways in which the people they serve have benefitted.

Episode #6 Listen to Kyle Dowling, a pub landlord who talks about the challenges he faced personally and professionally from the beginning of the pandemic. From a tough start of having to close down his pub, he turned everything around for himself and shares a number of solutions for anyone who has found themselves struggling with isolation and unemployment. Kyle also talks about the crucial role the local pub plays within any community and how he managed to keep that ethos front and center, even when his doors were closed. 

Episode #5 John McGlone speaks about the challenges of homelessness, and not just the obvious problems but also the tricky issue of what to do with your pets! John discusses the ways in which he believes civic services everywhere, unfortunately, fail those who need them the most, even when that isn’t ever their intention. He offers a wealth of life experience and discusses the importance of the voluntary and charity sectors to those who find themselves on the streets.

Episode #2 Listen to Harry Georgiou CEO and Rupert Pearce Co-Founder talk about their social enterprise ‘6% And Rising’, which was started during the pandemic, 6% and Rising aims to get more disabled people into the job market with the strapline “Building a future where individuals with disabilities can succeed in employment based on their passion and ability” you can hear them talk passionately about how much it allowed them to channel their anger in response to some pretty terrible statistics around the lack of disabled people in the UK workforce today. They also discuss their plans to expand it beyond the North West into other areas of the UK and beyond.

Episode #4 Sophie Gallagher, a young woman with an unusual but very inspirational lockdown journey. She’s Chair of MENCAP Members Voice and has come a long way since March 2020, helping other MENCAP associates navigate the online world of Zoom, keeping everyone busy with quizzes and games and even working with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, helping them better understand ways of communicating with people with learning difficulties. 

Episode #1 with Michelle Walters, she talks about the reason behind switching careers, from law to business and launching her own podcast, ‘Talk On To Walk On’, along the way. She discussed Timebanking, a project aiming to tackle social isolation and talks about using her struggles with anxiety to connect with people. She also highlights the importance of taking small steps to make significant changes and opening up the conversation on mental health and the power that conversation can bring.

You can catch up on Talk On To Walk On Here.

Episode #3 Andrea Woods talks about her role as Operations Manager in Sefton New Directions. When Lockdown came into effect, they began collating as much Government information about the pandemic as they could, in order to better educate the vulnerable people, they serve. Andrea talks about the way the pandemic changed the way Sefton New Directions adapted and supported the learners and some of the most at-risk people in Liverpool.

The intro episode gives you a snapshot of the contributors of our Covid and I podcast, we hope you can feel the positive vibes of this uplifting podcast

We would like to thank all those who contributed to the podcast to make it happen 

 Hosts: 

Arthur Bowling 
Paul English
James Sanders
Jo Bruce 

Guests:

Michelle Walters host or podcast ‘Talk On To Walk On’
Harry Georgiou, CEO at 6% and Rising and Rupert Pearce Co-Founder of 6% and Rising
Andrea Woods Setting New Directions
Sophie Gallagher, Chair of Mencap Members Voice
John McGlone, Motivational Speaker and Homelessness Campaigner
Kyle Dowling, Pub Landlord and Entrepreneur
Laura Yates, Producer, Human Libraries 

 Producer: Ngunan Adamu

Creative Lives is a registered charity that was established in 1991. We champion  community and volunteer-led creative activity, and work to improve opportunities for  everyone to be creative. In particular, we celebrate and promote people expressing  themselves creatively with others, recognising the benefits this can bring. 

Creative Lives support and encourage people to be creative in their everyday  lives, find out more by visiting www.creative-lives.org

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Timebanking UK and the Richmond Fellowship to support people in Merseyside express themselves creatively and learn real skills about podcasting making and the media.