Shoulder to Shoulder by With-you

Send us Fan MailIn this honest and thoughtful episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Ciara, a peer support leader, trainer and activist from Ireland, whose own experience of trauma, distress and trying to find the right support has shaped the way she now works with others. Ciara manages Solace Café in Dublin, an out-of-hours crisis prevention service built around lived experience, connection and compassion. In this conversation, she reflects on growing up in difficult circumstances, struggling with fear, shame and substance use, and spending years in systems that often left her feeling unheard rather than helped. What changed things was finding spaces where she could speak openly, be heard as a human being, and begin to make sense of what had happened to her. Her story is candid, grounded, deeply human, and speaks powerfully to what peer support can offer when people are properly listened to.In this episode, we explore:✔️ How peer support helps people feel understood, not managed✔️ Why trust, mutuality and human connection matter in recovery✔️ The difference between lived experience and purely clinical support✔️ The challenges peer workers can face inside formal mental health systems✔️ Why honest, compassionate spaces can change the course of someone’s lifeShow NotesConnect with Ciara:http://linkedin.com/in/ciaraglynn1Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Charlie, a peer support worker in an NHS community mental health team, a trainee therapist, and the founder of a growing sober community in Shrewsbury, whose own recovery has shaped the way she now shows up for other people. Charlie speaks openly about a childhood marked by trauma, anxiety, and feeling responsible for everyone else. She talks about first struggling with her mental health as a child, turning to alcohol in her early teens, and the way drinking gave her a false sense of confidence, control and escape. She also reflects on being the first person in her family to go to university, getting sober at 22, and the long, "messy" and unglamorous reality of recovery.  She speaks about therapy, diagnosis, setbacks, self-discovery, and slowly building a life that actually feels like hers. Now five years sober, Charlie uses that lived experience in her work every day. In this conversation, we explore:✔️ How peer support can help people feel seen, understood and less alone✔️ The link between trauma, addiction, mental health and recovery✔️ Why lived experience matters in community mental health services✔️ The difference between clinical support and genuine human connection✔️ How peer workers can stand alongside people, advocate for them, and help rebalance powerShow NotesConnect with Charlie:Insta / Messy Healinghttps://www.instagram.com/charlie_martina_fae?igsh=MWRza3NyaWk1aDdwShrewsbury Soda Club CIC Instahttps://www.instagram.com/shrewsburysodaclub?igsh=eGx3cnRuZHIxMWt1My LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-martina?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_appListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate meets Duncan, who works at Capital in West Sussex, a long-standing, lived-experience-led organisation that has spent nearly 30 years championing peer support, shaping services, and ensuring people’s voices are heard. Duncan brings his own lived experience to the work, having come through psychotic depression and support that, in his words, felt patronising and disconnected from what he actually needed. That experience helped shape a career spent trying to do things differently. In this conversation, he reflects on the value of independent peer support, why lived experience-led organisations matter, and what happens when the services people rely on are suddenly pushed to the brink. With Capital facing devastating funding cuts, this episode becomes not just a conversation about peer support, but about what is lost when systems stop listening to the very people they claim to serve. In this episode, we explore:✔️ How lived experience shaped Duncan’s path into mental health work✔️ Why independent peer support offers something different from statutory services✔️ The role Capital has played in West Sussex for nearly three decades✔️ What happens when lived experience-led organisations are pushed aside by commissioning decisions✔️ Why peer support is so often valued by people in crisis, yet still treated as expendable✔️ The real human cost of funding cuts on staff, services and recovery Find out more about Capital:https://www.capitalimpactsolutions.co.uk/https://www.capitalcharity.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanjmarshall969/Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Naomi Salisbury, whose relationship with peer support has spanned decades, both as someone living with mental health challenges and as a leader working to build better support for others. From advocacy and helpline work to leading a lived experience-led charity, Naomi has spent years at the heart of peer support spaces, especially around self-harm, where understanding, trust and safety matter deeply. In this conversation, she reflects on what good peer support really looks like, why self-harm is so often misunderstood, and what happens when lived experience is treated as an optional extra rather than something essential. She also shares her concerns about underfunding, tokenism and the pressure to force peer support into systems that do not always respect what makes it powerful in the first place.In this episode, we explore:✔️ Naomi’s journey through peer support as both participant and professional✔️ Why peer support can be especially powerful for people who self-harm✔️ How safe, honest peer spaces can hold difficult conversations well✔️ The risks of reducing peer support to a cheap add-on within formal services✔️ What proper investment in lived experience-led work should look like✔️ Naomi’s hopes for the future of peer support in the UK and beyondShow Noteshttps://naomisalisbury.org https://squarepegsuk.substack.com/about Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate is joined by Emma Bamber, co-lead of Cafe Laziz, a peer-led community space supporting asylum seekers and refugees in St Helens.Café Laziz welcomes people who are socially isolated, traumatised, and living with long-term uncertainty, many of whom are survivors of war, displacement, and dangerous journeys. What they find there isn’t assessment or diagnosis, but warmth: a shared meal, routine, kindness, and people who understand. The episode explores why peer-led mental health support works so powerfully in community settings, and how peer support happens naturally when people are given space to connect. Emma talks about food as a universal language, the importance of routine and purpose, and why kindness and consistency can stabilise lives shaped by trauma and uncertainty.We also confront the wider context: misinformation, hostility, protests, and the dehumanisation of asylum seekers. Emma speaks with clarity and compassion about the harm this causes — and the extraordinary solidarity that can emerge in response.At its heart, this is an episode about peer support mental health, not as a service, but as a shared human practice.You’ll hear about:Building peer support through community and foodSupporting asylum seekers living with trauma and isolationWhy shared experience matters more than professional labelsPeer support beyond services and systemsLanguage, belonging, and mental wellbeingChallenging myths about refugees and asylum seekersCommunity as protection against despairWhat hope looks like when people come togetherShow Notes:Cafe Laziz links: https://linktr.ee/cafelazizListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailAt 19, Michael was living with psychosis - hearing voices, seeing things other people couldn’t, and trying to hold himself together while training as a nurse.In this episode, he takes us right into the moment it all collided: on a hospital ward, caring for someone who couldn’t move or speak, while the voices in his head were telling him to end his life. It was the night he lost nursing and, for a while, lost himself too.Michael speaks honestly about what came next: the secrecy, the stigma, the friendships that disappeared, and the deep depression that followed. He also talks about identity, including what it meant to come out as a gay man in Ireland, at a time when shame and silence were already crushing him.But this is also a recovery story - and peer support sits right at the heart of it.Michael explains what personal recovery really means when symptoms don’t just disappear. The daily work. The coping tools. The planning. The small choices that keep you one step ahead. And he shares how peer support works in practice -  not as “telling your story”, but finding the overlap between two lives and building trust from there.We also get into lived experience as knowledge  - why peer work can’t be supervised using a clinical model, and why the heart of peer support is equality, relationship, and real-world connection.Most of all, Michael leaves you with one clear message:Just because you live with psychosis, your life is not over.Listen if you’re interested in: psychosis, voice-hearing, stigma, identity, personal recovery, WRAP, and what peer support looks like when it’s done properly.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this deeply honest episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate is joined by Louise Nix, who reflects on the first moments of peer connection, how they helped her begin to heal, and how they led her into peer support roles.Louise shares her story of growing up with domestic abuse, to surviving an abusive relationship, to reaching a point of despair where life felt unbearable.  She describes how finding faith was a turning point for her, helping to restore a sense of worth and hope at a time when she felt lost.Years later, after the traumatic birth of her first child, Louise experienced postnatal psychosis, a frightening loss of reality followed by compulsory hospitalisation. Upon leaving hospital, there was little space to process what had happened.This is where peer support enters the story. Louise reflects on the first moments of peer connection, felt in the quiet power of another mother offering a cup of tea, listening without judgement, and saying you’re doing okay.  That human connection became the  foundation for healing.As a peer support worker, Louise now sits in the space between patients and professionals — breaking down the “them and us” divide, challenging stigma, and showing that recovery is possible, even after profound crisis.This conversation explores why peer based approaches within mental health services matter so deeply, especially for people who have been traumatised within these services. Louise speaks about peer support as hope in action: “I was where you are, and now I’m here.”You’ll hear about:Surviving postnatal psychosis and inpatient traumaThe lasting impact of restraint and loss of dignityWhy silence and stigma delay recoveryFinding healing through informal and formal peer supportBecoming a peer support worker after lived experiencePeer support as hope, not fixingChallenging the “them and us” culture in mental healthA message of reassurance for anyone who feels afraid or ashamedListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailDr Justin S. Bell is a community psychologist based in the US whose work sits in the intersection between lived experience, research, and system design. Justin studies how those in lived-experience roles are recruited, trained, supported, and too often, undervalued.In this conversation, Justin talks to Cate about what first drew him to his work and why the working conditions for lived-experience professionals matter just as much as the evidence behind their roles.He shares what he’s learned from years of researching peer workforces: what helps them thrive, what leads to burnout, and what organisations get wrong when they try to add peer roles without changing the culture.We explore the state of peer support in the US and Justin reflects on the structural barriers that prevent peer workers from doing the work they’re trained for. Woven through it all is Justin’s belief that recovery isn’t a service, it’s a relationship, and that lived-experience leadership is central to any system that wants to be humane, hopeful and effective.It’s a conversation about evidence, equity, and designing systems that make recovery possible.You’ll hear about:Justin’s journey into community psychology and recovery researchThe realities of peer workforces in the US and what the data showsWorking conditions, burnout, boundaries, and sustainabilityWhat organisations misunderstand about peer rolesWhy evidence alone won’t change systems but culture canLessons from US models that the UK and elsewhere could learn fromHow lived experience reshapes research, practice and leadershipWhat gives Justin hope for the future of peer supportListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate is joined by Hansa Raja, founder of Holding Space - a peer-led mental health support service created by and for parents.Hansa’s journey into peer support began when her child experienced serious mental health challenges, at a time when she was also navigating divorce, exhaustion, and fear.  Like many Parent Carers, Hansa felt blamed rather than listened to - referred to parenting courses instead of offered understanding and support.What changed everything wasn’t a diagnosis or a referral. It was peer support.In this conversation, Hansa explains how searching for one other parent who understood led her to create a small online space grounded in lived experience. That space grew into Holding Space, a Parent Carer peer support service offering connection, validation, and practical support to carers who often felt left to cope alone.We explore why peer support for carers works where traditional services can fall short: because it’s relational, non-judgemental, and rooted in shared experience. Hansa talks about the power of being listened to, the importance of early intervention, and why carers’ voices must be taken seriously if we want better mental health outcomes for children and families.The conversation also looks at the wider system; how parents can sometimes feel pushed to the margins of mental health services, why lived experience can still undervalued, and how peer-led mental health support can sit alongside clinical care rather than often being treated as an afterthought.At its heart, this is an episode about lived experience mental health and why peer support isn’t “extra”, but essential.You’ll hear about:Hansa’s lived experience as a parent and carerFeeling unheard and unsupported by servicesWhy peer support mental health approaches work for carersHow Holding Space grew from one connection into a communityEarly intervention and preventing crisis through peer supportThe emotional toll of caring and why carers need support tooHow peer support can empower parentsListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukThe Parent Lounge:The Parent Lounge is an online community for parents/carers who are navigating life with children and young people of any age.  It is for anyone who is in a caring role or who is on a journey with their child’s emotional and/or mental health.  It is a safe space to come together, meet others on a similar journey, chat, share, connect and be supported. As the community grows we will build resources and share expertise as well as bring in outside speakers. Meetings will be 1x month online via zoom 6-8pm. Access to The Parent Longe is via this link https://hansa.systeme.io/membership-sales-page-bbbd298eListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailAlex was first hospitalised at 16 - and spent much of the next eight years in and out of the same psychiatric unit. By the time she was discharged at 24, she was labelled “clinically recovered” but inside, she felt empty, hopeless, and lost.In this conversation, Alex talks honestly to Cate about the harm she experienced in mental health services, the limits of being treated through diagnosis alone, and what was missing when she needed it most: connection, safety, and people who truly understood.The turning point didn’t come from another intervention. It came when Alex stepped away from services altogether — and began recovering with the support of family, friends, and, crucially, peer support. People who didn’t try to fix them. People who listened. People who believed them.We explore how peer support became the foundation of Alex’s recovery and later, her work. From frontline peer roles to leading peer support services, Alex reflects on what it means to carry lived experience into leadership, the risks of burnout, and the importance of being supported as a peer, not just useful to others.Alex also speaks about parenthood, relapse, and reporting abuse years later - and how peer connection helped them navigate those moments with compassion rather than self-blame.At its heart, this is a conversation about recovery beyond services — and why peer support isn’t an “add-on”, but the thing that makes healing possible.You’ll hear about:Growing up in psychiatric care - and the harm Alex experiencedBeing “clinically recovered” but emotionally abandonedWhy leaving services opened the door to real recoveryWhat makes peer support different - and why it worksUsing lived experience in peer and leadership rolesThe challenges of peer leadership and protecting your own wellbeingMoving from anger to compassionA message of hope for anyone who feels beyond help***CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to sexual abuse/assault, which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care of yourself, and feel free to skip this episode if it's not the right time for you.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a car accident stops life in its tracks — leaving you facing pain, uncertainty, and a future you never imagined?In this powerful episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with José Argudo — husband, new dad, volunteer, and trauma survivor. Just two weeks into a new job, having recently moved house and with a baby on the way, José’s life changed overnight when he was rear-ended by a van on the motorway. The crash left him not only with a broken back, but with ongoing back and knee injuries, daily pain, and the emotional toll of adjusting to a new reality.While José didn’t formally access peer support at the time, he came to realise just how vital it could have been — and how much difference it makes to connect with someone who understands. That realisation led him to volunteer with Day One Trauma Support, turning his experience into hope for others.We discuss:~What it’s like when sudden trauma collides with everyday life — work, home, and family~Recovery, surviving, and the challenge of learning to live again~Guilt, resilience, and fatherhood in the middle of recovery~Why it can sometimes feel easier to open up to a stranger~The “dual purpose” of peer support — giving something back, and receiving in return~How sharing your story can help you heal, and inspire others along the wayWhether you’re at the start of your recovery, supporting a loved one, or working in health and trauma services — José’s story is a moving reminder of why peer support matters, and how hope can grow even in the hardest of times. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukDay Once Trauma Support: https://dayonetrauma.org/Catastrophic injury, resilience, and the role of Day One Trauma in helping survivors rebuild their lives.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailDebbie brings a rare mix of lived experience, professional insight, and deep empathy to the world of suicide prevention. She became a carer at a time when support was scarce, patchy, and hard to navigate — and those early years shaped her determination to make sure other families aren’t left alone in the dark.In this conversation, Debbie talks about the emotional reality of caring for someone at risk of suicide: the fear, the responsibility, and the instinct to hold everything together without breaking. She shares how peer support connected her with other carers who “just get it,” and why the Stronger Together project has become such an anchor for people living through the same pressures.We explore what services often miss — from communication gaps to carers being excluded from decisions — and what needs to change to involve families safely, respectfully, and early. Debbie also reflects on her Churchill Fellowship research, the international models that inspired her, and how much the UK could learn from approaches that genuinely value carers as partners.And for anyone listening who feels isolated, scared or overwhelmed, Debbie offers a grounded, compassionate message: you are not alone, you are not failing, and support is out there. It’s a conversation about courage, connection, and the power of carers supporting carers. You’ll hear about:Debbie’s journey into caring — and how it reshaped her lifeWhy carers’ experiences are vital in suicide preventionWhat Stronger Together offers and why peer spaces matterThe pressure carers carry, and the relief of talking to someone who understandsThe biggest gaps in how services involve familiesLessons from Debbie’s international Churchill FellowshipPractical advice for carers feeling overwhelmedWhat gives her hope — and keeps her going Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailFiona Lobban has spent her life at the intersection of mental health, research, and lived experience. Growing up in the North East, she applied to Oxford “almost on a whim” — and walked straight into a culture shock that left her struggling, isolated, and without support. Her own mental health collapsed during her degree, and she later spent a year working in a drug rehabilitation clinic in Liverpool, witnessing the realities of distress up close.Fiona eventually returned to Oxford, completed her PhD, and trained as a clinical psychologist — but she carried her lived experience in silence, convinced it would count against her. In this conversation, she talks about the cost of that silence, and how it ultimately shaped her work: clinically, academically, and as a researcher committed to co-designing support with the people who use it.We explore her work on peer support, from analysing online forums through the iPOF study to co-creating the Library of Lived Experience — a striking project that captures people’s stories in ways traditional research often can’t. Fiona reflects on the conditions that make peer spaces safe and transformative, the misconceptions that still exist, and why services underestimate just how powerful peer-to-peer connection can be.You’ll also hear her take on what really needs to change in services, how families and peers are too often left out, and what it takes to get policymakers to genuinely listen. And for students or young people who might be where she once was — isolated and unsure where to turn — Fiona offers grounded, compassionate advice.It’s a conversation about voice, courage, and building systems that finally recognise lived experience as expertise.You’ll hear about:Navigating student mental health in an era with little supportWhy lived experience was something Fiona hid — and later embracedWhat co-designed psychosocial support looks like in practiceThe power and limits of peer supportCreating the Library of Lived ExperienceMisconceptions, risks, and designing safe online peer spacesWhat needs to shift in policy, practice, and representationWhy the next generation gives her hope Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailLouise Christie leads the Scottish Recovery Network and has spent over a decade shifting power from systems to people with lived experience. She came into mental health from housing, regeneration and social enterprise — an outsider who saw how medicalised services miss what people actually need.We talk family and identity, and the moment peer support moved from theory to practice. Louise explains how SRN pivoted from being “the experts” to conveners and amplifiers — backing grassroots groups, launching Making Recovery Real in Dundee and Moray, and proving that peer support isn’t a “nice-to-have” but a mechanism for culture change.You’ll hear the real differences between Scotland and England (and what devolution gets right and wrong), why peer leadership must sit alongside clinical roles, and how to grow a peer workforce without draining community lifeblood. We cover boundaries, stigma, the myth of “treatment-resistant” people, and why relational, values-based practice beats box-ticking every time.If you care about recovery that’s human, practical, and led by the people who live it — this conversation is for you. You’ll hear about:The shift from “fixing people” to listening and empoweringMaking Recovery Real: what changed in Dundee and MorayWhy peer support changes outcomes and mindsetsPeer leadership vs entry-level roles — and why the distinction mattersScotland vs England: strategy, delivery, and what needs to be operationalisedBuilding peer roles with the grassroots, not at their expenseBoundaries, stigma, and seeing lived experience as an assetIf this resonates, share it with a colleague or commissioner — and start a conversation about peer leadership where you are.#PeerSupport #LivedExperience #ScottishRecoveryNetwork #MentalHealth #Recovery #CultureChange #NHSScotland #MakingRecoveryReal #Devolution #WorkforceListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailClaire Kendall has spent three decades at the BBC and watched the job shift from fast hits to long, immersive reporting. The stories go deeper. So does the emotional load. When she saw that weight landing on reporters — and on the people they film — Claire helped build a peer support network that now counts 300 trained volunteers across the organisation.In this conversation we talk about duty of care, boundaries, and what “looking after your contributors” really requires when stories run for months. Claire shares why a simple check-in can stop a crisis, how time-limited, confidential conversations (usually up to three) give colleagues space to breathe, and why “you can’t pour from an empty cup” isn’t a cliché — it’s policy.We hear the moment she first saw peer support in action on a mother-and-baby unit for postpartum psychosis — and how that experience sparked a model the BBC could scale: trained volunteers, coordinators, supervision, signposting, and real stop-gaps to prevent burnout.Claire also explains what younger journalists are asking for, the role of positive psychology in everyday wellbeing, and why clear boundaries (not late-night texts) protect both truth-telling and mental health.If you work in news, documentaries, or any high-pressure team, this one is practical and hopeful: peer support makes the work better — and keeps people well.You’ll hear about:The shift from fast news to documentary-level access and its hidden tollBuilding a 300-volunteer peer support network: training, matching, supervision, dataBoundaries that protect contributors and journalistsWhy short, confidential, structured chats often beat “open-ended support”How positive psychology and small habits (sleep, food, movement) change outcomesWhat good workplace wellbeing looks like when budgets are tightIf this helped, share it with your newsroom or HR lead — and start the conversation about peer support where you work.#PeerSupport #Journalism #WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealthAtWork #BBC #Documentary #Burnout #Boundaries #PositivePsychologyListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhen Rob lost his arm in a motorbike crash — and was left fighting to save his leg and shoulder — and Cat nearly lost her leg while out running, neither imagined their recoveries would become intertwined.In this moving episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Rob Hope and Cat Neill, two survivors of catastrophic injury whose lives were transformed by the power of peer support. Rob faced months of vulnerability and adaptation after his accident. Cat spent five months in hospital and endured nine limb-saving surgeries. Both discovered Day One Trauma — a charity that helps anyone affected by major physical trauma rebuild their life — and it was there that their paths crossed. Rob became Cat’s peer supporter, offering honesty, flexibility, and lived experience at the moment she needed it most. Their story is one of survival, connection, and the extraordinary difference peer support can make when medical care alone is not enough. We discuss:What it feels like to face life-changing injury overnightThe role of Day One Trauma in recovery and rebuilding livesHow peer support creates hope when everything else feels lostRob’s journey from trauma survivor to peer supporterCat’s “why not me?” mindset and the resilience it sparkedLife after trauma — mountains climbed, milestones reached, and lessons learned Whether you’re navigating recovery yourself, supporting a loved one, or working in healthcare, Rob and Cat’s story is an inspiring reminder that no one should face trauma alone. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukDay Once Trauma Support: https://dayonetrauma.org/ Catastrophic injury, resilience, and the role of Day One Trauma in helping survivors rebuild their lives.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when your life changes in an instant — and nothing feels familiar anymore?In this moving episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Emily Sole, a trade union professional, trainer, and peer support volunteer, about her ongoing recovery following a catastrophic head-on collision in early 2024. Left with life-threatening injuries and facing a long, uncertain road ahead, Emily discovered the power of one-to-one peer support through Day One Trauma Support, a charity that helps people rebuild their lives after major physical trauma.Emily opens up about how peer support gave her a place to belong at a time when she no longer recognised her own life. She shares how drawing on her professional skills in mentoring, coaching and advocacy helped her reconnect with her sense of identity, and how volunteering has become a vital part of her healing journey.We discuss:~The emotional and physical reality of surviving a traumatic injury~How isolation and identity loss affect recovery~Why peer support made the difference when everything else felt overwhelming~Finding purpose and value after trauma~What it means to be “at the beginning” of rebuilding your life~The importance of connection, honesty — and small “glimmers” of hopeWhether you’re navigating recovery, supporting someone through trauma, or working in health or care services — this episode offers raw insight, resilience, and a powerful reminder of why peer support matters.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Show notes & resources:With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.ukDay One Trauma Support: https://dayonetrauma.org/Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a single moment changes everything — your body, your identity, your future?In this moving episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Ryiah Beesley-Gibson — a mental health practitioner, trauma survivor, and now a passionate peer supporter.Just weeks before starting a new job in crisis mental health care, Ryiah sustained a catastrophic hip injury while travelling in Bali - setting off a long, painful recovery and a complete reimagining of her life.Now training as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and volunteering with Day One Trauma Support, Ryiah shares her honest reflections on recovery, anger, meaning-making, and how peer support offered a vital turning point when everything else felt lost. We discuss:Navigating a traumatic injury far from homeThe emotional and physical cost of delayed recoveryIdentity, activity, and what happens when you lose bothTurning pain into purpose through peer support.The intersection between clinical care and lived experienceWhy peer support isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essentialWhether you’re in the early stages of recovery, supporting someone through trauma, or working in healthcare — Ryiah’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we meet each other as equals. Show notes & resources:With-you: with-you.co.ukDay One Trauma: https://www.dayonetrauma.org/Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this inspiring episode of the podcast, we sit down with Ruth Hannan and Hannah Webster, co-founders of Care Full Economy, to explore how personal experiences as carers shaped their mission to transform the UK’s approach to care. Ruth and Hannah share their personal journeys into the world of unpaid care, opening up about the emotional, practical, and political realities of supporting loved ones. From there, we dive into the origins of Care Full—launched in 2023 to challenge the undervaluation of care in our economy. Discover the story behind the name "Care Full" and what it means for carers and society alike.Topics we cover:How today’s economy sidelines care and what a care-centered system could look likeThe transformative power of peer support and lived experience in reshaping policyReal-life stories of impact from Care Full’s work, bridging research and actionThe challenges Ruth and Hannah face as women and carers challenging the status quo — and where they find hopeOne crucial change they wish to see in how care is valued in the UKPlus, hear Ruth and Hannah’s heartfelt advice for carers who feel invisible or undervalued.Learn more about their work at carefulleconomy.co.uk and listen to more stories and insights by searching “Words of Affirmation” on your favourite podcast platform. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Ian Smith, a former Rugby Super League referee turned mental health advocate with the charity State of Mind Sport.After officiating over 300 professional matches, Ian’s unexpected exit from the sport led to a personal mental health crisis and a deep loss of identity. In this honest and powerful conversation, he shares how peer support helped him rebuild — and why he now works to support others through State of Mind’s education sessions across the UK.Ian also reflects on his close friendship with ex-rugby league star Jimmy Gittins, and how their contrasting journeys in rugby league give them a unique voice in the mental health space. Topics include:– Mental health after professional sport– Peer support and identity loss– The work of the charity State of Mind Sport– Resilience, friendship, and life after the whistleWhether you’re in sport, going through a major transition, or supporting someone who is — Ian’s story is a reminder that peer support changes lives.Learn more at with-you.co.ukVisit State of Mind Sport to find out moreListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhat does it mean to become a carer — and how does it change the course of your life?In this powerful episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Matthew McKenzie, a carer, poet, author, and nationally recognised advocate for unpaid carers. Drawing from his personal experiences caring for his mother (diagnosed with schizoaffective psychosis) and his two autistic brothers, Matt opens up about the emotional toll of caring, the importance of peer-led support, and the power of lived experience to reshape systems.Awarded the British Empire Medal in 2024 for his services to carers, Matt talks about his work with Carers UK, his role as an NHS governor, and his ongoing mission to centre the voices of carers — especially from marginalised communities — in mental health and social care policy.We discuss:Why many carers don’t recognise themselves as carersThe mental health impact of caring — and why it’s still overlookedHow peer support networks build resilience and connectionThe role of poetry and creative voice in advocacyRepresentation, race, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in carer supportWhat needs to change in UK services — and where hope liesWhether you’re a carer, a professional, or just curious about how we can support each other better — this conversation is honest, moving, and essential listening.Learn more about With-you and our peer support communities at with-you.co.ukVisit Matt's YouTube channel: The Caring MindListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Georgie Lazzari — Peer Support Development Worker at Derbyshire Healthcare — whose inspiring career shift from marketing into mental health shows how lived experience can drive real, lasting change.Since receiving peer support herself, leaving her job in marketing and then joining Derbyshire Healthcare as a Peer Support Worker in 2021, Georgie has supported people across a wide range of mental health challenges. Now, in a leadership role, she helps others step into peer support — guiding new workers through their own transitions from being supported to becoming supporters.Together, Cate and Georgie explore:How lived experience shapes meaningful peer supportThe role of empathy and communication in mental health servicesWhat it takes to step into a peer support role — and why readiness is personalCareer transitions into mental health and the power of purposeLessons in resilience, motivation, and recoveryWhether you’re on your own recovery journey, supporting others, or considering a role in peer support, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your story can make a difference.Learn more at with-you.co.ukVisit Derbyshire Healthcare to find out moreListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Matt - a Peer supporter and Assistant occupational therapist in Hertfordshire’s mental health crisis team.After nearly two decades working in the water industry, Matt made a bold career change following his own experience of living with OCD. He shares what that transition was like, how his diagnosis shaped his outlook, and why peer support plays such a vital role in recovery.You’ll hear how Matt uses lived experience to support others facing mental health crises, what a typical day looks like in frontline care, and how his own radio show on OCD is breaking stigma and building connection.We also explore the difference between peer support and clinical therapy, how to get involved in mental health services, and what hope can sound like at your lowest moment.Topics include:Living with OCD and recognising the signsPeer support vs. traditional mental health careMaking a midlife career change into mental health workStories from the frontline of crisis supportUsing lived experience to create changeWhy Matt started his own radio show on OCDEncouragement for those afraid to seek helpFor more stories — and to learn about peer support — visit with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWhat does it mean to bring lived experience into the heart of public services — not just as a voice, but as a driver of real change?In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Pete Fleischmann, Director of Co-production Works, who shares how his own experience of mental health challenges — and disillusionment with traditional psychiatric care — led him to champion co-production and peer support across health and social care.With roots in the mental health survivor movement and decades of work spanning research, consultancy, and service redesign, Pete reflects on:Why traditional mental health services didn’t work for himThe power of co-production to transform systemsWhat peer support and psychotherapy offer that services sometimes missHow Zen meditation, cycling, and connection keep him groundedThe story behind Co-production Week and SCIE’s widely-used principlesWhether you're working in mental health, social care, or just curious about what genuine co-production looks like — this is a conversation about purpose, persistence, and the people-first future we can build together.Learn more about With You and our peer support communities at with-you.co.ukFind out more about Pete and his work at coproductionworks.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we’re joined by writer and mental-health advocate Lyndsay, whose lived experience has shaped her deep belief in the power of peer support. From the impact of a kind word during crisis to the everyday resilience built through shared understanding, Lyndsay opens up about what it really means to walk alongside someone on a mental-health journey.We explore the moments that changed her life and the tools that helped her heal. That includes her book Life Is Good, which blends poetry, reflection, and raw honesty to offer hope to others navigating similar paths.You’ll hear Lyndsay’s take on:What peer support really is — and why it worksHow to build your own network of support, even when things feel bleakWhy setbacks aren’t failures — and how community can help you bounce backThe role of creativity in recovery and connectionWhether you're supporting someone, seeking help, or simply curious about the power of shared experience, this conversation is full of heart, hope, and real-life strategies.For more on peer support and mental-health resources, visit with-you.co.ukSubscribe for more lived-experience stories every week. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn Neurodivergent Voices, peer specialist William Gallini-Pool brings his lived experience of ADHD and Autism, along with years of frontline work in youth mental health, into powerful and thoughtful conversations.From psychiatric units to classrooms, William has worked across the mental health system to centre young people's voices, challenge outdated practices, and advocate for neurodiverse-friendly support.This podcast explores how peer support can change lives, how services can evolve, and what it really means to create spaces where neurodivergent young people are seen, heard, and supported.Whether he's sharing insights from the Discovery Project, unpacking the realities of neurodivergent life, or reflecting on what still needs to change, William brings warmth, honesty, and radical hope to the mic.If you're passionate about youth mental health, peer-led change, and the power of lived experience, this one’s for you. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we’re shining a light on something truly transformative — The Peer Worker Apprenticeship, delivered by Paragon Skills in partnership with With-you.As someone who has lived through life’s toughest challenges and come out the other side with empathy, strength, and a fierce sense of purpose, Nicky brings not just experience, but lived experience to the forefront of everything she does.You’ll hear about how this apprenticeship is empowering people with their own personal recovery journeys to step into or progress within their professional roles when supporting others — not as clinicians, but as equals. It’s about turning pain into purpose, and story into service.Whether you're already in the world of peer support or just curious about what this programme involves, Nicky offers a moving, real, and deeply personal take on what it means to grow, support, and walk alongside others in their experiences.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailWelcome to this special two-part episode, where Nicky shares her deeply personal journey into Peer Support training.In this first episode, Nicky takes us through the pivotal moments of her life—ones filled with love, loss, resilience, and self-discovery. Born in Sheffield as the middle child of three, she always felt she had to work harder to achieve her dreams. From childhood imaginings of owning a rock shop on the east coast to building a successful career in hairdressing and training, her path has been shaped by determination and creativity.As a teenager, Nicky moved to South Africa, where she built a new life. But at just 21, she suffered a devastating loss—her mother, her rock and source of strength, passed away. Life moved forward, and Nicky found love, married, and was expecting a child. But then, tragedy struck again. Her husband was violently taken from her when she was six months pregnant, shattering the world she had built. With no choice but to carry on, she found the strength to keep moving forward, step by step.Twelve years later, she made the difficult decision to return to the UK with her son, where new challenges emerged—his struggles with mental health and addiction, her own battles with cancer, lupus, and a painful skin condition. Yet, through it all, Nicky found purpose. Peer Support became more than just a training course—it became a lifeline, a way to turn pain into progress.In this episode, she opens up about the moments that shaped her, the lessons she’s learned, and the incredible power of resilience.Let’s step into Nicky’s world.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailImagine starting your career at 16, climbing the corporate ladder for over 20 years, only to pivot completely in search of a more meaningful path. That’s exactly what Nicky did.After the birth of her daughter in 2006, she built a career that revolved around creativity, flexibility, and supporting others—whether through running her own businesses, coaching women, or helping small business owners amplify their voices.But behind the success was a silent struggle. Growing up in a generation where mental health wasn’t spoken about, Nicky learned to mask her emotions. It wasn’t until a breakdown in 2020 that she faced her own mental health challenges head-on, using everything she had learned over the years to rebuild.And in doing so, she found her true calling.Now a Peer Support Worker with Mind in Waltham Forest, Nicky uses her lived experience to help others on their recovery journeys. She knows firsthand what it means to struggle, but also what it takes to heal.In this episode, Nicky shares her powerful story—from the corporate world to personal coaching, from breakdown to breakthrough, and ultimately, to a career she never knew existed but was always meant for.If you’ve ever felt lost in your career, battled with your mental health, or wondered how your past experiences could shape a more meaningful future, this conversation is for you.Join us for an inspiring discussion on resilience, reinvention, and the power of lived experience. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this compelling episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we meet Charli, who built a demanding career in British Aerospace while privately battling mental health challenges. After a long and transformative healing journey, Charli made the bold decision to switch careers and dedicate herself to peer support—using her lived experience to help others facing similar struggles.Now a perinatal peer supporter, Charli works with mothers, families, and neurodivergent parents navigating the complexities of postnatal mental health, including:✔️ The role of perinatal peer support in post-natal depression and anxiety recovery✔️ How peer-led mental health support bridges the gap between clinical care and emotional support✔️ The unique challenges faced by neurodivergent parents during pregnancy and early parenthood✔️ Why peer support for new mothers and families is vital for maternal mental health and overall family well-beingThis episode sheds light on the power of lived experience in perinatal mental health care and the critical role of peer support in reducing stigma, fostering community, and providing compassionate guidance to families facing postnatal challenges.🎧 Listen now to hear Charli’s inspiring journey and the life-changing impact of perinatal peer support for mothers, families, and neurodivergent parents. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this insightful episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we speak with Tooba, a dedicated psychology student who discovered the power of peer support while working in a secondary school. Passionate about mental health advocacy, she recognized that young people struggling with their mental well-being often find it easier to open up to peers rather than adults.Through her experience as a peer supporter in schools, Tooba discusses:✔️ The unique role of younger peer supporters in helping students feel understood and less alone✔️ Why peer support programs in schools are crucial for early mental health intervention✔️ How peer-led mental health initiatives bridge the gap between students and professional help✔️ The importance of normalising mental health conversations among school-age young peopleThis episode highlights the transformative impact of peer support in education, emphasising how student-led initiatives can create a more compassionate and understanding environment for young people navigating mental health challenges.🎧 Listen now to hear Tooba’s inspiring journey and the crucial role of peer support in shaping young people’s mental health. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this compelling episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we hear the powerful story of Gary, whose early years were shaped by the challenges of being a military child. Growing up in a constantly shifting environment—moving from base to base as his father served in the RAF—Gary struggled with the emotional toll of repeatedly breaking friendships, adjusting to new surroundings, and dealing with the instability of military family life.As these experiences took a toll on his mental health, Gary eventually faced a mental health crisis that led to hospitalisation. However, his journey didn’t end there. Through peer support, trauma-informed care, and professional help, he found a way forward. Today, Gary is a dedicated peer support worker with the NHS project Op Courage, where he provides essential mental health support for veterans, service leavers, and reservists.In this episode, Gary shares:✔️ How military life impacts childhood development and male mental health✔️ The challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life✔️ The critical role of peer support and trauma-informed care in recovery✔️ His work with Op Courage, helping veterans reclaim their mental well-beingThis is a must-listen for anyone interested in veterans' mental health, the power of peer support, and the importance of understanding trauma in military families. Whether you're a veteran, a supporter, or someone passionate about mental health advocacy, Gary’s journey will leave you inspired.🎧 Listen now to hear Gary’s story of resilience, recovery, and the vital role of peer support in veterans’ mental health. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we sit down with Jenny, whose journey of resilience began in a childhood marked by mental and emotional trauma. The pain and struggles of her early years followed her into adulthood, shaping her experiences and challenges. But through the power of peer support, Jenny found the strength to embark on a long and difficult journey of self-discovery and healing.Determined to break free from the past, she made the life-changing decision to move across the country and start anew—rebuilding her life with her wonderful husband and two beautiful children. Now, as a dedicated peer support worker, Jenny uses her lived experience to support others navigating similar paths, proving that healing is possible with the right support system.This episode delves into the life-changing impact of peer support, trauma-informed care, and the importance of community in recovery. Whether you’re looking for insights on overcoming childhood trauma, the role of peer support in mental health recovery, or how trauma-informed care empowers survivors, Jenny’s story is a testament to the power of connection, resilience, and hope.🎧 Listen now to hear Jenny’s powerful story of transformation, healing, and the incredible impact of peer support. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailByron’s StoryIn this deeply moving episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, we share the inspirational recovery story of Byron, a former recruitment consultant living in Dubai with his wife and two children. When the pandemic struck, Byron suffered a devastating stroke, forcing him to leave his family behind and return to England alone to begin a long, gruelling stroke recovery journey.Amid the physical and emotional challenges, Byron discovered the power of peer support in recovery—a turning point that gave him hope and purpose. Through the support of others with lived experience, he found strength, resilience, and a new path forward. Now, after completing Peer Support training with With-you, Byron dedicates his life to helping others navigate their own struggles, proving that no one has to face recovery alone.Join us for this emotional and powerful conversation about survival, healing, and the life-changing impact of peer support. Whether you’re looking for stroke recovery motivation, mental health support, or insight into becoming a peer supporter, Byron’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.🎧 Listen now and be inspired by Byron’s journey! Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIris-Nur Noor, a mental health peer coach in the Camden & Islington Trust who identifies as a trans Asian woman and believes in the potential of peer support to change lives.  She shares insight into her own challenges as a trans woman of colour and how her journey has taken her from a background in fine art into education and then into peer support:  "When I was growing up in the 80's there was no such thing as peer support or coaching... in hindsight it would have had a huge impact on my mental health, confidence and growth as a trans woman of colour. Mental health language isn't always accessible to people in the community... Peer support gives people a space to talk about challenges, fears, breakthroughs, desired outcomes, and to learn from the lived experience of others. Getting different viewpoints helps to deconstruct the core belief of the challenge people are struggling with." Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailAlex Enahoro now works as a peer supporter in the hospital he was once a psychiatric patient in.  Alex has struggled with his own mental health since childhood, experienced intense racism and struggled with intersectionality around race, sexuality, and religion.  He now uses his experiences to help others: "Growing up we just didn't discuss mental health enough...I've been on my own journey to recovery and now I want to take as many people as I can with me."  Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailCharlotte Crowl is an author, cancer survivor, and project lead for the Black Women Rising project that supports women of colour who have cancer. Charlotte shares:"Peer support is a very powerful thing. Most of our support is done through group work, bringing together Black women in a setting where they can speak and be open. It's an amazing experience to watch their journey to empowerment." "A lot of the time in the Black community you're taught to not talk about what you're going through and it's so important to have a free and safe space to speak. When I experienced peer support myself it was liberating, I was no longer suppressing my experiences...who I was...it was game changing." Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailBrian Simmonds is a youth offending officer, community activist, Chair of Call for Action (a Black and Asian Network challenging stigma and discrimination) and Director of Operations, Black Mental Health & Me (BMHM).Here he and Sonia Thompson discuss the challenges faced by black men around navigating society and maintaining mental health through peer support.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 5 of Shoulder-to-Shoulder, Cate Munro engages in a poignant conversation with Anita K - a suicide survivor, mother, grandmother, peer, and activist. Anita's narrative is one of resilience in the face of discrimination and racism, stemming from her parents' experiences in 1960s Britain. She courageously shares her journey, revealing how the devastating impact of racism led to her mother's tragic suicide. Anita highlights the transformative power of peer support - from family, friends and her community -  in navigating life's challenges, detailing how it helped her forge a life filled with purpose and passion. This episode is a profound exploration of resilience, advocacy, and the invaluable role of peer support in overcoming adversity and finding hope amid despair.For more information on With-You and the services we offer please visit www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn this gripping episode of Shoulder to Shoulder Cate Munro explores Sharif's incredible life journey. As a young survivor who escaped East African genocide and settled in London's gritty East End, Sharif's story is a testament to resilience and hope. He shares a life-changing encounter in a recovery house that set him on a path of transformation and explains how he now harnesses the principles of the Bushman, and the power of peer support, to craft his own unique recovery journey and help others do the same. This episode is a captivating exploration of survival, redemption, and the enduring impact of community and cultural wisdom. Sharif's story inspires and reminds us that no matter what challenges we face, we have the inner strength to rise above them and create a life with meaning.For more information on With-You and the services we offer please visit www.with-you.co.ukWARNING: This episode contains colourful language which some listeners may find offensive.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 3 of "Shoulder to Shoulder," Cate Munro engages in a profound conversation with Jacqui, a resilient individual who shares her life's journey from enduring childhood abuse to finding renewed purpose as an adult.Jacqui's story is a testament to the enduring impact of trauma and the transformative potential of peer support.Listeners will be captivated as Jacqui candidly discusses how her early experiences of abuse deeply shaped her personal and professional life, influencing her path across two continents. She offers insight into the emotional struggles she faced growing up and the profound effect of her past on her mental health.This episode shines a light on the role of both unintentional and intentional peer support in Jacqui's rediscovery process. She recounts moments when friends and acquaintances provided crucial understanding and support, as well as her deliberate efforts to seek out peer support networks and mental health resources.Today, Jacqui's journey has come full circle as she leverages her lived experience to help and empower others facing mental health challenges. Episode 3 of "Shoulder to Shoulder" is a moving exploration of resilience, rediscovery, and the transformative power of peer support, showcasing Jacqui's inspiring commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.For more information on With-You and the services we offer please visit www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 2 of "Shoulder to Shoulder," Cate Munro engages in a heartfelt conversation with Mark, who bravely shares his transformative journey from a traumatic childhood marred by abuse to a life of recovery and purpose.Mark's candid narrative delves into the profound impact of childhood abuse on his mental health, offering an intimate look at the struggles he faced throughout his teenage years. This episode unveils the pivotal role of peer support, both unintentional and deliberate, in Mark's healing process. He recounts how friends and loved ones provided crucial empathy and support during his darkest moments and how, through his current role in the police, he is able to use his lived experience as a source of hope and empowerment to support others. Episode 2 of "Shoulder to Shoulder" is an inspiring exploration of the healing power of peer support and serves as a beacon of encouragement for those on their own mental health journeys.For more information on With-You and the services we offer please visit www.with-you.co.uk***This podcast episode contains discussions about historical child abuse, which may be distressing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan MailJoin us for Episode 1 of  "Shoulder to Shoulder by With-You" as we explore Anita's incredible journey, spanning from her childhood in Africa to her present-day life in Manchester, UK.Anita opens up about her upbringing and the rich cultural tapestry that influences her life today. She paints a vivid picture of her transition to the UK and the adjustments she had to make while forging a new path for herself.But the heart of this episode lies in Anita's inspiring journey with peer support. She discusses the profound impact it's had on her life, providing a lifeline during difficult times and fostering connections that have been instrumental in her personal growth.She also shares her passion project, "Holding Her Space," an organisation she co-founded to holistically support mothers and their families during their pregnancy, birthing and early parenting journey in her community and beyond.Cate Munro talks with Peer Supporters from all walks of life to shine a light on the importance of Peer Support in the mental health landscape and the incredible humans behind it.For more information on With-You and the services we offer please visit www.with-you.co.ukListen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk