Well, what an adventure this year has been! So, I thought as I’m sitting on the sofa with a sniffly cold, recouping my energy before two back-to-back coaching sessions later, I’d jot down a few ramblings.
After our launch in September 2021, Karen and I were never even certain that we would be running any coaching sessions at all. We had picked up a bit of tutoring but knew almost straight away that that was not the direction that we wanted to head in (Shame we hadn’t realised that before getting our web domain name, creating a website, and printing off all our tuition branded materials). But we grow and evolve and that is what this year has been. Evolution and a bit of a revolution! Karen trained as a STILL Method coach too so at least we can say that we doubled our workforce in the first year!
I know that it’s tricky launching any new business but after booking the venues, it was a case of trying to get clients. But who were we? Why should people trust us and want to come to the sessions? We believed in what we are doing! We had seen the difference that the program made to the lives of the young people that we had worked with and also, on our own mental health. We were repeatedly being told that people in our area were struggling financially and we were passionate about supporting our community. How could we enable people to access our support?
Direct action was needed. We attended Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce meetings designed to support new businesses. Here we were introduced to Richard Carty, Fiona Miller and, more recently, a mentor Justine Halifax. We talked to other STILL Method Coaches about their experiences, set ourselves up as a Community Interest Company, were awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and the rest is history!
This past year we have worked with over 100 women and children. Bringing lottery funded sessions to three community venues: Green Grams Zero Waste Shop in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, The Café at Fenton Town Hall, and The Community Room at Tesco Extra in Hanley and also worked in a couple of schools: Co-Op Academy Clarice Cliff and Etruscan Primary.
Alongside this, we have met some fabulous people who have inspired us and encouraged us on our journey: Ben from The Café Fenton, Sally from Mother’s Mind and Birgit from Better Together Partnership who all run successful charities or CICs in the area. We also attended the first ever STILL Method conference in London - a real joy to meet Stuart Thompson, the creator of The STILL Method, and some of the other fabulous coaches!
What we have been able to do this year was only a dream not so long ago! We have been able to support people, young and old, in our community: addressing anxiety and boosting confidence. Participants have gone on to new jobs - one has even trained as a STILL Method coach herself! Some have achieved personal goals such as motorway driving; attending medical procedures; overcoming health anxiety or leaving relationships that no longer served them well. Alongside this, we have coached private clients face-to-face and online.
What we have loved above all, is getting involved in our community and making the most of the opportunities that are out there: tap dancing, arts events, fundraising events, canoeing, dressing up as fairy godmothers and teddy bears! This is what launching our own business has enabled us to do and we couldn’t be happier!
Now to the year ahead! Lots of exciting developments are in the pipeline as we’ve both trained as Drawing and Talking practitioners. There are new STILL Method programs to look forward to in 2023 that will meet the needs of a wider range of ages and, fingers crossed, an office space that we will be able to use as a more permanent base from which we can offer our services.
Now to crack this social media malarky and get a bit more business savvy!
Thank you to everyone who has supported us and cheers! Merry Christmas and a happy and fulfilled New Year.
Amanda and Karen xx