Shoulder to Shoulder by With-you

Send us Fan Mail In 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-heal...

Send us Fan Mail In 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 sup...

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

Send us Fan Mail In 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units to classrooms, William has worked across the mental health system to centre young people's voices, challenge outdated practices, and advocate...

Send us Fan Mail In 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...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome 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 im...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine 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...

Send us Fan Mail In 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 perina...

Send us Fan Mail In 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...

Send us Fan Mail In 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 deali...

Send us Fan Mail In 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 d...

Send us Fan Mail Byron’s Story In 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....

Send us Fan Mail Brian 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 S...

Send us Fan Mail Charlotte 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 j...

Send us Fan Mail Alex 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&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Iris-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 growin...

Send us Fan Mail In 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...

Send us Fan Mail In 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...

Send us Fan Mail In 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...

Send us Fan Mail In 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 fac...

Send us Fan Mail Join 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...