Empowering People

30/01/2026

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of joining Public Speaking Fundamentals: Mastering the Basics to Sell More Confidently, hosted by Calum Moore—and it did not disappoint.

The room was full of people from all backgrounds: seasoned presenters and first-timers alike. Whether you speak for a living or were stepping up for the first time, everyone walked away with something valuable!

🔑 My biggest takeaway? Commitment, Pacing, and Variety (CPV).

Great speakers know when to pause—and when to switch it up. Intentional pauses make key points land, while changes in pitch, volume, speed, and tone keep people locked in. That’s how a message becomes memorable, not forgettable.

Here’s to showing up more confidently at your next event 🎤✨

- Ayana Ritchie

23/01/2026

24/05/2025

Spent a worthwhile few hours at the Ideal Home Show this morning with Warren Paul from Paramount Events—our Employment Engagement Partners and a main sponsor of the show this year. They’re also exhibiting to promote their upcoming Home Improvement Awards.

I met some great business owners who are interested in building a more inclusive and diverse workforce and are potentially looking to support our clients.

It was great to meet and speak with you all—I wish you a successful show!

24/05/2025

Wow what a quick week that has been!

Just been reflecting on the past 10 days and thinking about some of the fantastic organisations out there doing so much in the employment space, especially for people who face multiple challenges and barriers to employment, for lots of different reasons.

I was honoured to be invited to speak last week at the 60th Carers Scotland Employment Conference to talk about my carers experience and the barriers and challenges to employment that created and how being on the Making Work Work Women Returners Employability Programme by The Challenges Group, significantly helped me on my journey to my now career path.

What an informative, thought provoking and inspiring afternoon, with some amazing guess speakers from organisations that are leading the way when it comes to supporting unpaid carers in the workplace.

Was lovely to meet the Chair Kate Guthrie and also Hayley Burton from Carers Scotland.

Thank you to Anja Kirchhof for coming along on the day and supporting me and to Lynn Houmdi CMgr MCMI for getting me involved.

Thank you to Carers Scotland for the opportunity to be involved and share my story.



Ashley McPartlin Joanne Dixon Louise Guy Louise MacDonald Chartered MCIPD Richard Meade Fiona Sinclair Kathryn von Stegmann Ian Whyte.

/ Empowering People

12/12/2024

Congratulations 🙌 to Stride Yorkshire on their amazing achievement and very well deserved 🙌👌🏻😉🤗

Sponsored by Launchpad Doncaster , the New Business of the Year award spotlights those start-ups who distinguished themselves from the crowd with their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.

Our outstanding winner here is Stride Yorkshire; who the judges deemed an absolutely fantastic addition to the Doncaster business community!

01/11/2023

We have some incredible job openings for Neurodiverse adults. please get in touch for more information. Tag someone you think might be interested, help us get the word out by liking and sharing this post.

24/10/2023

Wow 💙🩷🩵❤️💙

The colours of nature have such a calming effect on my mental health 😌

24/10/2023

Saddening that the referral process can take so long - Autism & Neurodiversity - North Scotland admire the work you do in an attempt to bridge the gap ❤️‍🩹

Watch the latest from ITV News - The review conducted with ADHD UK uncovered 'the worst data ever'. Findings reflect a postcode lottery where some are waiting up to ten years for answers.

24/10/2023

Empowering People was formed for one simple reason; To enable individuals with hidden disabilities to find employment and secure the correct support (both personally and professionally) and empower them to live their best life.

Our Promise
As an organisation with a focused goal of supporting adults with learning and social disabilities, our Promise is to help people make their way in championing an independent and fulfilling life.

We deliver this promise through bespoke plans, tailored to an individuals specific needs, helping them to define what independents looks like for them, while working to understand their personal goals, ambitions and enable them to achieve the best possible chance of success.

19/10/2023

Very relatable - Think it’s so important emotionally and mentally to celebrate every win and achievement you make in daily life and don’t beat yourself up to much for your perceived failures - no ones out there smashing it 24/7 be kind to yourself 😉

I feel like I’m stuck in a loop.

I’ll go through periods of feeling ok, so actually *do* things. Not even necessarily feeling like I’m overdoing things, but trying to get out and about, doing housework etc.

But then before I know it I’ve done too much, then I have a few days/weeks of feeling terrible and trying to rest until I feel better.

Rinse and repeat.

I think sometimes it’s not the *physical* act of doing things, but for me it’s often emotional or mental challenges which tip me over the edge.

I’ve been stuck in this cycle for years, but have felt it even more this last year or so with menopause and family struggles thrown in. I’m not sure whether it’s chronic fatigue, depression, burn-out or something else!!

I’m trying to make adjustments - I’m pretty good at physically pacing myself, but struggle to emotionally regulate myself when there is so much going on.

And there are simply things I *have* to do. I can’t just take a total break.

I also don’t know how to make time for myself with a family to support, and we Home Ed so I don’t get much ‘me’ time! If I do try to plan something (like I was hoping to start yoga classes again) I can’t seem to get over the hurdle of actually making myself go.

Can anyone relate?
Do you have any advice?- what has worked for you to help you to break the cycle?

03/10/2023

Congratulations on your nomination Stride Yorkshire 💪👌🏻we really admire the work you do and you have our vote 😉

The voting for the Peoples Choice Awards is now OPEN! 🗳️

By gathering all the finalists from every category, The People's Choice Award allows the local business community to select and celebrate their Business of the Year.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/d4v3ubxa

This award is sponsored by Yorkshire Wildlife Park