This week on The Everyday Adventure Podcast, I’m joined by two truly inspiring women, Clare Millington and Vicky Balfour. Both are passionate advocates for making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

Clare is the founder of Outdoors Is For Everyone and a powerful voice for increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience adventure in nature. She’s also a mum of three, including twins Pip and Alix, who both have complex disabilities, and her lived experience shines through in her work.

Vicky — also known to many as Vicky Bikes — is a writer, bike mechanic and someone deeply committed to helping others discover their voice, their confidence and their freedom through the outdoors. She’s actively involved with the New Forest Off-Road Club, doing brilliant work to open up cycling and outdoor spaces to more people. Her daughter Cece, who has complex needs, is also one of the club’s ride leaders — which tells you everything about the spirit of this amazing community.

In this conversation, we explore resilience, community, the assumptions which can impact inclusion and the many different ways adventure can belong to all of us.

Find out more about Vicky and Clare:

Instagram: @outdoorsisforeveryone @vickybikes

Website: www.vickybikes.co.uk

Facebook: @outdoorsisforeveryone

Useful links:

https://www.bendrigg.org.uk/ - Bendrigg Trust

www.thenewforestoffroadclub.com - The New Forest Off Road Club

https://www.alltheelements.co/news/5-minutes-with-pip-and-clare - All The Elements

Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 7 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast.

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Ash Alexander Cooper is a former soldier, combat helicopter pilot, athlete, musician, artist and now keynote speaker, who works with businesses and leaders looking to build resilience and adapt in complex environments.

He has also recently added author to his impressive CV, having just published ‘Mindful Soldier’ written with Dr Jessica Miller. In the book, Ash draws on his own experiences and the psychology behind them to share strategies that can be applied by anybody who’s looking to build resilience and overcome life’s challenges.

Our conversation centres on his motivation for writing Mindful Soldier and his hopes for the impact it can have going forward in terms of supporting others with their mental health. Ash speaks with openess and candour as he shares stories from his life and explores how they have shaped his approach and build his resilience. Ash is a former colleague, long time friend and previous guest on the show (S3 Ep 10 Hotel Marathons and Silver Linings) so it was a huge pleasure to catch up and explore the highly relevant themes of this book in depth - a must read for anyone navigating life’s challenges or simply wanting to feel less alone.

Find out more about Ash visit:

Instagram: @ashalexcooper

Website: www.ashalexandercooper

Facebook: @ashalexcooper

Substack:

To buy Mindful Soldier visit:

Gurkha Welfare Trust

Amazon

RBVE Shop

Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 6 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast.

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Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: nicki@resiliencework.co.uk

At the age of 60, Brian Woodley was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s dementia. As a successful business owner, avid footballer, father, grandfather and the last one to leave the dance floor, this diagnosis turned his life upside down. But Brian refused to let dementia define him and with the support of his wife, Keely, he has discovered and embraced the sport of walking football through Bradford City FC, enabling him to keep fit and active whilst bringing renewed purpose, friendship and joy.

Brian is a volunteer “Expert by Experience” for the Pathways Programme run by Bradford University which supports those affected by young-onset Alzheimer’s Dementia. Brian and Keely have recently started an Instagram account called The Life of Brian and Loki to share what it is like to live with dementia as a younger person. They are also currently fundraising to help pay for the training of Loki, Brian’s assistance dog, to enable him to provide vital support to Brian in the future.

In this episode, Brian and Keely discuss the motivation behind their decision to share Brian’s story on their Instagram account, highlighting that the challenges of young-onset dementia are still relatively hidden. Brian shares his struggle in coming to terms with the disease, the support that has been provided through Pathways and the difference that walking football has made to both his physical and mental health, as well as the joy it has brought to both of their lives. This is a candid and honest account of the realities of living with dementia as well as the joy, hope and strenghth that can be found in sharing experiences, connection and community.

Find out more about Brian and Keely visit:

Instagram: @lifeofbrianandloki

To support fundraising for Loki’s training and enter the prize draw go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-life-of-brian-and-loki

To find out more about Pathways visit: https://www.dementiapathways.co.uk/what-we-do/

Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 5 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast.

To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:

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Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: nicki@resiliencework.co.uk