WayMakers Devon

WayMakers Devon WayMakers is a Community Interest Company committed to neurodiversity acceptance and inclusion.

Our services include:
- Bespoke 1-to-1 coaching to support transitions such as accessing study or work;
- Business consultancy and autism training for employers, HR managers, line managers and co-workers
- Workplace needs and reasonable adjustments guidance
- Job coaching

We are all at our best when we are heard, valued and can be our best, authentic versions of ourselves. So our goal is for auti

stic and anxious individuals to flourish alongside workplace culture, creativity, productivity and effectiveness.

We don't need the Millburn Review to Remind us how important recruitment practice is.And putting real at the heart o...
01/06/2026

We don't need the Millburn Review to Remind us how important recruitment practice is.

And putting real at the heart of the process, so we can then evaluate their potential for the job, is what matters.

A striking 1 in 8 young people are currently Not in Education, Employment or Training in the UK.

Many adults are also facing hard times in the jobs market. Some are the jobseekers, others are the employers, wondering how to fill the skills gap, or replace the departing staff...

And older generations might forget that not too long ago, securing work may have been about answering an ad in the paper, having a conversation and being given a trial run.

Going through a hefty selection process (or not, if it's not ), some of it automated by technology, and meeting reams of criteria to jump through hoops disadvantages many.

have heaps of ideas, are socially engaged, innovative and hungry to make their way in the world.

Consider what questions we're asking, how we ask them, and how we can be more flexible with options, and we'll find gold in what we get back.

Year 2 is going to be 🎉 smashing 🎉 as we see an expansion of the model within RISE. ✨ workshops - Raising Inclusion S...
22/05/2026

Year 2 is going to be 🎉 smashing 🎉 as we see an expansion of the model within RISE. ✨

workshops - Raising Inclusion Standards for Everyone - are designed and delivered by the RISE Leaders themselves. And of course, they are also involved in designing materials, collecting data and negotiating future plans.

This week's gathering took it further - looking at all more of the administrative and communications parts of the project, RISE Leaders put their names beside additional tasks that they'd like to take on, indicating where they'd like to through additional .

We have exciting plans for developing the original workshop - a day in their lives at secondary school - to include primary school settings and healthcare experiences... Watch this space!

It's hard to believe we're approaching the end of the first year of funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation . And fabulous to have this committed team of CoDesigners to take it forward.

One said, "Before getting involved, I was unsure how much impact RISE would have. It's shown me that the workshop can make a real on professionals' understanding of the experiences of autistic young people." 😁

(Sadly missing one RISE Leader and Anna this week!)

21/05/2026

Pay Studio-KIND. a visit before Saturday evening if you haven't already to catch the remaining days of our exhibition - 'Becoming Visible'!

And then pay Studio KIND a visit anyway - always a great programme of events, workshops, creative meet-ups and exhibitions.

Once we see why this makes sense, we can't unsee it.Setting up new systems and environments can feel like "front loaded"...
18/05/2026

Once we see why this makes sense, we can't unsee it.

Setting up new systems and environments can feel like "front loaded" work. But it reaps rewards.

And many of us do it in other parts of our lives for good reason - think about:
- 'zoned' areas for different heating adjustments in your home.
- differently sized, shaped and designed cutlery for different hands and dishes.
- salt, pepper and condiments on the table for people to add to their own meal.

Common sense, when you think about it?

...remind me why I started WayMakers.They are those who are building - and rebuilding - their lives, with the fiercest d...
15/05/2026

...remind me why I started WayMakers.

They are those who are building - and rebuilding - their lives, with the fiercest determination and warmest orb of hope for their futures.

And they are those who don't see how much stamina it takes to power that engine of determination and hope.

Both are the reason. And they often sit side by side. My own story became relevant only once it became apparent to me, and it will probably always feel like a footnote.

Are you a parent/carer of a young person age 16-25 with ADHD?If so, please read on to find out about taking part in some...
14/05/2026

Are you a parent/carer of a young person age 16-25 with ADHD?

If so, please read on to find out about taking part in some focus group sessions with a team of researchers at King's College London .

There's a video here with more information:
https://youtube.com/shorts/yXjFSgZaAEI?si=Vof2zmGVVk79lsAO

Contact the team directly via the address shown below, or scan the QR code.

What you see here is a group of young adults "holding space" with a deft balance of delivering information and enabling ...
10/05/2026

What you see here is a group of young adults "holding space" with a deft balance of delivering information and enabling delegates to talk amongst themselves. There's a skill to that, and our Leaders have it nailed.

We had a first last week, when four of our took their workshop to a primary school.

What they give are insights into the realities of school days for , their experiences and their recommendations. And they also started exploring how to develop their workshop with some details specific to primary settings.

For and support staff at any level who want to develop their Inclusion initiatives, you don't want to miss RISE - click the link in our bio and get in touch to find out more.

What if we approached our interactions with a lot more "and they might..."?"They're an excellent public speaker - and th...
08/05/2026

What if we approached our interactions with a lot more "and they might..."?

"They're an excellent public speaker - and they might still be really nervous."

"They always have sunglasses on, even in winter - and they might have some light sensitivity that gives them headaches."

"They're always so slow to get going on their work in the mornings - and they might function best late in the day and evening, when they're twice as productive as anyone else."

"They often look stern and displeased - and that might not reflect how they're actually feeling: they might just be concentrating hard."

When what others see first - or notice the most - are a person's struggles, that can become the headline that drives the narrative. Their potential may be underestimated because their strengths are less visible, or maybe not explored or nurtured.

Equally, if someone excels in obvious ways - they excel academically, their organisational or relational skills are outstanding - their challenges may remain out of sight. They may even be overlooked, since "they're doing well" is what people see.

Whether it's assumed competence or assumed incompetence, we're still making assumptions that likely won't match someone's reality.

Both pleasure and positivity emerged from this project and we felt so glad and grateful to have met everyone who was inv...
04/05/2026

Both pleasure and positivity emerged from this project and we felt so glad and grateful to have met everyone who was involved.

Saturday's opening event brought it all together: the young people who have met regularly since January, experimenting with ideas, materials, and with new friendships they've formed, artist Nicky Ruddick who facilitated such a great array of workshops, Izzy the volunteer who was an ever-present, steady calm in the space, and - of course - all the art that was created during this time!

You'll have to visit to see for yourself - there are such thoughtful and thought-provoking pieces on what it means to be ourselves.

And the fabulous work from and Lenny are so aligned with this theme, and so appreciated as part of the exhibition - thank you for showing these too!

Huge thanks to Nicky, Izzy, all the team at Studio-KIND. , our funders, Anna, and all the creative young people who took part. You made it.

And the fact that you all want to keep in touch is the 🍒 on the 🎂! 🥰

I do wonder how many businesses are aware that they can create a double-win by taking on an from the . If you aren't,...
01/05/2026

I do wonder how many businesses are aware that they can create a double-win by taking on an from the . If you aren't, listen up.

For us, this is a no-brainer with so many benefits - so much so that we are welcoming two interns this year!

Of course, this must be meaningful and useful to the intern: you create a placement that harnesses and develops their skills and knowledge, their skills, and offers meaningful experience of a business project.

In return, we get to work with young people who have strong research, analytical and writing skills, who are passionate about what we do, which makes them motivated and eager to generate good results, and who bring 80 hours of valuable work to the business, funded through a wonderful funded scheme.

We all remember what those early work and career entry experiences could be like. Some are gruelling, others mindless and uninspiring. I volunteered after graduating from university in an effort to get into my then-preferred field. It's not any easier in 2026!

Making early experiences of work available, accessible and meaningful is an investment on many levels for all parties, and I'm very humbled to be nominated here.

I look forward to sharing the afternoon with our current intern - also nominated for an award - in a couple of weeks. 🥰

Address

Barnstaple
EX311QZ

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+447309563563

Website

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