Happy Smiles CIC

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Happy Smiles CIC Multi-award-winning social enterprise, led by disabled people. See our work in action at www.happysmilestraining.co.uk.
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We ‘Do Disability Differently’, delivering training, access audits, advocacy and more, led by lived experience experts.

How much do you look forward to Mondays in your job? 🙋‍♂️If you do, we’d love to know why!Our team tell us they’re excit...
19/10/2026

How much do you look forward to Mondays in your job? 🙋‍♂️

If you do, we’d love to know why!

Our team tell us they’re excited for Mondays because they get to see colleagues who genuinely care, understand each other and create inclusive environments where people can thrive… because they ‘get it’.

We want Happy Smiles to be a place where people feel valued, supported and able to be themselves at work.

If that sounds like somewhere you already work, or somewhere you would like to work, let us know!

You can also find out more about getting involved with our work at our next Welcome Session on Wednesday 28th October, 12–1pm.

Join us in person at:
Waterway House Business Centre, Zone 2 – Units 5–7, Canal Street, Wigan, WN6 7NQ

Or join via Teams:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/395305781565523?p=NPCQ39Eob2ELEjBieW

Here are a few photos from our 7th birthday celebration last month, with members of our team simply enjoying being together.

Image descriptions:

Image 1: A smiling Haydn wearing a colourful patterned top, with a bright pink “Strike!” sticker on their forehead during the birthday celebration.

Image 2: Kerry and James smiling together, wearing a Happy Smiles “Inclusion Champion” polo shirt.

Image 3: Lisa, James and Chloe posing together and smiling, in front of a dark brick wall.

Image 4: Leah and Beccy smiling together at the celebration,

Image 5: Kurt and Mark standing side by side and smiling for the camera inside the venue.

Image 6: Lindsay and Anna smiling together

Image 7: Amelia and Amy smiling together

Image 8: Kurt, Lindsay, Kevin, Lindsay, and Angus, gathered behind a counter with a large gold number 7 balloon, celebrating Happy Smiles’ 7th birthday.

16/10/2026

Lindsay and Kerry had a brilliant day yesterday at this Neurodiversity in the Workplace event put on by Inclusive Companies!

As neurodivergent people themselves, opportunities like this are really important. They create space to share lived experience, learn from others and explore what genuinely neuro-inclusive workplaces look like in practice - from communication and meetings to feedback, leadership and reducing cognitive overload.

This connects directly to how we work at Happy Smiles, with many of our workforce being neurodivergent people.

We believe neuroinclusion should go beyond awareness and lead to practical changes that help people thrive at work.

Our team can support organisations with lived experience-led training, conversations and practical approaches to creating more inclusive workplaces.

If you’d like to find out how we can support your organisation to create environments for your workforce to thrive, get in touch with us!

Video description: Clips from the Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Turning Good Intentions into Real Impact event in Manchester, showing speakers, discussions and attendee activity.

Our workshops are shaped by the people who know the subject best - people with lived experience.Here’s Haydn, James, Ell...
14/10/2026

Our workshops are shaped by the people who know the subject best - people with lived experience.

Here’s Haydn, James, Ella and Lisa working together on workshop content, including developing their contribution to our Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism workshops.

This kind of co-production is what matters most to us. Our team doesn’t just take part in training - they help shape the content, the messages and the way learning is delivered.

That’s how we keep our work authentic, relevant and grounded in real experiences.

See your workshops in action via our website!

Image description: A four-photo collage showing members of the Happy Smiles team working together around tables in the office. Haydn, James, Ella and Lisa are using laptops, notebooks and discussion to develop workshop content, with several team members smiling and contributing to the session.

12/10/2026

And the winner is...

Orrell Lamberhead Green Primary School!

At this year’s Wigan Council Youth Climate Summit, we brought along something a bit special… our very own homemade Happy Smiles planter!

Children and young people at the summit got their hands in the soil and planted the seeds themselves, so this planter is already full of their hopes for a greener and more inclusive future.

Today, James and Maria spun the wheel to find its new home!

Not only that, Orrell Lamberhead Green has also won a selection of our Books of Belonging children’s books. These are stories about disability, health and inclusion, written in rhyme and as pictures books, so every child can see themselves on the page.

Huge congratulations, and a massive thank you to every young person who planted a seed of belonging at the summit!

Doing disability differently, one seed at a time!

Video description: James and Maria sit side by side at a table in the Happy Smiles office, smiling and speaking at the camera. Then on-screen is a colourful selection wheel which stops on “Orrell Lamberhead Green” before going back to James and Maria.

09/10/2026

We do disability differently… and that starts with how we employ and support our team.

To finish our Good Employment Charter Good Employment Week video series, our co-founder Haydn shares what makes him so proud about Happy Smiles CIC and the way we operate as a disabled people’s-led organisation.

For Haydn, this isn’t just about creating jobs. It’s about creating a workplace where disabled people have a voice, are valued for what they bring and have genuine opportunities to lead.

More than 90% of our team are disabled people, and lived experience doesn’t sit at the edge of our organisation - it leads the way.

Want to find out more?
Go to www.happysmilestraining.co.uk

Video description: Happy Smiles CIC co-founder Haydn talks about his pride in the organisation and its approach to creating inclusive employment led by disabled people.

08/10/2026

Want to hear one of our team’s favourite pieces of advice? 💭

Challenge the assumptions, not the person.

Assumptions can create barriers before a person even gets the chance to show what they can do.

Don’t assume what someone can’t do something just because it’s seen as ‘normal’.

Ask, listen and give people the opportunity to do it their way.

In a week that has included World Cerebral Palsy Day as well as Greater Manchester Good Employment Week, we hope we give people those opportunities.

Let's try a strengths-based focus and look at what people can do!

Video description: Various members of the Happy Smiles CIC team, in an outside setting and office setting, sharing their lived experience with limiting assumptions.

07/10/2026

What if we designed jobs around people, rather than expecting people to fit around jobs? 🤔

For our second Greater Manchester Employment Week video, Jenny shares how flexibility within her role at Happy Smiles CIC helps her to work in a way that works for her.

Flexible and inclusive employment isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about removing unnecessary barriers so people can bring their skills, experience and ideas to work.

At Happy Smiles, we know there isn’t one way to be a great employee. That’s why we try to listen, adapt and create roles where people can thrive.

Because when workplaces become more flexible and accessible, everybody benefits!

Video description: Jenny from sat wearing a black happy smiles fleece talks about the flexibility she has within her role and how this supports her at work.

06/10/2026

It's World Cerebral Palsy Day 💚

Today we’re celebrating the strengths, achievements and individuality of every person living with CP, including many of our wonderful team!

Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong condition that can affect movement, coordination and posture, but it does not define a person or what they can achieve… as said by the our team in this video, sharing their lived experiences!

Video description: Members of the Happy Smiles CIC team, in an office setting, sharing their lived experience of cerebal palsy.

05/10/2026

This Good Employment Week, powered by Good Employment Charter, we’re sharing what inclusive employment looks like through the people who know it best… our team!

First up is Mark, one of the newest members of the Happy Smiles CIC team.

In this video, Mark talks about his role, what being part of Happy Smiles means to him and the difference having meaningful employment and adjustments can make.

For us, inclusive employment isn’t about simply giving disabled people a job. It’s about recognising people’s strengths, creating the right environment and providing genuine opportunities to contribute, develop and thrive.

We’re proud to have Mark as part of the team! And even prouder that his voice and the lived experience expertise of our team is helping us create change across Greater Manchester and beyond!

Video description: Mark, a member of the Happy Smiles CIC team, talks about his experience of employment and his role within the organisation.

01/10/2026

October is ADHD Awareness Month.

As Alex explains here in the video, ADHD is more than being easily distracted or “hyperactive”. It can affect attention, organisation, emotional regulation, memory and so much more.

This month is a reminder to learn, listen and understand... because the right support and understanding can make a huge difference to someones life! ☺️

Let’s create more inclusive spaces where everyone can feel understood, supported and valued.

We'd love to know in the comments, what does ADHD mean to you?

Video description: Alex, wearing his Happy Smiles grey top with the yellow logo on, in an office setting, sharing his own lived experience on ADHD.

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Wigan

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 9am - 3:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm

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