Six Months Ago I Apologised for Taking Up Space

The past two months have reminded me how powerful support, community and opportunity can be and something has shifted for me and for Kindling Minds.

Not because of one big moment, but because of many small ones that, together, have built something I am incredibly grateful for.

Six months ago, I would often apologise for taking up space. I would second guess my ideas and question whether the work I cared about truly mattered.

Today, I am beginning to see what can happen when the right support, encouragement, and opportunities appear at the right time.

Over the past few months I have had the privilege of connecting with incredible people and organisations who believe in the importance of inclusive education and supporting young people who think differently.

Through South of Scotland Enterprise and the Pathways programme, I have been given opportunities that I could never have imagined when I first started this journey.

I am currently collaborating with South of Scotland Enterprise to develop educational resources, videos and case studies supporting young people aged 14–30 to recognise their strengths and explore sustainable career pathways. Being trusted with work like this is something I am deeply grateful for.

Alongside this, I have had the opportunity to connect with so many inspiring people through networking conversations, events and new collaborations. Each conversation has helped shape the direction of Kindling Minds and reminded me that meaningful change rarely happens in isolation.

One of the most powerful moments recently was attending the South of Scotland Enterprise International Women’s Day event in Gretna. Standing in a room filled with over a hundred inspiring women, hearing their stories and celebrating the impact women are making across our region was something I will not forget.

In a moment that still feels slightly surreal, the CEO of South of Scotland Enterprise mentioned my name during the opening of the event. Looking around and realising that people in the room knew who I was and what Kindling Minds stands for was both humbling and incredibly motivating.

I also had the opportunity to speak about my work on ITV Borders. Sharing the story behind Kindling Minds and the importance of inclusive education on a wider platform was something I never expected when I first started this journey.

But as meaningful as these moments have been, the most important part of the past two months has been the people behind them.

Through this journey I have been incredibly fortunate to meet women who have become mentors, role models and friends.

Jill, Lindsay and Tara have each had a profound impact on my confidence and on the direction of my work. Their encouragement, belief and willingness to open doors has helped me step into opportunities that once felt far outside my comfort zone.

They are constant reminders that when women support, encourage and empower each other, incredible things can happen.

The last two months have taught me something important...

Progress rarely arrives as one huge breakthrough. More often it arrives through conversations, introductions, encouragement and small steps that slowly build momentum.

Every conversation, every opportunity and every person who has offered support has played a part in helping Kindling Minds grow.

And while I am incredibly proud of the progress made so far, this really does feel like just the beginning.

My goal remains simple: to continue building resources, programmes and partnerships that support neurodivergent young people to recognise their strengths, build confidence and access meaningful opportunities in education and employment.

To everyone who has offered encouragement, shared advice, opened doors or simply believed in the work I am doing, thank you.

It truly means more than you realise.

And to anyone currently at the beginning of their own journey, wondering if their ideas are worth pursuing or if they belong in the spaces they find themselves entering, I hope this serves as a reminder that small steps still move mountains.

Kindling Minds is growing because of community, collaboration and people who believe that every mind deserves the chance to thrive.