Cardiff Coaching Conference – 16th March 2023

On the 16th March, Brenda Houghton, Sarah Bridgeman and Martin Quick – three of our brilliant 3SC Coaches, attended the All Wales Coaching Conference. Here Brenda share’s some of her highlights from the day:

I had only been in my role for a few weeks as a Neurodiversity Coach with 3SC when I had the opportunity to attend the Wales Annual Coaching Conference 2023, which this year celebrated its 10th anniversary. The theme for the conference was ‘Coaching Evolution’ which addressed some of the social justice issues impacting local communities.

As we know, social justice promotes fairness and equity across many aspects of society, which is one of 3SC’s principles, and is a key part of my role, working predominantly with people on probation.

There were several guest speakers and workshops, and it was a great place to hear how the world of coaching has developed.

I really enjoyed listening to Jenny Rogers who spoke about her own personal journey of coaching; Jenny has been working in the field for over 30 years and has seen how coaching has changed. Jenny, along with most of us, work in coaching to make a difference and she feels there is not a topic that doesn’t have an emotional element to it.

Jenny spoke about sometimes having to change hats for what is going on in the room. Which was extremely thought provoking, as coaching is a series of conversations that focuses on individual growth and development and is a process that both parties enter into willingly with clear expectations. However, coaching is not therapy or a replacement for it, but sometimes it does enter the room. As Coaches, it’s important to understand what do we do with it when it is there.

Jenny was one of several great speakers at the conference, and I came away from the event having learnt so much from the experience of the speakers and experts attending. I left feeling encouraged, with increased excitement about my role at 3SC and the coaching we are providing to support neurodiverse people on probation. I realised that even if we are new to coaching or are seasoned coaches such as Jenny, we all have a unique role to play.

If we can help find the unrealised potential that exists within the people we work with, we can help work out what motivates them and help them to overcome barriers that have been in their lives, often for a very long time.

3SC has developed the Neurodiversity Coaching program for people who are on probation to support a person to understand their own thoughts feelings and behaviours, to explore their choices and consequences of their offending behaviour and to find safer alternatives.

Often people we work with haven’t had the opportunity to talk to someone who doesn’t make a judgement or tell them what to do, but is there instead to support and encourage them. Often we are able to coach people, enable them to challenge themselves to change their future, their relationship with themselves, professionals, and their families. These factors are usually closely linked to their relationship with offending.

The theme of year’s conference was ‘social justice promotes fairness and equity across many aspects of society.’ Working on a programme which does exactly this is very important and impactful.

Brenda Houghton, Neurodiversity Coach| 3SC