Connectiverse Perspectives

In this special Connectiverse podcast, we visit Brew & Move at the Manor Hub in Cleveleys. The group brings gentle, adaptable movement together with a brew and a friendly chat. Hear how it helps people build confidence, make friendships and feel part of their community. And yes, there may be cake too.

In this episode of Connectiverse Perspectives, Tom is joined by PC Gavin Blades and PCSO Lisa Butler for an open and wide-ranging conversation about community policing and what it really means to be part of the neighbourhood you serve. 

They explore why seeing familiar police officers on local streets still matters, how relationships and trust are built over time, and why neighbourhood policing can look very different from the blue lights and emergency response most of us associate with the police. 

Tom also raises the relationship between the police and younger people, while Gavin and Lisa discuss antisocial behaviour, road safety, working with schools, the importance of reporting local concerns, and why something that seems insignificant could provide an important piece of information. 

The conversation looks at how technology and social media have changed policing too — from tackling misinformation to services such as In The Know and Coffee with a Cop, which offer different ways for local people to stay informed and speak directly with their neighbourhood team. 

There are plenty of personal stories along the way, as Gavin and Lisa share experiences from their careers and explain why listening, being approachable and simply taking the time to talk to people can make such a difference.

Policing With the Community goes beyond uniforms and emergency calls to look at the people behind neighbourhood policing — and why safer communities work best when people communicate, support one another and feel listened to. 

Find out more about Connectiverse at

Connectiverse

Today on the Connectiverse Podcast, we bring you a special episode recorded at our dementia awareness event, bringing together professionals, community organisations, students, carers, and attendees to share experiences, advice, and ideas around dementia support and awareness. 

Across the episode, we explore why dementia awareness matters, challenge common myths, hear about the support available locally, and discuss the importance of community, connection, and helping people live well following a diagnosis. We also touch on topics including caring, staying active, supporting families, and protecting older people from scams and isolation. 

Through conversations recorded throughout the day, this episode highlights one simple message: support exists, people should not face dementia alone, and greater understanding can make a real difference.

Available now on all the usual platforms.

In this episode of Connectiverse Perspectives, Andrea is joined by wellbeing strategist and The Chronic Edge Unleashed host Elliot Evans for an honest and thoughtful conversation about chronic illness, neurodivergence, masking, and the realities of modern workplace culture.

Drawing on both professional insight and lived experience, Elliot explores how people with long-term conditions are often reduced to assumptions, labels, or statistics — rather than being seen for their strengths, abilities, and potential.

Together, they discuss workplace wellbeing, flexibility, psychological safety, identity, fatigue, and the pressure many people feel to appear “fine” even when they’re struggling behind the scenes.

The episode also looks at why meaningful support goes far deeper than token gestures, and how understanding, openness, and communication can transform both workplaces and lives.

Warm, reflective, and often funny, More Than a Diagnosis is a powerful reminder that people are always more than the conditions they live with.

You can also hear more from Elliot on The Chronic Edge Unleashed:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Amazon Music

Connectiverse Perspectives

In this episode, Tom sits down with Harry, the creator behind Harry Eats and Captures and a contributor to Connectiverse magazine.

Harry shares how a moment of boredom during lockdown led him to pick up his dad’s old camera, and how that simple decision grew into a passion for photography, storytelling, and supporting local businesses across Lancashire.

Together, they explore the inspiration behind his work, how his interests in food, history, and the outdoors all connect, and why using his platform to give back to the community matters so much to him.

The conversation also touches on autism, challenging misconceptions, and how personal experience shapes the way we see and share the world around us.

Connectiverse is a platform that brings together perspectives from lived experience, professionals, and the community, with a focus on mental health, wellbeing, neurodiversity, and accessibility. You can find out more at Connectiverse magazine.

This episode reflects that mission through an honest and thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity, and finding your voice.

In the very first episode of Connectiverse Perspectives, Tom is joined by Denise Lowe, founder of Connectiverse, and contributor Andrea Sandiford to explore Issue 10 of the Connectiverse magazine.

From the very start, this edition feels different — packed with powerful, personal stories that stay with you long after reading. Together, they reflect on the impact of the issue, including conversations around mental health, financial confidence for young people, emotionally available schools, and the realities of masking and identity.

Along the way, the discussion moves naturally between insight and lived experience — from the importance of practical tools like Money Smart Children, to the emotional weight of real stories, to the value of giving space to voices that don’t always feel heard.

This is not a formal review. It’s a genuine conversation — honest, thoughtful, and at times deeply personal — about what happens when a magazine doesn’t just inform, but connects.

To read the full edition, visit:

connectiverse.co.uk

This first episode of Connectiverse Perspectives was recorded at Christmas Coffee and Cheer at The Manor Community Hub.

Across the episode, you’ll hear short conversations with partners, contributors, and community organisations who work alongside Connectiverse — people supporting carers, families, young people, and individuals navigating health, education, wellbeing, and community services.

Rather than formal interviews, these are honest reflections on connection: why it matters, how it works in practice, and what happens when services stop working in isolation.

The episode closes with a conversation with Denise, the founder of Connectiverse, reflecting on the day, the journey so far, and the thinking behind creating a space that connects people to support through trust, lived experience, and community.

This episode captures a moment of shared space, shared purpose, and real voices — recorded as it happened.