When the Bugs Came

This is Joe’s first foray into the world of Children’s Picture books, but not unlike his other written pieces, this also has great rhythm and rhyme.

When the bugs came, is a funny, charming, heart-warming and authentic recall of the events of Lockdown as told my Jacob, Isla and Mum. It has wonderful pace about it, but also, the ability to take you back to these unprecedented times of Isolation, but through the eyes of a child. Coupled with Illustrator Andy Gray’s detailed colourful and chaotic drawings the text weaves its way through the book, like an airborne virus.

The content recalls handwashing by singing happy birthday, clapping for our heroes, home-schooling and the feeling of isolation from this young family. It’s very likely that this will become a picture book reference to those never to be forgotten or hopefully repeated days. And it is hoped that families, organisations and schools will use this to help children remember and understand for years to come.

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In January 2018, Ben's brother Sam ended his own life. Forced to to carry out resuscitation for almost half an hour before the mass of emergency services arrived, Ben was faced with a choice to feel like a victim, or concentrate his pain on campaigning to ensure this doesn't happen to another family, to ensure that another boy doesn't have to speak at the funeral of his younger brother.

Since then Ben has been received a Diana Award, appointed as a Linkedin Changemaker and has pushed hard for 10 Downing Street to reconsider their efforts in Mental Health support for schools & workplaces.

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A brand strategist with over 30 years’ experience, Sid set up his own agency, Mad Hen, back in 2009. Since then, he’s crafted brand identities for countless companies, and held workshops with over 1,000 businesses and 3,000 young people every year.

It was during one of these workshops that Sid developed the idea for the Meee Programme, realising that he could channel his branding expertise to help people believe in who they are. After asking a group of school pupils to pick one word to describe themselves, Sid was horrified that 15% used terms like ‘freak, ‘weirdo’ and ‘misfit’. These words would come up time and again - not just with students, but with adults of all ages.

Over the past two years, Sid’s been creating tools to help people feel more confident in themselves. Bringing together Sid’s in-depth knowledge of branding with techniques from psychology, neuroscience, education and sociology, the Meee Programme encourages everyone to recognise and believe in their abilities.

In March 2015, Sid was invited to Number 10 Downing Street to present the Meee Programme to Lord Young, who endorsed it as ‘a great initiative’. He’s now working with Job Centres, rehabilitation centres and educational establishments across the UK.

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Amanda is a coach and mentor to female business owners who want to break the shackles of stress and overwhelm and create more freedom in their work. Having owned her own business for 11 years, then selling it for six figures in early 2019, she was successful but unhappy.

In this conversation we talk about the paradox of experiencing both success (and all the good that came with it) alongside the overwhelming stress that Amanda experienced.

Theres more from the Amanda in the insiders club, where we talk 'Five Steps To Serenity'. You can join the insiders club over at ohmydaysacademy.co.uk

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Tom Elliott is one of the UK’s most exciting comedy magicians, touring throughout the year.. whilst also being the resident MC at his own variety night in Doncaster. Once described by Miranda Hart as ‘Such Fun’, Tom has appeared on BBC TV & Radio, had a feature piece in the Times Newspaper and raised almost £10,000 in crowdfunding support.

Founder of the ‘Oh My Days Academy’, Tom hosts a weekly podcast, championing the art of living life to the full. He is also the creator of Focused Creative - An online course and membership that seeks to aid creative people to declutter their ideas, position themselves for productivity and achieve their greatest ambitions.

As an ambassador for Compassion UK and Cinnamon Network International, Tom’s work serves to help thousands of vulnerable people across the world.

tom-elliott.org

ohmydaysacademy.co.uk

focusedcreative.co.uk

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Ian is an innovative entrepreneur, who connects church, commercial, civic and community leadership, to see influence and transformation. His key focus is understanding people and how they behave in groups. Ian has successfully founded a number of Virtual Networks and Virtual Organisations. He currently manages a number of Internet based projects that range from business development to community and social networking.

Ian is a trained teacher and graduate in technology. He has been involved in education and training since 1990 and his roles have included, Teacher of Design & Technology and ICT, Head of Student Services, Head of Marketing and Director of Information Learning Technology.

Ian first started working with Internet and Multimedia Learning Technologies in 1995. He has experience in managing IT strategy as well as skills in developing and supporting on-line learning, mentoring and assessment. He has also acted as an examiner for both GCSE and Advanced Level subjects. He has worked for AQA, OCR, and WJEC and is a Fellow of the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL),

Ian is a member of Rotary, a 1.2 million member organisation, made up of business and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change, in local communities, and around the world.

In March 2019, Ian was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, a Crown appointment, working alongside the Lord Lieutenant across the region.

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Caspar Chamberlain is the man behind 'Trained Personally'. A passion turned into a lifestyle that has driven him to study and learn more about the human body and how we can help ourselves feel, look and perform better.

trainedpersonally.com

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Dr Kandiah is a social entrepreneur with a vision to help solve some of society’s seemingly intractable problems through building partnerships across civil society, faith communities, government and philanthropy.

He is the founding director of Home For Good, a charity seeking to find loving homes for children in the care system. He is a passionate advocate for family reunification, fostering and adoption in order to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children worldwide.

Krish has written 13 books including the catalytic “Home for Good: Making a Difference for Vulnerable Children” and the award-winning “Paradoxology.” Dr Kandiah is a regular contributor to The Times of London and The Guardian, and is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 2.

Dr Kandiah is in demand as a speaker at both national and international conferences. He has spoken at the Q conference in Nashville and to a full house at TEDx Oxford on the topic “Can Hospitality Change the World?” He is a member of the Global Leadership Summit faculty and has spoken in places as diverse as Apple HQ in Cupertino, the GooglePlex, the Cabinet Office in Westminster and the Royal Albert Hall.

Krish is a consultant offering both creativity and academic reflection to bring strategic change, culture shift and innovation. He has expertise in the connections between international development, faith literacy and communication. Dr Kandiah is an ambassador for the UK aid and development charity Tearfund.

Dr Kandiah holds degrees in Chemistry, Missiology and Theology. His PhD is from Kings College, London.

He currently holds faculty positions at Regent College, Vancouver and Regents Park College, Oxford University, is an Honorary Research Fellow at the National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work at Bournemouth University and is an Honorary Reader in Theology at St Andrews University, Scotland.

Dr Kandiah lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and 6 children (through birth, fostering and adoption).

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Patrick is CEO and co-founder of Kintsugi Hope which came about following a series of personal trials and ill health affecting Patrick and his family. Prior to that, Patrick led urban youth charity, XLP which he also founded in 1996 and ran for 21 years.

Patrick has travelled to over thirty countries working with and on behalf of the poorest communities and is a regular contributor on radio and TV on issues of poverty and justice. He received the Mayor of London Peace Award in 2010 for his valuable contribution towards peace and justice and was also awarded an OBE from her Majesty the Queen for services to young people.

Patrick is a passionate communicator and equally at home on the main stage at major UK political party conferences, engaging in robust debates in the media, connecting with business and community leaders, speaking to inmates in a maximum security prison or gang leaders in Jamaica.

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Carol Barwick is the project manager of 'Raise, Creative Arts with a pastoral heart'

An ex-primary school teacher and church children’s worker, Carol has over 20 years experience working with a variety of different children including street children in Guatemala, children with additional needs in Bethnal Green and young carers in Bradford.

With a BAHons in creative writing and music, and a diploma in Creative Practise in Community settings, her passion is to raise the self-esteem and confidence of every one that she works with, carrying a belief that every one matters and that everyone should be able to communicate confidence.

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