Forming Connections

Forming Connections supports organisations, schools and individuals to thrive by intentionally designing environments where safety, connection, and inclusion are embedded, not left to chance. At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful understanding: when people feel safe in their bodies, understand the brain/body connection and are supported by their environment, they are better able to think clearly, learn effectively, collaborate well, and work sustainably. Through immersive workshops, training, consultancy, and coaching, we help people notice what’s happening beneath the surface and respond with compassion, clarity, and confidence.

The work is grounded in the science of connection, exploring how the brain and body respond to stress, how sensory, relational, and organisational environments shape behaviour, and why psychological and physiological safety form the foundation of wellbeing, learning, productivity, and inclusion. By increasing understanding of how stress and safety operate at a nervous system level, individuals and organisations can move away from blame-based approaches and towards compassionate, effective change.

Forming Connections draws on over 20 years of experience across education, inclusion, and wellbeing. This includes more than 15 years as a SEND teacher, qualifications in Dru Yoga and youth mindfulness, and five years working as an Advisory Teacher for Inclusion within a local authority, supporting whole-school and individual inclusion for school leavers. The work is further informed by lived experience as an AuDHD professional, bringing authenticity, insight, and nuance to conversations around neurodiversity, reasonable adjustments, and inclusive design.

I was fortunate enough to attend your annual event at Derby Theatre and witness the Dare to Dream slot, which in real time changed hearts and minds, I had a real sense of ‘We are Derby’, from the business community and it was very inspiring.