July 28, 2025 • 35 mins
The brilliant Ella Grace Gregoire and Elaine Gregoire join the We Are PoWEr Podcast - a mother-daughter duo with a shared mission to uplift, include, and never leave anyone behind.
Elaine, founder of Streetwise and a foster carer, shares how she turned a church youth club into a thriving support hub for young people - all while navigating burnout and dancing through recovery (literally, with a Strictly Come Dancing charity challenge). Ella, a performance and wellbeing consultant, reflects on starting her own business at 17, advocating for Northern voices, and why in-person connection matters now more than ever.
From CITV to King Charles, ice baths to authenticity, this episode is packed with passion, perspective, and two fierce women who always think they’re right and might just be.
In this episode:
How Streetwise grew from church youth clubs to a thriving centre
Foster care, family sessions, and community-driven work
Burnout, boundaries, and dancing through recovery
Performing on Coronation Street and CITV
Starting a business at 17 to give young people more opportunities
Attending the King’s coronation and a royal visit to Buckingham Palace
The power of lived experience and advocating for mental health
Embracing neurodivergence and showing up as your full self
Why in-person connection still matters in a digital world
Magic wand moments: chronic pain, phone-free futures & radical self-care
Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast.
If this is your first time here, the we Are Power podcast is
the podcast for you, your careerand your life.
We release an episode everysingle Monday with listeners in
over 60 countries worldwide,where you'll hear personal life
stories, top-notch industryadvice and key leadership
insight from amazing role models.
(00:21):
As we Are Power is the umbrellabrand to Northern Power Women
Awards, which celebrateshundreds of female role models
and advocates every year.
This is where you can hearstories from all of our awards
alumni and stay up to date witheverything.
Mpw Awards and we Are PowerNever imitated, never replicated
singularly wonderful,everybody's wonder girl.
(00:45):
Well, hello and welcome to thepodcast.
This week I have a two for one.
I have Ella Grace, who issocial entrepreneur, performer
and mental health advocate, andmum Lainey or Elaine.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Obviously, I was christened Elaine, but all the
kids call me Lainey.
What do you want to be today?
Lainey's fine Lainey.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
All right.
And you are the founder of thewonderful Streetwise charity,
and between them you havetransformed thousands and
thousands of lives.
Now here's a challenge for thestart.
Okay, how would you describeyour mum in three words?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
It has to be braveheart.
That's in three words.
It has to be Braveheart.
That's not three words, that'sone word.
Oh, we're typhoonated.
You can have whatever you want,it's all good.
Braveheart, or Scottish Warrior, ginger.
Scottish Warrior, the fire,fire, scottish Warrior.
Does that even make sense?
I don't know.
There you go.
I like Braveheart.
You have to be a Braveheart.
Yes, yes, braveheart, becauseyou had me at.
(01:53):
Braveheart, yes, yes, and youneed the why behind that?
A bit of context.
Yeah, that's it.
So basically, my mum is aScottish warrior.
There you go.
Well, we're part Glaswegian andshe's got the fire.
She's got the fire in her.
She drives everyone um, she isthe driving force behind our
family and she has, she will.
She's taught me strength,resilience like a Braveheart
Warriors.
There you go, and a truenorthern power woman right true.
Oh, she is the OG power woman.
(02:13):
That is it.
That is it.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
That's true too kind of I can feel a whole merch
range already before we've evenstarted.
Braveheart, the OG, all of theabove, laney, tell us about this
one wow.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, she took out the words I was going to
describe her, but I've got two,if that's okay.
So sure, what I do with ella,I've always called her my black
scottish warrior, because, yeah,because she has always been, uh
, such a warrior.
So she has taken that.
But extraordinary, that's theword I would describe Bella.
I mean, from the day she cameout of my womb she went ta-da,
(02:47):
I'm here, I'm here.
She's always been extra.
In everything she does, shealways goes the extra mile, she
works extra hard and everythingshe does is extra.
Yeah, definitely, that's thebest way to describe her Extra
passion.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I first met the pair of you at the Northern Power
Women Awards, where I saw Ithink I saw smiles and this just
you like sparkle, the pair ofyou.
You came in looking extra bythe way down that purple carpet
and after you, shortlisted forone of our awards this year
(03:24):
which was amazing, and we, weare watching.
And then you're like I wouldlike to come on the podcast,
it'd be great to have more, youknow, younger voices, which is
100% up our street.
And I'm like hell, yes, yeah.
And you're like, can I bringLainey as well?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
because you advocated for your mum, which I thought
was just so smart and specialand just gorgeous yeah, I always
think that um, it's soimportant to have, I think, the
the most amazing change makersand the people that are doing
the best work, like sometimesdon't know how to have the
platform, and I've alwaysadvocated for people that are
(04:01):
like um, like, especially in thechange-making world with
grassroots charities and there'sso many stars, especially up
north.
People don't know about us andI'm always going down when I go
down to London and I'm sayinglook at us, we're, we're
northern change makers.
People don't know and we needthat platform.
So we're always advocating forthat, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Do you know what?
And that is true northern power, women, spirit.
The spirit of why we createdthe awards was to high five
achievements, to unearth theamazing role models, the people
who don't get the platform, thestage, the voice.
So the fact that you've beenshortlisted been part of this
and straight away you'rethrowing that light out over to
our Lainey here.
Lainey, tell us about thecharity that you set up.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah well, I co-founded it with my husband,
jerry, so he does need to takehalf the credit.
It's not just me.
And that was 23 years ago.
We started running youth clubsjust from a church hall and the
initial reason was we have twoolder children.
They were teenagers at the timeand Nintendos had just come out
(05:03):
.
So all of a sudden they're inthe bedrooms.
We never saw them.
We thought they're gettingunfit.
It's socially unhealthy.
So we said, come on, we'll startlike a keep fit sort of club
for the teens.
So we talked to our daughterand our son, we got them to
bring their friends and thenthat gradually morphed into
youth clubs.
Then we started doingperforming arts and then we
(05:23):
started doing street dance andbox fit.
So every night of the week wehad a mini bus and we'd be
picking up children and takingthem to all these different
things and yeah, so this sort ofmorphed um.
We then decided that my husbanddecided to become a youth worker
and do a degree in his 40swhich was amazing so that he
could further this.
And then about eight years ago,we actually got our own what
(05:46):
was derelict, our own communitycenter, and we renovated it with
no money or anything, it was anabsolute blessing.
And now it's been transformedinto a purpose-built youth,
youth and community center and,um, you know, we've got games
room, music room, performing artstudio, 3g pitch, outdoor
gardens.
So yeah, that's it, and it'ssomething that became a hobby,
(06:09):
became a passion and became afull-time well, voluntary yeah
and that's it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
That's another point.
Like it's it's all voluntary,like that shows my mum and dad's
passion and that's what'salways inspired me to volunteer
as well, because they have putover 30 hours a week plus for
their time all for free, and andthey keep very humble about it.
But it is something that's mademe think right, I need to give
my time as well, and I've seenhow it changes lives, which
(06:37):
shows the genuine care.
I won't butt in anymore.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Go on, no all the butting are we like.
But you know just and I thinkthis is where we talk about
highlighting this northern great, amazing talent and amazing
people driving change.
But did you ever imagine, fromjust the concept of trying to
get the kids off the nintendoand and not sort of stagnate in
their bedrooms, could you everimagine it would be what it is?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
no, no, it's just morphed.
It morphed into a monster atsome point, because we are
literally there.
I mean, luckily, we're fostercarers, so you know, that's our
job, our income.
So when the children, orwhoever we're looking after, are
at school, you know, during theday, we're able to do the work
streetwise and then also incorporate, taking them to the
work that we do in the eveningsat the youth clubs, stem,
(07:22):
whatever we're doing.
So it works hand in hand.
So we've been fortunate to todo that as well, and you talked
about performing arts.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Is this how you got into performing arts?
Aloe?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
um, well, I was always a dancer, um, and I did
ballet originally, uh, royalacademy, old school ballet and I
sort of just fell intoperforming arts.
Through slipping through it Iwent.
I was a massive corrie fan.
I used to make my own littleshows, didn't I?
I used to write my own littlescripts and a little weirdo.
That's what we did before iPads, yeah, before iPads.
(07:54):
And then I went to one of myfirst auditions ever.
Didn't expect to get it, andthen ended up on Corrie and then
it just snowballed and wentdown the acting route.
So that's actually how I gotinto it.
But then my mum did all thestreet dance.
We had a street dance crew andshe used to pick everyone up and
take us all and and take us allto lessons and we did
(08:16):
competitions and everything.
It was all my friends and itwas we were really good.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
We did quite a lot of shows, didn't we as well?
We put on shows called Time toShine for the children.
So I think our thing is it'sabout allowing children to have
a go at anything and things likedance and performing arts,
stage school.
They cost a fortune.
So what we do with Streetwiseis, if we see a talent, we'll
nurture it at no cost, get thekids into doing it and then
(08:41):
allow them to have a go at itreally, and yeah, yeah.
So it's allowing everybodywe're all inclusive to see that
talent and nurture it but it'sso simple, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
because it gives you the chance almost to try before
you buy, because not everyone'sgood at everything, but you can
still enjoy it if you're notgood at it.
I'm dreadful at singing,dancing, all of that stuff.
Oh no, my husband teaches salsa.
I cannot, no no, no that's awhole other episode we'll get
into that one tell us what itwas like being a young actor on
Corrie?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
such an established yeah um yeah, well, I did a few
things as a kid.
Um, I also was a tv presenter,so I had my own show on CITV
which don't even exist anymore,which is so sad um, which was
was like the ITV's version ofCBeebies.
But I think being a childactress is like a.
(09:30):
It's a mixed bag really,because there was amazing
highlights to it, but it alsowas a lot of pressure and there
was a lot of negative thingsthat came from it.
But I wouldn't change it forthe world because it also taught
me how to have charisma, how tohave the skills to talk and I
was, you know, I used to justplay with myself, like and it
(09:51):
gave me the skills on how tobuild the business I have now,
and it gave me thesetransferable things that I think
are just priceless.
So I do thank for all theopportunities going, traveling,
we went, you know, we hadn'teven been on a train, really and
we we got with acting.
If it wasn't for that, wewouldn't have been able to go to
(10:11):
London and Manchester and andall these, all these incredible
places.
Yeah, and you set your ownbusiness up at 17.
Yes, yeah, so again.
So what what happened was I wasusually the only working class
Northern as well a girl at theseauditions I was going to and I
noticed I mean 67%, I might bewrong, but it's about 67% of
(10:35):
this industry.
The performing arts industry isprivately educated.
It's very similar to politics,where only 7% of the whole
population is privately educated.
So there's a massive gap inopportunity when it comes to
that, because it's so expensiveto do and private and performing
arts school, drama schools areso expensive.
(10:56):
So when I was 17 I used to getannoyed and it was like that
drive that thought right, I needto the kids on the, the local
council say just as they're,just as talented, they just
don't have, they just don't havethe opportunity.
So that's why I wanted to openup Egg and have a triple threat.
So it was acting, singing anddancing, but then that morphed
(11:16):
into mental health education andthat's all.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And wellbeing yeah, and wellbeing yeah, Now correct
me if I'm wrong here, but thereseems to be a pattern developing
.
Oh, Now correct me if I'm wronghere, but there seems to be a
pattern developing.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Oh, it started here, but it morphed into that.
It started here, but it morphed.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
You just can't stop yourself either of you, can you?
What keeps you motivated andfueled, Lainey?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
For me.
I love helping people.
I do enjoy helping people.
You know, if I see a need, Iwant to help.
I mean, sometimes it has comeat a cost as well, because you
can do too much.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
I have at one point burnt out by, and then also your
family can be neglected to adegree if you're helping the
community.
But I'm the biggest empath,aren't I?
So there can be a problemsometimes because I can absorb
everybody's problem.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
However.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I'm learning not to do that and have boundaries put
in place, but again helpingpeople and helping children,
just seeing their faces andcreating happy memories.
I mean, that is our logo, if youwill, our tagline for
Streetwise and it is creatinghappy memories because I think
the world is such a hard placeto grow up in especially more so
than when we were children andit's pretty dark, and it's
(12:24):
pretty dark for a lot offamilies.
So if we can just provide, youknow these children come on a
Saturday or they come to HolidayClub or come during the week.
It's a place where they cancome.
We know they're going to smile,they're going to have a happy
time, it's a safe place andagain, those are the sort of
things doing the shows and thatWe've got kids from 15 years ago
that are adults now and allthey talk about do you remember
(12:44):
when we did that show?
And those are the things, thehappy memories that they can
take with them for the rest oftheir lives.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
What about you, Ella Grace?
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I'd probably say similar.
So it's empathy.
I feel people's pain and I feelwhat they're going through.
But I think it's also livedexperience and I don't want to.
I want to be almost like alight to people.
That because I understand howit feels like from from all the
things I've been through, soespecially the mental health
(13:15):
stuff I do.
I see, like with my mentees,for example, I just want to be
the, the voice and the lightthat I needed at their age and I
can see it and I also like Ithink I'm that age where I've
had both worlds literally soplaying out no iPhones, no,
nothing, early 2000s.
(13:36):
But then I've also grown upwith social media, with.
So I'm at that strange age it'sonly, I'd say, there's about
three years, like 97, 98, 99,2000, and we know what it's like
to to grow up in both worlds.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
So I can relate from from both sides to to the young
people that we help and I saw astudy, I think, earlier this
week, um, and it was somethingit was on, um, it's like 67
percent, or I might be justre-quoting your 67 percent I
said it confidently 50 percentof young people school age would
(14:10):
prefer there not to be socialmedia.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Yeah, around now really wow yeah, I agree with
that and you know, a a lot ofthe one of my mentees said like
the other day.
She said, Ella, I'm so jealousthat you got to have a proper
childhood.
She actually said that to meand she's only like 12, 13.
So they do, they're aware thatthere is.
You know, I do, I do understandthat, I do agree with that and
(14:34):
how you've talked about thechanging times.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
You've talked about the changing times.
You've talked about theNintendos and the iPads and talk
about what a regular.
What did a childhood look like?
Fundamental changes over theyears.
How do we see us retaining someof that good, happy space?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
the streetwise culture, if you like.
Yeah, I think we base a lot ofour activities on good,
old-fashioned activities, fungames, even things like when we
do holiday clubs.
Yeah, I think we base a lot ofour activities on good,
old-fashioned activities fungames, um even things like when
we do holiday clubs um gettingout marbles.
Kids don't even know whatmarbles are.
Okay, I mean, which was crazy?
I just expected it, but theyhaven't.
You don't know the macarena.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
I don't know whether of you do you want to give us a
quick?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
example.
So we do sort of fun thingslike that.
You know, like say just um, doyou want to give us a quick
example and move some side ofyour head?
Oh, they don't know themapperina, they don't know.
So we do sort of fun thingslike that.
You know, like I say, justperforming arts games, even just
musical chairs and things.
Even the older ones join inwith stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
We've got pool tables and things like that, so it's
that in-person interaction thatall humans are missing out on,
and it's becoming thecommunication decline is an
issue in itself.
Kids do not know how to talk toeach other.
They don't know how to, andit's not even just kids, it's
getting older and older, since,you know, all of the norm now is
just be sat in a room on yourphone and there's consequences
(15:54):
for that.
Because we're human, we'rehuman beings, we're about
connection and community.
Because we're human, we we'reconnect, we're human beings,
we're about connection andcommunity.
So we're adding the old schoolconnection that ai can't replace
.
That.
That phones, tablets, no matterwhat gadget comes out next, it
cannot replace human interaction, connection, community, and
that has an effect on mentalhealth, and I think communities
(16:15):
are isolated.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
You know we run family groups as well, so it
it's not just for children, it'sfor the whole community.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Of course it is, delaney.
Of course it is.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
And look, it started off with kids but obviously,
with having the community centre, we're fulfilling needs of
families and that and we runthese family groups and they're
fantastic and it gets the mumsout Instead of just being sat at
home with the baby on thephones you know they think
(16:44):
they're connecting, but they'renot and actually come into a
group where we talk, we laugh,we help each other, don't we?
so it's and it's just havingcommunity, like when we grew up,
we knew everybody's neighbor.
You know, you knew yourneighbors, you went into each
other's houses.
Don't do that now.
Don't do that now.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
So we're trying to put that back and I was going to
ask what you, if you had amagic wand, what would you do
with it?
But let's keep talking, right,yeah, what?
Would you do, Anna.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Magic wand.
Well, I'd say with a magic wand.
This is a bit off topic, butI'd say if I had a magic wand, I
would.
I would help people with healthproblems and chronic pain,
because that's something I livewith.
So I live with chronic pain andautoimmune disease and
endometriosis as well.
(17:23):
So I've experienced a lot of ofpain and I know that.
I know the consequences of painwell.
That could do to your mentalhealth, all that can do to your,
your social life, your careergoals, everything.
And I think if I had a magicwand, it'd be anyone that's
facing pain to feel themselvesagain.
But I know that's a bit likeI've changed.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
I've killed the vibe now if I had a magic wand, I'd
get rid of all phones.
That would be.
That would be it, because thatis what is Well burner phones.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We need the old school Nokia bricks.
Come on, we need them at least.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Because then you could go back to how it was
years ago.
That's what I would prefer.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, and how did you ?
You talked about burnoutearlier.
Yeah, you talked about burnoutearlier.
Yeah, yeah, did youself-identify?
What was the turning?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
point.
I've always I don't knowwrongly or rightly tried to be a
superwoman.
I mean, I don't rest, I don't,I get bored easily.
So I'm happy going out everynight doing groups.
I mean, like I say, we foster,so we're at football, we're
doing oh scale, whatever.
I'm out every night and atweekends so I'm quite happy
being busy.
That is me.
(18:40):
Um, but I think with absorbingpeople's negative energy, you
know you get that when you knowin these communities absorbing
traumas and other people'straumas, obviously fostering
there's a lot of trauma that cango with that.
You're absorbing the traumas ofthat.
And, um, obviously Ella hadbeen, she's been, ill for quite
(19:01):
a long time, you know um, andhad a lot of trauma in her life
as well.
So, uh, and as a mum you worry,you know, so all these things.
But I just carried on, carriedon, carried on trying to save
the world and help the world.
But last year when I noproblems at home, you know,
things are going really, reallywell it just sort of hit me.
I started feeling just don'tfeel right, Started feeling a
(19:21):
bit of anxiety and I've neverhad that.
I'm a very optimistic person.
My cup is always full,painfully optimistic.
Painfully optimistic If you ask,my husband and I go no, it's
going to be okay.
Spongebob, spongebob.
Optimistic that's me, uh, andalways have been.
So I'm happy to carry on beingoptimistic.
There's always a way.
(19:42):
There's always, you know, agood side to things.
We can always find the rightway.
But I didn't realize that in myown body I was just starting to
feel ill and and it was myactual body that was manifesting
probably the traumas I've neverdealt with over the years you
know family, personal trauma aswell, um.
So, yeah, it sort of hit meright in the back like no, you
need to stop, and I thought, wow, I need to actually do some
(20:03):
stuff for me, because I don't goto the gym, I don't go get my
nails done.
I don't do anything for me,everything's for other people
yeah, which I like doing thingsfor other people, so that makes
me happy.
However, I've just started todo things for myself, so one
thing I'm doing to fill up myown cup, because I realise
actually I can't give out if I'mnot for myself.
(20:23):
So one thing I'm doing what youmentioned before is I've
entered a sort of competition, acharitable competition, and
we're doing 10 weeks of StrictlyCome Dancing, so I'm doing the
salsa.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Oh, I know, Let me get Northern Power man in, let
me get Robin, yes.
Let me get Northern Pond man in, let me get Robin, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
So that's next week the actual charity ball that
we're doing it at.
So myself and two othervolunteers from Streetwise,
we've been rehearsing for 10weeks and we're doing all
different dances.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
So, yeah, that's way out of my comfort zone.
And that's interesting, becausewhen you're doing something
like that, you have to beintentionally in the moment.
You've got to put your phonedown, you've got to be able to
focus and concentrate, otherwiseyou're stepping on someone's
toe, right?
I know that's just me, right?
But what have you learned mostabout yourself in those 10 weeks
?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
I've actually realized that I can do something
for me and not feel guiltyabout it.
I think it's like you feel aguilt.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Oh, you're doing it for you when there's so much to
do and so many people to help.
You know we have responsibility.
Yeah, a lot of people rely onus, so you, you take on that
this, even if it's not there,you take on that, the
responsibility to help them allthe time you know you feel
guilty yeah, you can, you canfeel guilty.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It's like being a foster carer that is 24 7 all
year long, so and that can bevery absorbing, you know.
So, yeah, I've learned.
I've actually enjoyed havingsome me time.
You know, um, I've reallyenjoyed doing it and actually
actually I can do this.
So I'm actually going tohopefully uh, once the
competition's finished, startdoing self-class classes on a
(21:53):
Friday, so I'm going to befitting something in and having
a night for myself.
So, yeah, yeah, so it's allgood.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
All good.
Look at that bit of sashayingacross Ella Grace.
How do you protect your ownmental health?
You openly say here, you knowyou're there, People rely on you
, both of you.
You're giving back, you'rementoring, you're organising,
but how do you look afteryourself?
Fill your own auction mask.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah.
So I think awareness is thefirst thing, because when you're
frontline workers like we arelike that's what I'd say we are
and we're volunteers as well,and we've been volunteers for
years and we're doing it out ofour hobby, so we're doing it out
of like because we genuinelylove these people, we genuinely
want to help it becomes likeblurred.
(22:39):
You don't even realize how muchyou're doing because you're
just doing it all the time like.
There's been times I've justspent like 60 hours at the
community saying you don't evenrealize it, because it doesn't
feel like a job, it feels like apassion.
So I think the awareness is thefirst thing.
And to to be wait a second haveI actually done anything for me
this this week, have I?
How have I been eating?
Is that checking in withyourself?
(23:00):
So I think awareness is thefirst thing.
I think the second thing for me, um, I think the health,
because, because the stress isaffecting my health, it's been a
wake-up call and they say, likea healthy man has a thousand
things, a unhealthy man I'veabsolutely botched that, but
it's like something like that.
(23:23):
But I get it.
Basically it means it meansit's the priority, because
health is everything at the endof the day and people think that
it doesn't apply to them.
They're stressing out you haveto take that time.
So I do the sauna most days.
I work out.
I do ice baths as well.
Um, I do.
I make sure that instead of umit never.
(23:45):
I never used to, but I make itpriorities to get my nails done.
I get my lashes done, like makethat time, and I block it out
like I would as a as a meeting.
So I block that out in mycalendar, like with the same
color as a meeting.
So then my brain thinks, oh,this is just as important as a
zoom.
So I think that's like a goodway to to trick your brain.
(24:06):
Oh, actually, I am important aswell, like that, that meeting
with somebody is important.
But oh, I've got my get mynails done.
That is just important.
It's that calming your nervoussystem down and having that time
for you, because you will justjust keep going, keep going till
you get ill, like in my case.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
So I do believe that You've had recognitions as well.
You were invited down to thePalas.
Yes, how was?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
that that was lovely and it was a nice day as well.
So weather was lovely.
Yeah, it was a real honour tobe invited down, me and my
husband.
We met the Duke of Kent and,well, King Charles was there at
the time.
It was Prince Charles, wasn'the?
So, yeah, it was a lovely,lovely affair.
Yeah, really nice.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
And then they got invited to the King's Coronation
as well, and yeah, and I endedup going.
Yeah, you guys didn't go.
I went with two volunteers fromStreetwise.
That was the most magical dayand we went to the first people
in the palace ever, like thefirst commoners, to walk on
these grounds.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
What an awful word, though, right they?
Speaker 3 (25:11):
literally told us that when we got there, they
were saying like you are thefirst, like you were the first
people that aren't royalty towalk on these grounds, and we
had like, take that, who wasthere?
There was, take that, katePerry.
It was all the like, yeah,there's everyone there.
And Vernon Kaye was there and Ilove Vernon Kaye, and it just
(25:32):
came out and there's all thesegreat people there, but Vernon
Kaye was there and it just cameout and I jumped up and I went
Vernon Kaye, I love you, and Idon't know where it came from.
I don't know where he came from, I just, I just Vernon came
with her.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
So that was my highlight probably a little less
awkward than shouting outCharlie during the coronation.
Probably a little bit lessawkward, imagine.
Yeah, it strikes me that youlove each other's company, you
love what you do, but whenyou're working together, what is
it that makes you really laughout loud?
Been on a podcast, right?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
no, we can't say not that the podcast is we do have a
lot of laughs like that is onething we make each other laugh
so much we have a bit of abanter proper northern banter
like I took this when I moved toLondon.
I took my northern banter tothe south and people get
offended.
But we don't.
We take the riff out of eachother.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Peter Kay.
Yeah, peter.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Kay is like our favourite.
So it is very Peter Kay, ourhumour isn't it?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yes it is.
We work well together.
We're very similar, so we canclash in certain things.
You know I'm always right, butElla always thinks she's right.
I'm always right.
I don't know what she's allabout.
And also, I've worked with myhusband.
We've always been self-employedand had our own businesses for
the last 35 years, so I'vealways worked with family.
(26:50):
I'd really struggle corporately, probably because I'm used to
being my own boss and working,but I'm learning to delegate and
work with a team and obviouslydelegating with Ella and that.
So yeah, we're working well.
We're working well.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
What's the best bit of advice you've ever been given
and given been?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
given yes, because all my advice comes from my
brain.
I'm joking, I'm joking andprobably the best advice is is
embrace your authenticity,because I I was always bullied,
I was always weirdo, I wasalways a bit and I'm
neurodivergent as well.
But I was always bullied, I wasalways weirdo, I was always a
bit and I'm neurodivergent aswell, but I was always felt
(27:28):
different.
I'm being extra, yeah, andwe've always liked different
clothes.
We've always been.
We're both maximalists andwe've always felt a bit
different and I always had beenin a small town, and
predominantly white town as well, and there was no other brown
kids, where it was just me andmy Asian friend which we're best
(27:53):
friends with to this day.
We've always, I've always feltdifferent and I've had to hide
that and to fit in, to havefriends.
Well, I felt like that, so I.
It was only in recent yearswhere I've realized that's a
strength, being so different,and if I was vanilla then I
wouldn't be where I am today.
So I think, embracing your itwas a good mentor that taught me
that to embrace yourauthenticity.
Embrace you being black as well, embrace my natural hair.
I was born like wigs, blondehair like I've.
(28:13):
I've think finding that truebeauty and true, true
authenticity has changed my lifeand you've taught me because my
mum has always been authentic.
She's always stuck to her style.
She's never let anyone change,so she is a massive inspiration
for me with that, that's forsure.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Oh, thank you, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
I'm just telling the truth and your best advice.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
It was quite recent and it was don't hide your light
under a bushel, and I think itwas.
Even Ella was part of that,because we've just sort of got
on with it and done our thing.
But if we want to expand ourvision and make Streetwise
bigger and greater, then we haveto talk about it.
Hence I'm here, never doneanything like this.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
So yeah, it's about not bigging ourselves up, but
saying yeah, actually, yeah, wefeel like that as women, we can
never, ever embrace.
I've been too humble, isn't ittoo humble?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
yeah, too humble, probably yeah, yeah, but that
goes with self-esteem notthinking, well, who am I?
You know, I'm only just runningthese clubs.
But actually when we look backat what we've achieved you know,
yeah, but we've got over ahundred thousand sign-ins and
stuff like that yeah yeah, andhow many kids have you fostered?
Oh well, I've been fostering for15 years and we do long term
(29:33):
and we've done mother, baby,father.
You know where they come andlive with us for nine months
from being a newborn.
We're actually fostering thefather and mother there.
You know you're helping them tobecome parents.
We've done little children.
We've done little children.
We've done a lot of teenagegirls.
That was hard work and we nowhave had for six years, three
(29:53):
brothers and they're teens nowand they're doing really well
and they're long-term.
We do long-term, if you will,so they'll stay with us forever,
I think.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
I still gobsmacked.
This is your first time on thiskind of environment.
You wouldn't think, would you?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
I'm like you're playing your own show.
She's amazing.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
What's next for you, Ella?
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Grace.
So I've decided to go onanother venture as well.
Another project, and it's tohelp boost people up with their
confidence, communication andcharisma.
And it's using a blend ofperforming arts and everything
I've learned as being as a childactress, blending that with
neuroscience, cognitive therapy,all the things we do with the
(30:35):
well-being work and creating aunique formula where you can
have lasting warmth, charismaand and that is to help clients
fly everywhere, so in corporatespaces, to be authentic as well,
to help them in sportseverywhere.
Yeah, so that's my new venturethat I'm working on and trying
(30:57):
to use again that livedexperience, to use my passions
and talents to do that.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And Lainey, other than salsa and other than
finding some time for your ownself-care, your vision for
Streetwise.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I just want it to be bigger than YMCA.
I mean, I really want us toexpand and have satellite clubs
all over Lancashire to startwith.
But yeah, yeah, that's what Iwant.
That's what I want.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And what is the sort of the bit of advice you would
give out there to people who arehiding their light under a
bushel?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I still want to know what bushels are, but anyway,
that's okay, I still do I don'tknow if it's a posh word for a
bush, it is yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
But what advice would you give?
You know, when you go, oh, it'sokay, I don't need the
recognition, I'm just doing this.
No one's just doing anything,are they?
They're especially doing it.
But what's the one bit ofadvice that maybe they haven't
got the self-belief?
Well, they need to come andwork with you for a fact, ella
Grace.
But what's the bit of adviceyou give out there to people who
think you know what actually Ido want to?
I should high-five myself alittle bit more.
You should high-five yourself.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Women in particular.
All, all the north, all thenorth.
Be like the southerners and theamericans.
Yeah, yeah, they haveself-belief, don't they make it
till.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You make it, isn't it ?
Yeah, I think also.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
I think one thing is I don't know if this is the
right answer, but seeing yourpain, I my motto is turning pain
into power.
I used to see everything I'vebeen through and things that
have held me back and not myconfidence.
All is all is negative andthat's just going to stay there.
But then, once I startedlearning how the brain works and
(32:34):
how you can adapt and transform, it is possible to turn
everything that's bad and whatyou feel into positive energy.
And that's basically what I'vedone and that's my motto and
that's what I'm trying to teachpeople.
So I'd say you know, if that'shappened to you, that you can
grow.
You know scientificallyneuroplasticity we won't get
into that, but I'm trying to sayit actually is scientifically
(32:56):
proven.
You can transform, you canchange, you're not stuck as you
think you are.
You are not stuck and you canturn that pain into power and I
truly believe that's what I'vedone.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
And what's the mantra ?
You live by Lainey.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
The mantra I would always say to people one gift
that we've all got, somethingwe've all got in common is time.
It's all we've ever done me andmy husband is.
We're not special in any wayparticularly, but we've given
our time and it's justdedicating that time.
I think everybody I know timeis very precious and everybody
(33:30):
works very hard.
But if you have time to sitdown and watch your box set, if
you have time to be scrollingthrough your phone and you know
you have time to, you know, goplay football and watch Curry,
yeah, then you have time to.
You can volunteer your time,even if it's just an hour a week
, but that would actually you'dfeel good about it.
But also you're helping andit's just giving, isn't it?
Just giving your time.
I think that's all we've everdone and that's probably one of
(33:50):
the most precious things you cando is give your time, and that
boosts confidence as well.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
If you're helping others, you feel better about
yourself as well, so it's awin-win.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
And you become.
You know, you make a bunch ofnew friends.
You know you can get involvedin.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
So so, yeah, give your time.
That's, that's just a littlebit, but just give your time,
it's, it's.
It's something to give or gain,isn't it?
And I think what strikes meabout you, two beautiful humans,
is that it's good to talk.
You know the success of whatyou've done and what you grow
with you and jerry, super jerry,uh, with streetwise, with you,
with your multiple businesses,um, is all about creating that
time to talk.
Thank you so much for giving methe time and our listeners the
(34:31):
time to talk today.
I've loved having you on ourteal couch.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Thank you.
I look forward to seeing youagain.
Thank you for giving us theopportunity.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Thank you for being not just awesome, but especially
awesome.
Thank you so much Thank youSubscribe on YouTube, apple,
amazon Music, spotify orwherever you get your podcasts.
Leave us a review or follow uson socials.
We are power underscore net onInsta, tiktok and Twitter, or we
are power on LinkedIn, facebookand we are underscore power on
(34:59):
YouTube.
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast.
If this is your first time here, the we Are Power podcast is
the podcast for you, your careerand your life.
We release an episode everysingle Monday with listeners in
over 60 countries worldwide,where you'll hear personal life
stories, top-notch industryadvice and key leadership
insight from amazing role models.
(00:21):
As we Are Power is the umbrellabrand to Northern Power Women
Awards, which celebrateshundreds of female role models
and advocates every year.
This is where you can hearstories from all of our awards
alumni and stay up to date witheverything.
Mpw Awards and we Are PowerNever imitated, never replicated
singularly wonderful,everybody's wonder girl.
(00:45):
Well, hello and welcome to thepodcast.
This week I have a two for one.
I have Ella Grace, who issocial entrepreneur, performer
and mental health advocate, andmum Lainey or Elaine.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Obviously, I was christened Elaine, but all the
kids call me Lainey.
What do you want to be today?
Lainey's fine Lainey.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
All right.
And you are the founder of thewonderful Streetwise charity,
and between them you havetransformed thousands and
thousands of lives.
Now here's a challenge for thestart.
Okay, how would you describeyour mum in three words?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
It has to be braveheart.
That's in three words.
It has to be Braveheart.
That's not three words, that'sone word.
Oh, we're typhoonated.
You can have whatever you want,it's all good.
Braveheart, or Scottish Warrior, ginger.
Scottish Warrior, the fire,fire, scottish Warrior.
Does that even make sense?
I don't know.
There you go.
I like Braveheart.
You have to be a Braveheart.
Yes, yes, braveheart, becauseyou had me at.
(01:53):
Braveheart, yes, yes, and youneed the why behind that?
A bit of context.
Yeah, that's it.
So basically, my mum is aScottish warrior.
There you go.
Well, we're part Glaswegian andshe's got the fire.
She's got the fire in her.
She drives everyone um, she isthe driving force behind our
family and she has, she will.
She's taught me strength,resilience like a Braveheart
Warriors.
There you go, and a truenorthern power woman right true.
Oh, she is the OG power woman.
(02:13):
That is it.
That is it.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
That's true too kind of I can feel a whole merch
range already before we've evenstarted.
Braveheart, the OG, all of theabove, laney, tell us about this
one wow.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, she took out the words I was going to
describe her, but I've got two,if that's okay.
So sure, what I do with ella,I've always called her my black
scottish warrior, because, yeah,because she has always been, uh
, such a warrior.
So she has taken that.
But extraordinary, that's theword I would describe Bella.
I mean, from the day she cameout of my womb she went ta-da,
(02:47):
I'm here, I'm here.
She's always been extra.
In everything she does, shealways goes the extra mile, she
works extra hard and everythingshe does is extra.
Yeah, definitely, that's thebest way to describe her Extra
passion.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I first met the pair of you at the Northern Power
Women Awards, where I saw Ithink I saw smiles and this just
you like sparkle, the pair ofyou.
You came in looking extra bythe way down that purple carpet
and after you, shortlisted forone of our awards this year
(03:24):
which was amazing, and we, weare watching.
And then you're like I wouldlike to come on the podcast,
it'd be great to have more, youknow, younger voices, which is
100% up our street.
And I'm like hell, yes, yeah.
And you're like, can I bringLainey as well?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
because you advocated for your mum, which I thought
was just so smart and specialand just gorgeous yeah, I always
think that um, it's soimportant to have, I think, the
the most amazing change makersand the people that are doing
the best work, like sometimesdon't know how to have the
platform, and I've alwaysadvocated for people that are
(04:01):
like um, like, especially in thechange-making world with
grassroots charities and there'sso many stars, especially up
north.
People don't know about us andI'm always going down when I go
down to London and I'm sayinglook at us, we're, we're
northern change makers.
People don't know and we needthat platform.
So we're always advocating forthat, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Do you know what?
And that is true northern power, women, spirit.
The spirit of why we createdthe awards was to high five
achievements, to unearth theamazing role models, the people
who don't get the platform, thestage, the voice.
So the fact that you've beenshortlisted been part of this
and straight away you'rethrowing that light out over to
our Lainey here.
Lainey, tell us about thecharity that you set up.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah well, I co-founded it with my husband,
jerry, so he does need to takehalf the credit.
It's not just me.
And that was 23 years ago.
We started running youth clubsjust from a church hall and the
initial reason was we have twoolder children.
They were teenagers at the timeand Nintendos had just come out
(05:03):
.
So all of a sudden they're inthe bedrooms.
We never saw them.
We thought they're gettingunfit.
It's socially unhealthy.
So we said, come on, we'll startlike a keep fit sort of club
for the teens.
So we talked to our daughterand our son, we got them to
bring their friends and thenthat gradually morphed into
youth clubs.
Then we started doingperforming arts and then we
(05:23):
started doing street dance andbox fit.
So every night of the week wehad a mini bus and we'd be
picking up children and takingthem to all these different
things and yeah, so this sort ofmorphed um.
We then decided that my husbanddecided to become a youth worker
and do a degree in his 40swhich was amazing so that he
could further this.
And then about eight years ago,we actually got our own what
(05:46):
was derelict, our own communitycenter, and we renovated it with
no money or anything, it was anabsolute blessing.
And now it's been transformedinto a purpose-built youth,
youth and community center and,um, you know, we've got games
room, music room, performing artstudio, 3g pitch, outdoor
gardens.
So yeah, that's it, and it'ssomething that became a hobby,
(06:09):
became a passion and became afull-time well, voluntary yeah
and that's it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
That's another point.
Like it's it's all voluntary,like that shows my mum and dad's
passion and that's what'salways inspired me to volunteer
as well, because they have putover 30 hours a week plus for
their time all for free, and andthey keep very humble about it.
But it is something that's mademe think right, I need to give
my time as well, and I've seenhow it changes lives, which
(06:37):
shows the genuine care.
I won't butt in anymore.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Go on, no all the butting are we like.
But you know just and I thinkthis is where we talk about
highlighting this northern great, amazing talent and amazing
people driving change.
But did you ever imagine, fromjust the concept of trying to
get the kids off the nintendoand and not sort of stagnate in
their bedrooms, could you everimagine it would be what it is?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
no, no, it's just morphed.
It morphed into a monster atsome point, because we are
literally there.
I mean, luckily, we're fostercarers, so you know, that's our
job, our income.
So when the children, orwhoever we're looking after, are
at school, you know, during theday, we're able to do the work
streetwise and then also incorporate, taking them to the
work that we do in the eveningsat the youth clubs, stem,
(07:22):
whatever we're doing.
So it works hand in hand.
So we've been fortunate to todo that as well, and you talked
about performing arts.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Is this how you got into performing arts?
Aloe?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
um, well, I was always a dancer, um, and I did
ballet originally, uh, royalacademy, old school ballet and I
sort of just fell intoperforming arts.
Through slipping through it Iwent.
I was a massive corrie fan.
I used to make my own littleshows, didn't I?
I used to write my own littlescripts and a little weirdo.
That's what we did before iPads, yeah, before iPads.
(07:54):
And then I went to one of myfirst auditions ever.
Didn't expect to get it, andthen ended up on Corrie and then
it just snowballed and wentdown the acting route.
So that's actually how I gotinto it.
But then my mum did all thestreet dance.
We had a street dance crew andshe used to pick everyone up and
take us all and and take us allto lessons and we did
(08:16):
competitions and everything.
It was all my friends and itwas we were really good.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
We did quite a lot of shows, didn't we as well?
We put on shows called Time toShine for the children.
So I think our thing is it'sabout allowing children to have
a go at anything and things likedance and performing arts,
stage school.
They cost a fortune.
So what we do with Streetwiseis, if we see a talent, we'll
nurture it at no cost, get thekids into doing it and then
(08:41):
allow them to have a go at itreally, and yeah, yeah.
So it's allowing everybodywe're all inclusive to see that
talent and nurture it but it'sso simple, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
because it gives you the chance almost to try before
you buy, because not everyone'sgood at everything, but you can
still enjoy it if you're notgood at it.
I'm dreadful at singing,dancing, all of that stuff.
Oh no, my husband teaches salsa.
I cannot, no no, no that's awhole other episode we'll get
into that one tell us what itwas like being a young actor on
Corrie?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
such an established yeah um yeah, well, I did a few
things as a kid.
Um, I also was a tv presenter,so I had my own show on CITV
which don't even exist anymore,which is so sad um, which was
was like the ITV's version ofCBeebies.
But I think being a childactress is like a.
(09:30):
It's a mixed bag really,because there was amazing
highlights to it, but it alsowas a lot of pressure and there
was a lot of negative thingsthat came from it.
But I wouldn't change it forthe world because it also taught
me how to have charisma, how tohave the skills to talk and I
was, you know, I used to justplay with myself, like and it
(09:51):
gave me the skills on how tobuild the business I have now,
and it gave me thesetransferable things that I think
are just priceless.
So I do thank for all theopportunities going, traveling,
we went, you know, we hadn'teven been on a train, really and
we we got with acting.
If it wasn't for that, wewouldn't have been able to go to
(10:11):
London and Manchester and andall these, all these incredible
places.
Yeah, and you set your ownbusiness up at 17.
Yes, yeah, so again.
So what what happened was I wasusually the only working class
Northern as well a girl at theseauditions I was going to and I
noticed I mean 67%, I might bewrong, but it's about 67% of
(10:35):
this industry.
The performing arts industry isprivately educated.
It's very similar to politics,where only 7% of the whole
population is privately educated.
So there's a massive gap inopportunity when it comes to
that, because it's so expensiveto do and private and performing
arts school, drama schools areso expensive.
(10:56):
So when I was 17 I used to getannoyed and it was like that
drive that thought right, I needto the kids on the, the local
council say just as they're,just as talented, they just
don't have, they just don't havethe opportunity.
So that's why I wanted to openup Egg and have a triple threat.
So it was acting, singing anddancing, but then that morphed
(11:16):
into mental health education andthat's all.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And wellbeing yeah, and wellbeing yeah, Now correct
me if I'm wrong here, but thereseems to be a pattern developing
.
Oh, Now correct me if I'm wronghere, but there seems to be a
pattern developing.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Oh, it started here, but it morphed into that.
It started here, but it morphed.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
You just can't stop yourself either of you, can you?
What keeps you motivated andfueled, Lainey?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
For me.
I love helping people.
I do enjoy helping people.
You know, if I see a need, Iwant to help.
I mean, sometimes it has comeat a cost as well, because you
can do too much.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
I have at one point burnt out by, and then also your
family can be neglected to adegree if you're helping the
community.
But I'm the biggest empath,aren't I?
So there can be a problemsometimes because I can absorb
everybody's problem.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
However.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I'm learning not to do that and have boundaries put
in place, but again helpingpeople and helping children,
just seeing their faces andcreating happy memories.
I mean, that is our logo, if youwill, our tagline for
Streetwise and it is creatinghappy memories because I think
the world is such a hard placeto grow up in especially more so
than when we were children andit's pretty dark, and it's
(12:24):
pretty dark for a lot offamilies.
So if we can just provide, youknow these children come on a
Saturday or they come to HolidayClub or come during the week.
It's a place where they cancome.
We know they're going to smile,they're going to have a happy
time, it's a safe place andagain, those are the sort of
things doing the shows and thatWe've got kids from 15 years ago
that are adults now and allthey talk about do you remember
(12:44):
when we did that show?
And those are the things, thehappy memories that they can
take with them for the rest oftheir lives.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
What about you, Ella Grace?
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I'd probably say similar.
So it's empathy.
I feel people's pain and I feelwhat they're going through.
But I think it's also livedexperience and I don't want to.
I want to be almost like alight to people.
That because I understand howit feels like from from all the
things I've been through, soespecially the mental health
(13:15):
stuff I do.
I see, like with my mentees,for example, I just want to be
the, the voice and the lightthat I needed at their age and I
can see it and I also like Ithink I'm that age where I've
had both worlds literally soplaying out no iPhones, no,
nothing, early 2000s.
(13:36):
But then I've also grown upwith social media, with.
So I'm at that strange age it'sonly, I'd say, there's about
three years, like 97, 98, 99,2000, and we know what it's like
to to grow up in both worlds.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
So I can relate from from both sides to to the young
people that we help and I saw astudy, I think, earlier this
week, um, and it was somethingit was on, um, it's like 67
percent, or I might be justre-quoting your 67 percent I
said it confidently 50 percentof young people school age would
(14:10):
prefer there not to be socialmedia.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Yeah, around now really wow yeah, I agree with
that and you know, a a lot ofthe one of my mentees said like
the other day.
She said, Ella, I'm so jealousthat you got to have a proper
childhood.
She actually said that to meand she's only like 12, 13.
So they do, they're aware thatthere is.
You know, I do, I do understandthat, I do agree with that and
(14:34):
how you've talked about thechanging times.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
You've talked about the changing times.
You've talked about theNintendos and the iPads and talk
about what a regular.
What did a childhood look like?
Fundamental changes over theyears.
How do we see us retaining someof that good, happy space?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
the streetwise culture, if you like.
Yeah, I think we base a lot ofour activities on good,
old-fashioned activities, fungames, even things like when we
do holiday clubs.
Yeah, I think we base a lot ofour activities on good,
old-fashioned activities fungames, um even things like when
we do holiday clubs um gettingout marbles.
Kids don't even know whatmarbles are.
Okay, I mean, which was crazy?
I just expected it, but theyhaven't.
You don't know the macarena.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
I don't know whether of you do you want to give us a
quick?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
example.
So we do sort of fun thingslike that.
You know, like say just um, doyou want to give us a quick
example and move some side ofyour head?
Oh, they don't know themapperina, they don't know.
So we do sort of fun thingslike that.
You know, like I say, justperforming arts games, even just
musical chairs and things.
Even the older ones join inwith stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
We've got pool tables and things like that, so it's
that in-person interaction thatall humans are missing out on,
and it's becoming thecommunication decline is an
issue in itself.
Kids do not know how to talk toeach other.
They don't know how to, andit's not even just kids, it's
getting older and older, since,you know, all of the norm now is
just be sat in a room on yourphone and there's consequences
(15:54):
for that.
Because we're human, we'rehuman beings, we're about
connection and community.
Because we're human, we we'reconnect, we're human beings,
we're about connection andcommunity.
So we're adding the old schoolconnection that ai can't replace
.
That.
That phones, tablets, no matterwhat gadget comes out next, it
cannot replace human interaction, connection, community, and
that has an effect on mentalhealth, and I think communities
(16:15):
are isolated.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
You know we run family groups as well, so it
it's not just for children, it'sfor the whole community.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Of course it is, delaney.
Of course it is.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
And look, it started off with kids but obviously,
with having the community centre, we're fulfilling needs of
families and that and we runthese family groups and they're
fantastic and it gets the mumsout Instead of just being sat at
home with the baby on thephones you know they think
(16:44):
they're connecting, but they'renot and actually come into a
group where we talk, we laugh,we help each other, don't we?
so it's and it's just havingcommunity, like when we grew up,
we knew everybody's neighbor.
You know, you knew yourneighbors, you went into each
other's houses.
Don't do that now.
Don't do that now.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
So we're trying to put that back and I was going to
ask what you, if you had amagic wand, what would you do
with it?
But let's keep talking, right,yeah, what?
Would you do, Anna.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Magic wand.
Well, I'd say with a magic wand.
This is a bit off topic, butI'd say if I had a magic wand, I
would.
I would help people with healthproblems and chronic pain,
because that's something I livewith.
So I live with chronic pain andautoimmune disease and
endometriosis as well.
(17:23):
So I've experienced a lot of ofpain and I know that.
I know the consequences of painwell.
That could do to your mentalhealth, all that can do to your,
your social life, your careergoals, everything.
And I think if I had a magicwand, it'd be anyone that's
facing pain to feel themselvesagain.
But I know that's a bit likeI've changed.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
I've killed the vibe now if I had a magic wand, I'd
get rid of all phones.
That would be.
That would be it, because thatis what is Well burner phones.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We need the old school Nokia bricks.
Come on, we need them at least.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Because then you could go back to how it was
years ago.
That's what I would prefer.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, and how did you ?
You talked about burnoutearlier.
Yeah, you talked about burnoutearlier.
Yeah, yeah, did youself-identify?
What was the turning?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
point.
I've always I don't knowwrongly or rightly tried to be a
superwoman.
I mean, I don't rest, I don't,I get bored easily.
So I'm happy going out everynight doing groups.
I mean, like I say, we foster,so we're at football, we're
doing oh scale, whatever.
I'm out every night and atweekends so I'm quite happy
being busy.
That is me.
(18:40):
Um, but I think with absorbingpeople's negative energy, you
know you get that when you knowin these communities absorbing
traumas and other people'straumas, obviously fostering
there's a lot of trauma that cango with that.
You're absorbing the traumas ofthat.
And, um, obviously Ella hadbeen, she's been, ill for quite
(19:01):
a long time, you know um, andhad a lot of trauma in her life
as well.
So, uh, and as a mum you worry,you know, so all these things.
But I just carried on, carriedon, carried on trying to save
the world and help the world.
But last year when I noproblems at home, you know,
things are going really, reallywell it just sort of hit me.
I started feeling just don'tfeel right, Started feeling a
(19:21):
bit of anxiety and I've neverhad that.
I'm a very optimistic person.
My cup is always full,painfully optimistic.
Painfully optimistic If you ask,my husband and I go no, it's
going to be okay.
Spongebob, spongebob.
Optimistic that's me, uh, andalways have been.
So I'm happy to carry on beingoptimistic.
There's always a way.
(19:42):
There's always, you know, agood side to things.
We can always find the rightway.
But I didn't realize that in myown body I was just starting to
feel ill and and it was myactual body that was manifesting
probably the traumas I've neverdealt with over the years you
know family, personal trauma aswell, um.
So, yeah, it sort of hit meright in the back like no, you
need to stop, and I thought, wow, I need to actually do some
(20:03):
stuff for me, because I don't goto the gym, I don't go get my
nails done.
I don't do anything for me,everything's for other people
yeah, which I like doing thingsfor other people, so that makes
me happy.
However, I've just started todo things for myself, so one
thing I'm doing to fill up myown cup, because I realise
actually I can't give out if I'mnot for myself.
(20:23):
So one thing I'm doing what youmentioned before is I've
entered a sort of competition, acharitable competition, and
we're doing 10 weeks of StrictlyCome Dancing, so I'm doing the
salsa.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Oh, I know, Let me get Northern Power man in, let
me get Robin, yes.
Let me get Northern Pond man in, let me get Robin, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
So that's next week the actual charity ball that
we're doing it at.
So myself and two othervolunteers from Streetwise,
we've been rehearsing for 10weeks and we're doing all
different dances.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
So, yeah, that's way out of my comfort zone.
And that's interesting, becausewhen you're doing something
like that, you have to beintentionally in the moment.
You've got to put your phonedown, you've got to be able to
focus and concentrate, otherwiseyou're stepping on someone's
toe, right?
I know that's just me, right?
But what have you learned mostabout yourself in those 10 weeks
?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
I've actually realized that I can do something
for me and not feel guiltyabout it.
I think it's like you feel aguilt.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Oh, you're doing it for you when there's so much to
do and so many people to help.
You know we have responsibility.
Yeah, a lot of people rely onus, so you, you take on that
this, even if it's not there,you take on that, the
responsibility to help them allthe time you know you feel
guilty yeah, you can, you canfeel guilty.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It's like being a foster carer that is 24 7 all
year long, so and that can bevery absorbing, you know.
So, yeah, I've learned.
I've actually enjoyed havingsome me time.
You know, um, I've reallyenjoyed doing it and actually
actually I can do this.
So I'm actually going tohopefully uh, once the
competition's finished, startdoing self-class classes on a
(21:53):
Friday, so I'm going to befitting something in and having
a night for myself.
So, yeah, yeah, so it's allgood.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
All good.
Look at that bit of sashayingacross Ella Grace.
How do you protect your ownmental health?
You openly say here, you knowyou're there, People rely on you
, both of you.
You're giving back, you'rementoring, you're organising,
but how do you look afteryourself?
Fill your own auction mask.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah.
So I think awareness is thefirst thing, because when you're
frontline workers like we arelike that's what I'd say we are
and we're volunteers as well,and we've been volunteers for
years and we're doing it out ofour hobby, so we're doing it out
of like because we genuinelylove these people, we genuinely
want to help it becomes likeblurred.
(22:39):
You don't even realize how muchyou're doing because you're
just doing it all the time like.
There's been times I've justspent like 60 hours at the
community saying you don't evenrealize it, because it doesn't
feel like a job, it feels like apassion.
So I think the awareness is thefirst thing.
And to to be wait a second haveI actually done anything for me
this this week, have I?
How have I been eating?
Is that checking in withyourself?
(23:00):
So I think awareness is thefirst thing.
I think the second thing for me, um, I think the health,
because, because the stress isaffecting my health, it's been a
wake-up call and they say, likea healthy man has a thousand
things, a unhealthy man I'veabsolutely botched that, but
it's like something like that.
(23:23):
But I get it.
Basically it means it meansit's the priority, because
health is everything at the endof the day and people think that
it doesn't apply to them.
They're stressing out you haveto take that time.
So I do the sauna most days.
I work out.
I do ice baths as well.
Um, I do.
I make sure that instead of umit never.
(23:45):
I never used to, but I make itpriorities to get my nails done.
I get my lashes done, like makethat time, and I block it out
like I would as a as a meeting.
So I block that out in mycalendar, like with the same
color as a meeting.
So then my brain thinks, oh,this is just as important as a
zoom.
So I think that's like a goodway to to trick your brain.
(24:06):
Oh, actually, I am important aswell, like that, that meeting
with somebody is important.
But oh, I've got my get mynails done.
That is just important.
It's that calming your nervoussystem down and having that time
for you, because you will justjust keep going, keep going till
you get ill, like in my case.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
So I do believe that You've had recognitions as well.
You were invited down to thePalas.
Yes, how was?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
that that was lovely and it was a nice day as well.
So weather was lovely.
Yeah, it was a real honour tobe invited down, me and my
husband.
We met the Duke of Kent and,well, King Charles was there at
the time.
It was Prince Charles, wasn'the?
So, yeah, it was a lovely,lovely affair.
Yeah, really nice.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
And then they got invited to the King's Coronation
as well, and yeah, and I endedup going.
Yeah, you guys didn't go.
I went with two volunteers fromStreetwise.
That was the most magical dayand we went to the first people
in the palace ever, like thefirst commoners, to walk on
these grounds.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
What an awful word, though, right they?
Speaker 3 (25:11):
literally told us that when we got there, they
were saying like you are thefirst, like you were the first
people that aren't royalty towalk on these grounds, and we
had like, take that, who wasthere?
There was, take that, katePerry.
It was all the like, yeah,there's everyone there.
And Vernon Kaye was there and Ilove Vernon Kaye, and it just
(25:32):
came out and there's all thesegreat people there, but Vernon
Kaye was there and it just cameout and I jumped up and I went
Vernon Kaye, I love you, and Idon't know where it came from.
I don't know where he came from, I just, I just Vernon came
with her.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
So that was my highlight probably a little less
awkward than shouting outCharlie during the coronation.
Probably a little bit lessawkward, imagine.
Yeah, it strikes me that youlove each other's company, you
love what you do, but whenyou're working together, what is
it that makes you really laughout loud?
Been on a podcast, right?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
no, we can't say not that the podcast is we do have a
lot of laughs like that is onething we make each other laugh
so much we have a bit of abanter proper northern banter
like I took this when I moved toLondon.
I took my northern banter tothe south and people get
offended.
But we don't.
We take the riff out of eachother.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Peter Kay.
Yeah, peter.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Kay is like our favourite.
So it is very Peter Kay, ourhumour isn't it?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yes it is.
We work well together.
We're very similar, so we canclash in certain things.
You know I'm always right, butElla always thinks she's right.
I'm always right.
I don't know what she's allabout.
And also, I've worked with myhusband.
We've always been self-employedand had our own businesses for
the last 35 years, so I'vealways worked with family.
(26:50):
I'd really struggle corporately, probably because I'm used to
being my own boss and working,but I'm learning to delegate and
work with a team and obviouslydelegating with Ella and that.
So yeah, we're working well.
We're working well.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
What's the best bit of advice you've ever been given
and given been?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
given yes, because all my advice comes from my
brain.
I'm joking, I'm joking andprobably the best advice is is
embrace your authenticity,because I I was always bullied,
I was always weirdo, I wasalways a bit and I'm
neurodivergent as well.
But I was always bullied, I wasalways weirdo, I was always a
bit and I'm neurodivergent aswell, but I was always felt
(27:28):
different.
I'm being extra, yeah, andwe've always liked different
clothes.
We've always been.
We're both maximalists andwe've always felt a bit
different and I always had beenin a small town, and
predominantly white town as well, and there was no other brown
kids, where it was just me andmy Asian friend which we're best
(27:53):
friends with to this day.
We've always, I've always feltdifferent and I've had to hide
that and to fit in, to havefriends.
Well, I felt like that, so I.
It was only in recent yearswhere I've realized that's a
strength, being so different,and if I was vanilla then I
wouldn't be where I am today.
So I think, embracing your itwas a good mentor that taught me
that to embrace yourauthenticity.
Embrace you being black as well, embrace my natural hair.
I was born like wigs, blondehair like I've.
(28:13):
I've think finding that truebeauty and true, true
authenticity has changed my lifeand you've taught me because my
mum has always been authentic.
She's always stuck to her style.
She's never let anyone change,so she is a massive inspiration
for me with that, that's forsure.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Oh, thank you, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
I'm just telling the truth and your best advice.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
It was quite recent and it was don't hide your light
under a bushel, and I think itwas.
Even Ella was part of that,because we've just sort of got
on with it and done our thing.
But if we want to expand ourvision and make Streetwise
bigger and greater, then we haveto talk about it.
Hence I'm here, never doneanything like this.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
So yeah, it's about not bigging ourselves up, but
saying yeah, actually, yeah, wefeel like that as women, we can
never, ever embrace.
I've been too humble, isn't ittoo humble?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
yeah, too humble, probably yeah, yeah, but that
goes with self-esteem notthinking, well, who am I?
You know, I'm only just runningthese clubs.
But actually when we look backat what we've achieved you know,
yeah, but we've got over ahundred thousand sign-ins and
stuff like that yeah yeah, andhow many kids have you fostered?
Oh well, I've been fostering for15 years and we do long term
(29:33):
and we've done mother, baby,father.
You know where they come andlive with us for nine months
from being a newborn.
We're actually fostering thefather and mother there.
You know you're helping them tobecome parents.
We've done little children.
We've done little children.
We've done a lot of teenagegirls.
That was hard work and we nowhave had for six years, three
(29:53):
brothers and they're teens nowand they're doing really well
and they're long-term.
We do long-term, if you will,so they'll stay with us forever,
I think.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
I still gobsmacked.
This is your first time on thiskind of environment.
You wouldn't think, would you?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
I'm like you're playing your own show.
She's amazing.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
What's next for you, Ella?
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Grace.
So I've decided to go onanother venture as well.
Another project, and it's tohelp boost people up with their
confidence, communication andcharisma.
And it's using a blend ofperforming arts and everything
I've learned as being as a childactress, blending that with
neuroscience, cognitive therapy,all the things we do with the
(30:35):
well-being work and creating aunique formula where you can
have lasting warmth, charismaand and that is to help clients
fly everywhere, so in corporatespaces, to be authentic as well,
to help them in sportseverywhere.
Yeah, so that's my new venturethat I'm working on and trying
(30:57):
to use again that livedexperience, to use my passions
and talents to do that.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And Lainey, other than salsa and other than
finding some time for your ownself-care, your vision for
Streetwise.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I just want it to be bigger than YMCA.
I mean, I really want us toexpand and have satellite clubs
all over Lancashire to startwith.
But yeah, yeah, that's what Iwant.
That's what I want.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And what is the sort of the bit of advice you would
give out there to people who arehiding their light under a
bushel?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I still want to know what bushels are, but anyway,
that's okay, I still do I don'tknow if it's a posh word for a
bush, it is yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
But what advice would you give?
You know, when you go, oh, it'sokay, I don't need the
recognition, I'm just doing this.
No one's just doing anything,are they?
They're especially doing it.
But what's the one bit ofadvice that maybe they haven't
got the self-belief?
Well, they need to come andwork with you for a fact, ella
Grace.
But what's the bit of adviceyou give out there to people who
think you know what actually Ido want to?
I should high-five myself alittle bit more.
You should high-five yourself.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Women in particular.
All, all the north, all thenorth.
Be like the southerners and theamericans.
Yeah, yeah, they haveself-belief, don't they make it
till.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You make it, isn't it ?
Yeah, I think also.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
I think one thing is I don't know if this is the
right answer, but seeing yourpain, I my motto is turning pain
into power.
I used to see everything I'vebeen through and things that
have held me back and not myconfidence.
All is all is negative andthat's just going to stay there.
But then, once I startedlearning how the brain works and
(32:34):
how you can adapt and transform, it is possible to turn
everything that's bad and whatyou feel into positive energy.
And that's basically what I'vedone and that's my motto and
that's what I'm trying to teachpeople.
So I'd say you know, if that'shappened to you, that you can
grow.
You know scientificallyneuroplasticity we won't get
into that, but I'm trying to sayit actually is scientifically
(32:56):
proven.
You can transform, you canchange, you're not stuck as you
think you are.
You are not stuck and you canturn that pain into power and I
truly believe that's what I'vedone.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
And what's the mantra ?
You live by Lainey.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
The mantra I would always say to people one gift
that we've all got, somethingwe've all got in common is time.
It's all we've ever done me andmy husband is.
We're not special in any wayparticularly, but we've given
our time and it's justdedicating that time.
I think everybody I know timeis very precious and everybody
(33:30):
works very hard.
But if you have time to sitdown and watch your box set, if
you have time to be scrollingthrough your phone and you know
you have time to, you know, goplay football and watch Curry,
yeah, then you have time to.
You can volunteer your time,even if it's just an hour a week
, but that would actually you'dfeel good about it.
But also you're helping andit's just giving, isn't it?
Just giving your time.
I think that's all we've everdone and that's probably one of
(33:50):
the most precious things you cando is give your time, and that
boosts confidence as well.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
If you're helping others, you feel better about
yourself as well, so it's awin-win.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
And you become.
You know, you make a bunch ofnew friends.
You know you can get involvedin.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
So so, yeah, give your time.
That's, that's just a littlebit, but just give your time,
it's, it's.
It's something to give or gain,isn't it?
And I think what strikes meabout you, two beautiful humans,
is that it's good to talk.
You know the success of whatyou've done and what you grow
with you and jerry, super jerry,uh, with streetwise, with you,
with your multiple businesses,um, is all about creating that
time to talk.
Thank you so much for giving methe time and our listeners the
(34:31):
time to talk today.
I've loved having you on ourteal couch.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Thank you.
I look forward to seeing youagain.
Thank you for giving us theopportunity.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Thank you for being not just awesome, but especially
awesome.
Thank you so much Thank youSubscribe on YouTube, apple,
amazon Music, spotify orwherever you get your podcasts.
Leave us a review or follow uson socials.
We are power underscore net onInsta, tiktok and Twitter, or we
are power on LinkedIn, facebookand we are underscore power on
(34:59):
YouTube.
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