Passionate. Creative. Collaborative.

About

WayMakers

We celebrate and support differences in our wiring. Our support is for autistic people and those around them.

Passionate. Creative. Collaborative.

We celebrate and support differences in our wiring. Our support is for autistic people and those around them.

Who, what and where is WayMakers?

WayMakers is a neurodivergent-led Community Interest Company. It was incorporated in July 2020 and is in Barnstaple, North Devon.

Our vision is to create a world where neuroinclusion is the norm. A world where:

opportunities for everyone to flourish exist;
inclusive spaces and practices flow throughout communities, schools and workplaces;
society values and celebrates neurodiversity.

WayMakers’ board includes one paid Director, Alex Kelly, and three non-executive directors. We have two part-time employees, and four freelance associates.

Our operations team is comprised of:

Alex Kelly: Founder and director.
Bec Symonds: Operations Coordinator and Teen Group Facilitator.
Katie Poile: Administrative and Funding Assistant.
Anna Lewis: Project Support (Kailo)
Becky Merrick: Coach
Tara Lewis: Coach
Ava Oakley: Teen Group Peer Facilitator

We also have a voluntary Community Advisor, Lynsey Southern. Lynsey is People Promise Manager for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (RDUH) and a past coachee of WayMakers, having been supported by us for strategy coaching as a neurodivergent professional.

Our Administrative Assistant too, is a past service user leveraging a wealth of lived and professional experience at WayMakers.

Our team has lived experience of a variety of neurodivergent differences. Between us, we have expertise in:

supported employment, counselling, education, family support, bereavement support, outreach work, social work, law and finance.

About Alex Kelly, Founder & Director

Alex Kelly worked in secondary education for 20 years. She taught in mainstream schools and alternative provisions, including a Pupil Referral Unit.

Her last role was leading specialist provision for secondary aged autistic learners. Its success hinged on recognising:

the breadth of influences on each learner, in their life circumstances;
how each individual experienced of the world around them;
what inspired and ignited their passions.

This is a biopsychosocial approach. Seeing the ‘whole’ person, Alex designed bespoke, person-centred packages.

Alex loves to locate that sought-after sweet spot — one that flexes to a person’s needs and plays to their strengths. She believes this is the route to success and fulfilment. for individuals and for the world to which they contribute.

EMCC Associate Member.
Experienced specialist strategy coach.
Endorsed training provider (Skills for Care).
Trained specialist and Provision Lead in autism and SEMH needs.
Trauma-informed practitioner.
Level 3 Safeguarding trained.

The Assessment and Risk Assessment of Children and Young People in Crisis Level 2 (APT).
Fully insured & enhanced DBS.
Qualified and experienced secondary level teacher of 20 years mainstream, Pupil Referral Unit & specialist provision.

One Page Profile

We believe life’s transitions should be a springboard instead of a barrier.

What our clients’ say

I’ve found so much more focus and productivity, I feel like I’ve opened up new capacity I didn’t know I had! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend WayMakers to all!

Adult screening consultation client

Alex’s passion and knowledge of the subject is infectious. Feeling much more confident. There are so many things to go away and think about in order to provide a more inclusive space.

Workshop attendee

Alex allowed me the space and time to express my feelings without judgement. She was clear in providing strategies to help me cope. She really understood what I was struggling with and provided simple resources to help me.

Coachee

You were very good at talking me through things that I could do differently in a fair and balanced way. You were also really good at assisting when I needed to talk to my line manager, helping me to self-advocate and to convey my needs.

Work Coaching Client