Holly's journey with The Larder

When Holly Morgan was offered an interview with The Larder, she turned down the opportunity.
 
The 26-year-old had gone through a succession of jobs since leaving school but had not been able to find her way.
 
Hairdressing, admin, call centres, pupil support had all featured on her CV, but there was a pattern.
 
Holly experienced crippling health anxiety, and it impacted everything in her life, including her relationships.
 
“There was a time where I could not be on my own,” she said.
 
“I had to be with someone all the time as I was petrified that I would get ill. I was at the doctors multiple times a week and went to A&E.
 
“I learned afterwards that severe health anxiety is very common in autism.
 
“In all my jobs I had regular periods off sick, would come back, manage for a bit and then quit.
 
“I have been with my now husband for ten years, so of course that affected him as well. He was really supportive, but of course it can affect your relationship. My mental health issues affected my friendships and family relationships too.”
 
Last year, Holly finally got confirmation of what she had suspected, an autism and ADHD diagnosis.
 
Having left her previous job, after failing to receive the support she needed, Holly felt that she probably wouldn’t be able to return to work.
 
When Holly saw a job we were recruiting for here at The Larder, she was tempted to have a look.
 
“I had heard of The Larder, and I had heard they do a lot of work with people with additional support needs. That was what made me click on and have a look.
 
“I saw that one of the desirable skills was neurodiversity.”
 
With a bit of encouragement from her mum she applied, but conceded her heart wasn’t in it. Holly’s confidence was low.
 
“I didn’t think I would have a chance of an interview, and as time went on, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it,” she said.
 
“So, when I was asked for an interview, I said I am sorry, I may not be able to cope with this but thank you for your consideration.”
 
Our director of training Garry Walker wasn’t going to leave it there though and suggested that Holly popped in for a chat to see The Larder and meet some of the staff.
 
“I was really anxious, and I didn’t want to go. I even turned up at the wrong venue, the bakery. I thought ‘no I am not doing it’, but something in me said, ‘just go’.
 
Having arrived at our training centre, she was given a warm welcome by Roisin.
 
“We had a really informal chat, and a latte,” she explained. “Afterwards I emailed Garry back and said I wanted to come for an interview.”
 
The rest is history, as Holly was offered the role, and she’s been excelling ever since in a place that appreciates who she is.
 
Now our charity is launching a new half-day training workshop for employers to help them better understand how to support neurodivergent staff in the workplace. It’s been co-produced with other young people who have their own experiences.
 
“I have been working with a group of neurodivergent young people to develop this training programme. That was six months of them coming to me every Friday, sharing their lived experiences, including negative experiences, to build this course.
 
And it’s a course that Holly will deliver.
 
“Going from someone who felt they couldn’t have a job, to doing this type of public speaking has been a huge deal!,” she says.
 
Elsewhere she’s delivering the Power to Grow course for neurodiverse people who have left school without qualifications. This six month course helps them learn about physical and mental health, sex education, employability skills and how to write a CV or to apply for college.
 
These experiences have been life affirming for Holly.
 
“There’s one young person that hasn't been in school since second year. She has autism and ADHD and is going through a diagnosis for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She wasn’t well when I met her and was socially anxious.
 
“She wanted to join the neurodiverse group, she was a real stand out in the group, and she built a lot of the course. She went to college and now works full time as a clinical support worker in the ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) department.
 
“Now she’s coming in to be a classroom assistant at The Larder and will be helping to deliver the Neurodiversity Training with me.
 
“When I met her, she would hardly speak, but has now passed her driving test, goes to gigs and is so vibrant.
 
“So many of the young people have said they felt they could unmask in the group because it was led by someone who is autistic themselves. It is so cool to be in a position where it is almost necessary to have these conditions. It’s celebrated!”
 
Now this new training course marks the next exciting chapter in Holly’s experience with us at The Larder.
 
“A huge thing for me is taking out the stigma away from autism and ADHD. I have the benefit of not presenting like a ‘typical’ person with autism. I’m not ‘awkward’, and I love fashion, gigs and clubbing.
 
“The end goal is that workplaces are better for neurodivergent people, more acceptance too so there is the support that’s needed.
 
“The course has been created from the heart, and people have alchemised their experience and hardship as neurodivergent people into advice, knowledge. It is different, unique, engaging and fun!”

The half-day course has been co-developed with Jamie, Kiana, Caelen, Olivia, Rachael, Brandan, and Lucy.

If you’d like to bring this training to your workplace or learn more, please get in touch with Holly at holly@thelarder.org to learn about availability and pricing. You can also. 

Every time you purchase from our online store, or visit our Bakery (Livingston) or cafes in Blackburn and Broxburn, you'll helping us support young people across West Lothian to change their lives.