About Real Life Learning &
Meet the Team
Real Life Learning was born in February 2019 with a mission to provide bespoke coaching and training for people with disabilities in work and education. We are based in Haslington near Crewe in South Cheshire and support clients across the United Kingdom, Europe, the US and Asia.
In 2024 the demand for our bespoke workplace services grew significantly and we have now evolved to focus our provision in support of Occupational Health delivery.
– Our Philosophy
At Real Life Learning we believe that, with the right support at work, people with disabilities and complex support needs can achieve great things. We work with employers and occupational health services to assess, plan and develop interventions that allow people to thrive. Complex is what we do best.
-Our People
Our team of professionals are incredibly diverse in terms of experience, qualifications, skills and life experiences. Many of our team members are neurodiverse or have disabilities. This lived experience is a key strength when it comes to understanding client needs and supporting and developing people.
–Our Work
We work ethically and sensitively with clients to help people thrive at work. Through a process of positive engagement, often with vulnerable people, we establish a support process that involves assessing their needs, prior to developing a support plan with recommendations for workplace adjustments.
Our coaching, training and support services ensure that all clients are provided with the skills and personal development relevant to their conditions and circumstances. Whether someone’s role is physical, sedentary or a combination of the two we are able to tailor support accordingly.
-How We Help Clients
We work with individuals and organisations to educate and develop people to evolve their understanding and support of disability at work. Our interventions and support programmes are designed to empower people and create a more inclusive working environment that allows staff to thrive.
We find that individual clients receiving 1-1 Coaching typically report improvements in their levels of confidence and assertiveness when advocating for themselves. Organisations that engage with Awareness Training report positive changes in supporting their staff and in understanding the relationships between making adjustments for staff and wellbeing and performance.
All of our services are available remotely and in person. Most training and coaching does take place using Teams these days but we are always available to visit your organisation to deliver Workplace Needs Assessments or other support services when requested. Our services are available on a bespoke/ flexible basis, according to client needs.
-Our Guarantee
We guarantee a 1-1 coaching appointment within 5 working days, where requested. If clients require urgent mental health/ counselling services we can triage within 24 hours of a request.
We will always endeavour to meet the needs of clients as recommended in any assessment. Where our team of professionals are unable to provide the appropriate service we will signpost clients to one of our suitable partner organisations.
Real Life Learning was founded by Rob Pickersgill in 2019. Rob is now the Managing Director and had previously spent 20 years lecturing in the Further and Higher Education sectors, and since 2017 working with young people and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Rob specialises in coaching clients to manage their disabilities effectively to achieve wellbeing, balance and their potential at work and in life.
Rob is late diagnosed autistic (age 56!) and is committed to helping others in the neurodiverse and disabled communities.
Rob was inspired to support people early in life after being introduced to the charity ‘Riding for the Disabled’ by his late mother, Maggie. Rob and Maggie would take their horse – ‘Smokey Joe’- along to the local group on a Thursday morning where young people would enjoy social and learning horse riding activities.
During his time working in the FE sector Rob had become concerned at the challenges faced by young adults with learning difficulties on entering the workplace. On leaving FE Rob subsequently began coaching clients who were struggling to manage their disabilities, work responsibilities and wellbeing. Here was a clear and unmet need to support, coach and mentor people and to help educate organisations to create an environment where staff could flourish.
Real Life Learning was born.
Initially providing SEND support for students in schools and adults with learning difficulties at work; Real Life Learning began partnering with Cheshire and North Wales Dyslexia Association to provide neurodiverse support services in 2020.
As demand for these services increased post lockdown, Real Life Learning evolved to specialise in delivering holistic disability workplace support services. The organisation has grown to include a range of specialist professionals providing specialist occupational health and disability support services UK wide.
Since 2019 our key partner has been Posturite Limited. We provide Posturite with a bespoke range of enablement services to help clients thrive at work.
Our client portfolio includes the NHS, Central and Local Government departments, Deloitte, Fidelity, Further and Higher Educational Institutions and small business enterprises.
In 2021 Rob joined forces with Hannah Fairclough to support her in developing her business ideas. Hannah subsequently became the marketing professional for Real Life Learning and is now the Enablement Co-ordinator.
Our team now consists of a Psychologist, Counsellor, Coaches and Support Workers to provide a range of specialist workplace support services. It is fair to say that the journey so far has been exciting for our growing team and empowering for our clients to thrive in their roles at work.
Staff Profiles
Rob Pickersgill MSc, PGCE. Role: Coach and Trainer
Rob Pickersgill is a lived experience autistic Coach/ Trainer and the Managing Director of Real Life Learning Limited. Based in the South Cheshire village of Haslington, Rob is late diagnosed autistic (aged 56!) and has completed in excess of 3,000 hours of coaching in support of neurodiverse and disabled clients since 2019. Rob previously spent 20 years lecturing in Further and Higher education, leading on modules including Psychology, Human Behaviour and Leadership Coaching. Rob’s teaching practice also included coaching and mentoring students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Rob’s specialisms are creative problem solving, developing coping strategies and empowering people to feel confident and assertive in themselves. Rob’s clients consistently report high levels of satisfaction in their progress, particularly in relation to their confidence levels in communicating needs to employers. Rob was first introduced to disability support by his late mother – Maggie – a passionate horsewoman. Helping out regularly as a young boy with the local Riding for the Disabled group Rob came to understand that he could make a difference to people’s lives through his humanistic approach and enthusiasm for helping others. Away from business Rob enjoys quiet time, exploring and walking in the Peak District and caravanning and canoeing in the Wye Valley and The Forest of Dean – with wife Maria, two daughters and an endlessly energetic Cocker Spaniel named Bailey.
Hannah Fairclough - Enablement Coordinator
Hannah is our Enablement Coordinator at Real Life Learning Limited. As she is totally blind with no light perception she is supported by Karen and Laura, her Support Workers. Hannah's role involves the day to day running of the business. She responds to all enquiries. These could be related to Access to Work, Coaching, Work Place Needs Assessments and Disability Awareness Sessions. She provides administrative support to our clients from their first enquiry and throughout their coaching journey. She co-ordinates our team of Support Workers who empower our Access to Work clients in their employment roles. In addition to this, with support, Hannah creates and sends the invoices to our clients and arranges transport for clients to and from work. Most importantly, Hannah keeps track of staff birthdays and their holiday entitlements!
Support Worker Profiles
Laura Leeson - Support Worker & Women’s Well Being Coach
Laura supports Hannah with her Enablement role. This includes tasks that Hannah cannot do alone, such as making notes, proof reading / typing dictated emails and data inputting into tables and spreadsheets. Laura empowers and encourages Hannah to be independent in her role as much as possible. Laura is also our Women’s Well Being Coach. Her career in Nursing and Midwifery has given her a wealth of experience in order to support women with the challenges they face on their hormonal journey. Laura offers an empathetic ear and a safe space to support women with their physical, emotional and mental changes. From managing hot flushes, mood swings and sleep disturbances, to addressing brain fog, weight changes and hormonal imbalances - all of which have an impact on home and work life. Through lifestyle adjustments, workplace strategies and mindset shifts, Laura will encourage you to embrace the transition into menopause and support you to take control of your well being and thrive in midlife and beyond.
Karen Young - Support Worker
Karen is a Support Worker for Real Life Learning Limited, working with three different clients. She provides personalized support to enhance their independence and well-being. In addition to her role she also assists with business networking and liaising with local groups. She is also Mental Health First Aid trained.
Jan Evans - Support Worker
Jan has worked with Real Life Learning for 5 years and specialises in supporting adults with learning difficulties. She initially started with the company by tutoring young people with SEND.
Coach / Trainer Profiles
Amy Louise Simms - Lived Experience Neurodivergent Coach and Mental Health First Aider
Amy’s personal journey through neurodivergence enables her to bring a deeply empathetic approach to coaching. Having firsthand experience with the unique struggles and strengths of neurodivergent individuals, Amy connects with clients on a deeply personal level and tailors her support to their specific needs. Amy’s coaching goes beyond listening and advice—it focuses on delivering practical, actionable strategies designed to address real-life challenges. Amy helps clients by providing tools for managing sensory overload, overwhelm, and anxiety, also offering techniques to improve focus and productivity. Through her own personal experiences Amy enables clients to develop skills for emotional regulation by building self-esteem, especially for those who have faced stigma or misunderstanding in the workplace. Through Amy’s work she seeks to apply the following values and skills: Empathy: Creating safe, understanding spaces where individuals feel seen and heard Inclusivity: Advocating for environments that respect and accommodate diverse needs and experiences Empowerment: Helping individuals recognize their strengths and achieve their full potential Resilience: Encouraging perseverance and growth through challenges Authenticity: Promoting honesty and self-acceptance in herself and others
Tracy Jackson - BSc, Ad Dip Professional in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. Senior Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor, Coach and Mentor.
Over the course of her working life, Tracy has contributed to the Public Sector, Financial Services, and the Voluntary Sector. Tracy took a career break to support a growing family and had the amazing opportunity to live as an ex-pat in a multicultural environment. This life experience motivated Tracy to consider her career path moving forward once she repatriated. As a mature individual with a desire to develop her skills, Tracy decided to use her passion for understanding people, behaviours, and the impact that life experiences can have. She made the decision to pursue studies in Psychology/Counselling. Tracy gained a degree in Psychology and continued her education post-graduation in Counselling/Psychotherapy/Clinical Supervision. Since graduating in 2006/2007, Tracy has been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with Mental Health Charities, driving campaigns for funding to secure affordable Counselling and support for all. Working within the Education system, Tracy was challenged to develop Counselling Services across seven schools. She implemented a service that supported children and young people from the age of 8-18 and, in some cases, beyond leaving school. Implementing the service and noting the benefits and values it added to people's lives is something Tracy is proud to have been part of. Tracy currently continues to work within the NHS, supporting staff on the frontline. Tracy's work has been a journey, and she has gained many valuable skills. Tracy has excellent interpersonal skills and creates natural empathy while remaining calm and professional, building a positive relationship in which sharing emotions and talking is comfortable. Listening to others without judgment, Tracy is always attentive to people’s emotions with respect. Tracy is a caring and passionate professional who puts clients at the heart of the work she does together. Working collaboratively to achieve any goals agreed upon that may influence their future— personally and professionally—empowering people to reach their full potential continues to drive and motivate her. Tracy feels privileged that people share so much of their lives with her. It’s extremely important that the space Tracy holds for them feels safe. Confidentiality and privacy are paramount for a trusting therapeutic/working relationship. When Tracy is not working, she enjoys the outdoors—hiking, sightseeing, and generally enjoying nature. Spending time with her adult children is such a wonderful feeling. Experiences and time spent immersed in different cultures continue to drive Tracy's passion for travel.
Victoria Beddow - Coach/ Trainer
Victoria joined Real Life Learning in january 2023 and thoroughly enjoys her role. Victoria has always been fascinated by human behavior, psychology, and inclusion, which led to her degree in Psychology and a Master's in Educational Psychology. She is passionate about enabling people to make positive changes in their lives and helping them take charge of their own development. A quote she loves is: “People are better persuaded by the reasons they themselves discovered than those that come into the minds of others.” (Blaise Pascal) With 31 years of experience in SEN teaching, working at a strategic level in a positive intervention team, and coaching adults who are neurodivergent, Victoria now thoroughly enjoys her coaching role, building trusting relationships with clients so they feel safe to take risks and challenges. This is what motivates and inspires her. Victoria uses Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in her coaching sessions, which has proven to be a non-threatening way to discuss what is holding clients back and helps to bridge the gap between where they are now and where they want to be. By identifying areas for growth, setting goals and objectives with support and accountability, clients can reach their full potential. Victoria uses Motivational Interviewing to encourage clients to become active participants in the change process, evoking their intrinsic motivations for change. Victoria employs open-ended questioning, affirming comments, reflective listening, and empathy to help clients reach their goals. Clients often report improved focus, concentration, self-esteem and personal growth, with a change in mindset.
Fiona Falkingham - Neurodiversity Specialist Psychologist, Trainer, and Work Coach
With over ten years’ experience of supporting adults who experience neurodivergent conditions, Fiona is a practitioner occupational psychologist in training. Fiona provides consultancy, diagnostic assessment, work coaching, and strategy training to employees and organisations, and has been working with Real Life Learning Ltd since November 2023. When coaching, Fiona aims to take a strengths-based, person-centred approach. Her goal is to support individual growth, enabling people to understand themselves and their choices more fully, recognise their strengths, and realise their full potential. Fiona works with clients to develop effective strategies to explore and manage areas of difficulty, overcome challenges, and achieve their ambitions. Since 2013, when Fiona began working as a neurodiversity coach and tutor in Higher Education, she has supported the success and progression of over 1,000 adults within a range of occupations, including nursing and allied health professions, social work, the police service, engineering, finance, banking, and business consultancy. With an MSc in Occupational Psychology, Fiona has been working towards her professional doctorate since 2023. Her research investigates ‘fairness’ in employment selection and assessment. Fiona is a registered British Psychological Society Test User and an experienced, accredited Diagnostic Assessor of Specific Learning Difficulties, including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Dyscalculia, as well as screening for other neurodiverse conditions. As part of a Neurodiversity in Higher Education Research Group based at Wrexham and Keele universities, Fiona is a published researcher who has presented her work at numerous international conferences, including for the British Dyslexia Association and the BPS Division of Occupational Psychology Conference. Fiona is also a guest lecturer at Wrexham University. Fiona lives with her family on the border between Wales and Cheshire, where she enjoys long walks and adventures with her grandchildren.
For a confidential chat please call Hannah Fairclough on 07759405033 or Rob Pickersgill on 07794380601. Or email us on info@reallifelearning.co.uk