Inspirational Talks

Gary & Michelle

Gary :

Gary (Gaz) is an innovative and bespoke speaker whose real-life journey has become a catalyst for change. With honesty, humility, and unwavering integrity, he shares the journey from rock-bottom despair to a life of purpose, stability, and professional success. Imagine hearing a story so raw — yet so full of possibility — that you begin to believe change is possible for you too.

Gary doesn’t just speak — he connects. He meets audiences wherever they are, tailoring his talks to resonate across industries, educational settings, community groups, and military environments. His calm, honest delivery draws people in, creating a space where listeners feel safe, understood, and ready to take action.

He has also developed the Safeguarding Me workshops, designed to support young people’s physical, emotional, social, and mental wellbeing. These workshops focus on resilience, emotional awareness, and confidence building, delivered in schools and educational settings.

Expertise & Credentials

Gary brings exceptional breadth and depth to his work, combining lived experience with professional training across multiple disciplines. He has developed a unique skill set that draws on a wide range of therapies, counselling techniques, and coaching methods. This allows him to support individuals and groups in ways that are practical, personalised, and highly effective, helping people develop resilience, self-awareness, and wellbeing.

  • Qualified Counsellor, accredited with the National Counselling Society

  • TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) trained

  • Qualified Coach

  • Provides counselling and wellbeing support to companies and organisations

  • Qualified Self-Defence Instructor and Black Belt, integrating mental and physical resilience

  • Qualified Close-Protection Officer (Bodyguard)

  • Experienced Drug & Alcohol support worker

  • Experienced social-care worker in children’s residential settings

  • Passionate mental-health advocate, with a particular focus on men’s mental health

  • Extensive lived experience of trauma, loss, and bereavement, combined with long-term therapeutic work to rebuild a successful, purpose-driven life

His diverse therapeutic background gives him the flexibility to adapt his approach for any audience or individual, ensuring his talks and interventions are relevant, actionable, and meaningful.

Speaking Engagements & Testimonials

Gary’s talks are recognised for being heartfelt, grounded, and transformative. Audiences consistently respond to his authenticity, relatability, and ability to make challenging topics feel safe and human. His talks are relevant to all audiences, from corporate teams and construction staff to university students, military cadets, community groups, and more.

Corporate & Business Audiences

“As a company we engaged Gary during the COVID lockdown to assist our colleagues. Gary has had fantastic feedback from those he has helped. Gaz’s style is so versatile and his skill set very diverse, allowing him to effectively help others with a range of issues and challenges. Gaz is a pleasure to work with. He is timely, reliable and has a great ethos and aura. Nothing is too much for Gaz. I would highly recommend Gaz.”
— Steph Hines, Group HR Director, AX, Birmingham

Companies highlight the lasting impact of Gary’s talks — describing them as refreshingly honest, deeply relatable, and uniquely effective in opening real conversations around mental health. Staff often comment that they felt “understood”, “seen”, and “comfortable being honest” for the first time in a workplace setting.

Construction, Educational, Community & Military Audiences

“We asked Gary to come into our company to share his life journey. Our aim was to open the gates and widen the awareness of the importance of mental health to our workforce. … He had us all gripped from the start … His story is so real and so enlightening. … He certainly left people with plenty of food for thought. I would highly recommend him as a speaker.”
— Andrew Bean, LMB Group, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Gary’s talks are adaptable and engaging for any audience, from construction teams to university students and staff, military cadets, and community groups. His grounded, real-life approach helps people relate to the message and apply it in their own lives.

Educators and community leaders often comment:
“He holds the room with honesty and gravitas — every audience feels connected because he speaks from experience and with genuine care.”

Small & Large Organisations

From intimate team sessions to large multi-site events, Gary’s talks leave a lasting impression. Attendees frequently report leaving with clearer self-awareness, practical strategies, and renewed confidence — often describing the experience as “life-changing” or “eye-opening.”

Key takeaway:
Gary doesn’t just speak at people — he reaches them. His message is universal, adaptable, and impactful for any audience.

Michelle : Inspirational Speaker & Motivator

Michelle is a motivational speaker whose story quietly but powerfully inspires. Having faced profound challenges in her life—including the devastating loss of her children, supporting a partner through severe mental health struggles, and surviving breast cancer—she speaks from experience with honesty, humility, and heart. Her journey shows that even through the darkest times, resilience, hope, and strength are possible.

With over 20 years in education, Michelle has worked as a teacher, senior leader, and deputy head, before retraining as a counsellor for both children and adults. She has built her counselling practice from the ground up into a successful and trusted business, offering support to schools, businesses, charities, and individuals. Her professional background, combined with her personal experiences, gives her unique insight into mental health, grief, trauma, and recovery.

Michelle has delivered workshops and talks for a wide range of audiences, helping people navigate life’s challenges with compassion and positivity. Her approach is humble and heartfelt—she doesn’t just share a story; she creates connection and understanding, encouraging others to see life with renewed hope and strength.

  • Qualified Teacher with over 20 years of experience

  • Senior Leader & Deputy Head

  • Qualified Counsellor, accredited with the National Counselling Society, supporting adults, children, and young people

  • Provides counselling and training for schools, colleges, charities, and businesses

  • Delivers various workshops including Attachment Disorder, Trauma, Menopause, Stress, Burnout Anxiety

  • Reiki Practitioner

Michelle’s talks leave audiences feeling inspired and motivated—not through grand gestures, but through the quiet power of her lived experience, empathy, and unwavering strength.