Let us inspire you as we interview North East Changemakers; ranging from Community Champions to Social Enterprise Founders to Charity Leaders. They share their origin stories and how make a difference in their community. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy!
Chats with Changemakers with Kate Duffy from Junction Point CIC
Claim This Podcastby Kate Duffy of Junction Point CIC
26 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Let us inspire you as we interview North East Changemakers; ranging from Community Champions to Social Enterprise Founders to Charity Leaders. They share their origin stories and how make a difference in their community. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy!
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Publishing Since
4/17/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 25, 2026
Breaking the Habit Loop of Shame: Ross Heatley, Project Fluency
<p>What if the digital tools we used were built to empower us instead of keeping us hooked? In this episode of Chats with Changemakers, Kate Duffy sits down with <strong>Ross Heatley</strong>, a former HR professional turned tech founder who is completely flipping the script on digital engagement. After experiencing corporate burnout and uncovering his own neurodivergence through therapy, Ross realised that the systems we work and live in aren't built for everyone.</p><p><br></p><p>To solve this, he founded <strong>Project Fluency, </strong>an adaptive personal software environment designed to help neurodivergent adults understand their unique traits, communicate their boundaries, and replace the exhausting habit of masking. Ross opens up about building a technology platform with strict ethical AI guardrails, designing an "equaliser" for human energy, and creating a contrarian business model where user "graduation" is the ultimate metric of success.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>The "Graduation" Metric:</strong> Unlike mainstream software designed for maximum retention, Project Fluency measures success by how quickly a user internalises its lessons and decides they no longer need the app.<br></p><p><strong>Orientation over Evaluation:</strong> Traditional habit trackers often feed into a destructive cycle of shame. Ross explains why tools should act as adaptive environments that adjust to your daily energy levels instead of forcing you to conform.<br></p><p><strong>The Living Energies Framework:</strong> An inside look at Project Fluency’s core behavioural identification system, which maps out 12 distinct human preferences to convert personal reflection into clear self-advocacy language.<br></p><p><strong>The Creator Subsidisation Model:</strong> How the platform uses a marketplace tier for "prompt injection hats" to allow advanced users to naturally fund free, accessible tiers for those experiencing burnout.<br></p><p><strong>A Slow Start for a Graceful Finish:</strong> Why writing an organisational "doctrine" and reviewing every single feature against it saves founders from losing their soul to tempting, misaligned ideas.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:07</strong> – Welcome and introduction to Project Fluency.</p><p><strong>01:07</strong> – The HR Catalyst: Recognising hidden burnout and unpacking personal neurodivergence.</p><p><strong>03:24</strong> – The Birth of Project Fluency: Becoming fluent in the art of self-advocacy.</p><p><strong>04:49</strong> – Designing an adaptive personal environment that rejects the "shame loop".</p><p><strong>08:44</strong> – Ethical Tech: Implementing strict guardrails on reflective AI.</p><p><strong>11:56</strong> – The Living Energies Equaliser: Fine-tuning your personality across life's contexts.</p><p><strong>15:38</strong> – Disrupting Silicon Valley: The B2C marketplace and future B2B corporate wellness plans.</p><p><strong>20:53</strong> – Pearls of Wisdom: Formulating your doctrine and building what doesn't exist.</p><p><strong>23:09</strong> – Call to Action: Testing the framework and challenging the architecture.</p><p><strong>24:58</strong> – Kate’s Outro: Reflections on inclusive design and creating tools that put us out of a job.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Useful Links</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Project Fluency Website:</strong></p><p><a href="https://projectfluency.co.uk/"><strong>https://projectfluency.co.uk/</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Ross Heatley on LinkedIn:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-heatley-206a122ba/"><strong>https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-heatley-206a122ba/</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Course Spotlight:</strong><a href="https://www.junctionpoint.co.uk/"> </a></p><p><a href="https://www.junctionpoint.co.uk/">Level Two in Starting and Developing a Social Enterprise<br></a></p><p><strong>North East Changemakers Community:</strong><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.junctionpoint.co.uk/community"> </a></p><p><a href="https://hub.junctionpoint.co.uk/changemaker-sign-up">https://hub.junctionpoint.co.uk/changemaker-sign-up</a></p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Kate Duffy and Junction Point CIC</p><p><br></p><p>● Website: <a href="https://junctionpoint.co.uk/">https://junctionpoint.co.uk/</a></p><p>● LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateduffyuk/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateduffyuk/</a></p><p>● Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/junctionpointuk">https://www.facebook.com/junctionpointuk</a></p><p>● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junctionpointcic/</p>
June 11, 2026
How One Small Charity is Tackling Domestic Abuse in the North East: Catherine Marchant
<p>In this episode of Chats with Changemakers, host Kate Duffy speaks with Catherine Marchant, CEO of Impact Family Services, a charity dedicated to supporting adults, children and young people affected by domestic abuse.</p><p><br></p><p>Catherine shares her journey from the Civil Service into charity leadership and how a short-term role at Impact Family Services became a long-term mission to help break cycles of domestic abuse within local communities.</p><p><br></p><p>The conversation explores the realities of leading a small charity, including funding challenges, income diversification, balancing multiple leadership roles, and the importance of workplace support for those experiencing domestic abuse. Catherine also reflects on the lessons she has learned throughout her career and why listening to yourself can be one of the most important leadership skills of all.</p><p><br></p><p>Key Takeaways</p><p><br></p><p>• Breaking the cycle of domestic abuse requires prevention, education and long-term family support.</p><p><br>• Small charities can create significant impact through innovation, partnerships and community engagement.</p><p><br>• Diversifying income streams is essential in an increasingly challenging funding environment.</p><p><br></p><p>• Workplace domestic abuse training can help employers better support their staff.</p><p><br>• Strong leadership relies on trusted teams, good governance and adaptability.</p><p><br>• Work-life balance is essential for long-term sustainability and effectiveness.</p><p><br></p><p>• Listening to yourself and embracing change can lead to greater fulfilment and impact.</p><p><br>• Community support plays a vital role in sustaining local charities and services.</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Catherine's Journey to Making a Difference</p><p>03:55 Launching Impact Family Services</p><p>06:58 Mission and Operations of Impact Family Services</p><p>09:46 Funding Challenges and Strategies</p><p>13:07 Balancing Multiple Roles</p><p>16:00 Wisdom and Lessons Learned</p><p>19:10 How You Can Support Impact Family Services</p><p>24:19 Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Abuse</p><p>25:14 Innovative Income Generation Strategies</p><p>25:41 Personal Growth and Change</p><p>25:56 Chats with Changemakers Outro</p><p><br></p><p>Useful Links</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Catherine Marchant and Impact Family Services</p><p><br></p><p>Website<br><a href="https://impactfs.co.uk/">https://impactfs.co.uk/</a></p><p><br></p><p>LinkedIn<br><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemarchant/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemarchant/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Workplace Domestic Abuse Training<br><a href="https://impactfs.co.uk/education-training/">https://impactfs.co.uk/education-training/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Follow Impact Family Services on social media to help raise awareness of domestic abuse and support their mission.</p><p><br></p><p>Instagram</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/impactfs.co.uk/">https://www.instagram.com/impactfs.co.uk/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Facebook</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/impactfamilyservices/">https://www.facebook.com/impactfamilyservices/</a></p><p><br></p><p>LinkedIn</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-family-services/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-family-services/</a></p><p>Donate toiletries, hygiene products, gifts, arts and crafts materials, or funds to support families accessing their services.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://impactfs.co.uk/support/">https://impactfs.co.uk/support/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Take part in fundraising events such as the Great North Run or organise your own challenge event.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/">https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Kate Duffy and Junction Point CIC</p><p><br></p><p>● Website:<a href="https://junctionpoint.co.uk/"> https://junctionpoint.co.uk/<br></a>● LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateduffyuk/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateduffyuk/<br></a>● Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/junctionpointuk"> https://www.facebook.com/junctionpointuk<br></a>● Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/junctionpointcic/"> https://www.instagram.com/junctionpointcic/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Check Out Our Level 2 in Starting & Developing a Social Enterprise Qualification</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://junctionpoint.co.uk/level-2-starting-a-social-enterprise-qualification/">https://junctionpoint.co.uk/level-2-starting-a-social-enterprise-qualification/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Join the Free North East Changemakers Community</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1YA7oQVvd3/">https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1YA7oQVvd3/</a></p>
May 28, 2026
How Music Can Change Lives and Build Confidence: Philip Drew on Southside Music
<p>In this episode of Chats with Changemakers, host Kate Duffy speaks with Philip Drew, founder of Southside Music, a purpose-led music tuition business helping people across South Tyneside build confidence, creativity, and connection through music.Phil shares how years working in the corporate telecoms world left him searching for something more meaningful. What began as a weekend piano teaching role alongside his corporate career eventually became a bold leap into self-employment and community-focused entrepreneurship.The conversation explores the realities of building a purpose-led business from scratch, including the challenges of self-funding, navigating uncertainty, and growing demand in the early stages. Phil also discusses the importance of accessible music education, the decline of creative opportunities in schools, and his vision for scholarship-funded tuition for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.Key TakeawaysPurpose-led businesses can create meaningful local impact without being a CIC.Music education can improve confidence, wellbeing, creativity, and connection.It is never too late to learn a new skill or pursue a new direction in life.Building a business requires resilience, adaptability, and thorough research.Social impact and financial sustainability can successfully work together.Adult learning and creativity are often overlooked but hugely important.Community support and word-of-mouth are essential for grassroots businesses.Accessible creative opportunities can help reduce inequality and isolation.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Phil’s Journey into Purpose-Led Work00:51 Leaving the Corporate World Behind03:26 Discovering the Impact of Music Tuition 06:08 The Birth of Southside Music08:04 Why Music Education Matters10:02 Creating Scholarships and Accessible Tuition11:39 Choosing the Right Business Structure14:25 Lessons Learned from Starting a Business16:55 How the Community Can Support Southside Music18:40 Why Music is for Adults Too21:24 Reflections on Purpose-Led Business and CreativityUseful LinksConnect with Philip Drew and Southside MusicFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1Cea5XgbjX/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/south_side_music_?igsh=ZTUxM2tpeHRqNzU4LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-drew-6161a8192?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_androidConnect with Kate Duffy and Junction Point CIC● Website: https://junctionpoint.co.uk/● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateduffyuk/● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/junctionpointuk● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junctionpointcic/Check Out Our Level 2 in Starting & Developing a Social Enterprise Qualificationhttps://junctionpoint.co.uk/level-2-starting-a-social-enterprise-qualification/Join the Free North East Changemakers Communityhttps://www.facebook.com/share/g/1YA7oQVvd3/</p>
26 total episodes available
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