In our latest At The Forefront, our CEO Mary Rose Gunn speaks with Cathy Wassell, founder of Autistic Girls Network, about why so many neurodivergent girls and non-binary young people are overlooked and misdiagnosed by a system that isn’t set up to identify their internal, hidden traits of autism.

They discuss how autistic students are crashing out of an education system that doesn’t understand their needs, and how Cathy is filling that gap. From teacher training to The Haven – an online school offering a neuro-affirming alternative to mainstream schools, Autistic Girls Network is reshaping how autistic girls access the support they deserve.

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How can a social enterprise rebuild lives inside and after prison?#

In this At The Forefront, our CEO Mary Rose Gunn spoke to Pauline Miller-Brown, founder of Restart Enterprise, an organisation dedicated to breaking the cycle of reoffending through practical support designed with people who’ve been through the system themselves.

Together, they unpack how prioritising “human-touch” solutions, as simple as a hot drink or a ride home on release day, and supporting family members and prison staff, fill the gaps often left by the criminal justice system.

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How can you make your organisation a truly inclusive workplace?

In this At The Forefront session, our CEO Mary Rose Gunn speaks to Alex Winstanley, co-founder of Happy Smiles Training, a social enterprise creating more inclusive organisations and communities through disability awareness training led by disabled people.

Three key takeaways:

1. The biggest barriers faced by disabled people aren’t always physical, they’re attitudes

2. Inclusion only works when people with lived experience lead the conversation

3. Tackling stigma must start young – inspiring Alex’s award-winning children’s book series on long-term health conditions

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