Do you have to be the loudest person in the room to be confident?

Absolutely not.

In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Lottie Hanson, Principal of Little Voices Northampton, for a wonderfully honest and uplifting conversation about confidence, creativity, overcoming perfectionism and finding your own path.

Growing up surrounded by music, Lottie always loved performing, although she never imagined it would eventually become such an important part of her career.

From amateur theatre and a brief spell working as an actor to supporting children's charities, fundraising, marketing and working in education, Lottie's career has taken plenty of unexpected turns.

At 16, she actually dreamed of becoming a female David Attenborough!

But looking back, one thing remained constant: her love of performing arts and the sense of belonging it gave her.

Today, Lottie brings together her passion for working with children and her love of drama and singing through Little Voices Northampton, where she's building a supportive community for children and families.

And she's already seeing the difference it makes.

From children who arrive feeling nervous and unsure to those who become so attached to their lessons that they don't want to leave, Lottie shares some beautiful moments from her first few months running the business.

Jane and Lottie explore why small, nurturing environments help children build confidence, develop friendships and discover their own voices.

They also discuss the challenges of starting a business, putting yourself out there on social media and learning to overcome the temptation to make everything perfect.

For Lottie, one of the biggest lessons has been learning to take action rather than endlessly overthinking.

There's also a fascinating conversation about the different forms confidence can take.

Lottie explains why being confident doesn't necessarily mean being extroverted, and how sometimes the most powerful confidence comes from being comfortable with yourself and helping others feel at ease.

The conversation turns to school, academic pressure and the challenges of moving from being naturally good at something to suddenly finding yourself struggling.

What if schools taught us how to learn, how to overcome setbacks and how to fail constructively?

And what if we encouraged young people to follow the things they genuinely enjoy rather than trying to fit themselves into a particular box?

It's a message that sits beautifully at the heart of Little Voices.

An inspiring, funny and thoughtful conversation about confidence, resilience, performing arts, education, community and learning to trust yourself.

And don't miss Lottie's school run memory involving dark country lanes, early morning radio programmes and some memorable conversations with her mum!

Support The School Run

Enjoyed this episode? Please follow, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit from Lottie's story.

Buy us a virtual coffee:
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Connect with us

Instagram: @theschoolrun_official

Discover Little Voices and how we help children build confidence through drama and singing:
https://www.littlevoices.org.uk

Podcast Production

The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real.

https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk

Disclaimer

The views expressed are those of the individual participants. Information shared is for general discussion and should not replace appropriate professional advice.

What happens when the career you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you want to live?

In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Sammi Panesar-Vale, former secondary school vice principal, drama teacher and now the proud owner of Little Voices Nottingham and Loughborough.

Growing up on the Isle of Wight, Sammi dreamed of performing in the West End. She threw herself into singing, dancing and drama, even starting ballet lessons at 16 to give herself the best possible chance of pursuing her dream.

But as she discovered, life doesn't always follow the plan we create for ourselves.

After studying musical theatre, Sammi found a new passion in teaching. She went on to build a successful career in secondary education, establishing drama departments, creating opportunities for young people and progressing into senior leadership.

Yet the higher she climbed, the more she questioned whether the education system was allowing her to make the difference she truly wanted.

Long working hours, increasing pressures and difficult decisions that didn't always align with her values began to take their toll.

Then a family bereavement brought everything into perspective.

Sammi realised something had to change.

What followed was a courageous decision to leave the security of mainstream teaching and launch her own Little Voices business, bringing together her love of performing arts, education and helping children develop confidence.

Just 12 months later, Sammi was working with more than 300 children across 12 schools, creating opportunities for young people to feel seen, heard and valued.

One particularly moving story involves a five-year-old boy who struggled with mainstream education but, with the right encouragement and support, achieved something that made his family incredibly proud.

It's a beautiful reminder that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in their own way.

Jane and Sammi explore the importance of confidence, finding your purpose, trusting your instincts and recognising that changing direction doesn't mean you've failed.

They also discuss why drama and singing develop skills that reach far beyond the stage, and why smaller, nurturing environments can make such an extraordinary difference to children's lives.

And when Jane asks Sammi what confidence really means, her answer is wonderfully powerful.

Knowing that you're enough. Knowing your voice matters. And believing that what you have to say is important.

Sammi also shares what she wishes school had taught her, including financial literacy, practical life skills and the possibility of creating your own business rather than following a traditional career path.

An inspiring, honest and emotional conversation about education, courage, entrepreneurship, family and discovering that sometimes the best opportunities come when you're brave enough to change your plans.

And don't miss Sammi's school run memory involving Kelly Clarkson, her sister and some very enthusiastic singing in the family car!

Support The School Run

Enjoyed this episode? Please follow, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit from Sammi's story.

Buy us a virtual coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

Connect with us

Instagram: @theschoolrun_official

Discover Little Voices and how we help children build confidence through drama and singing:
https://www.littlevoices.org.uk

Podcast Production

The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real.

https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk

Disclaimer

The views expressed are those of the individual participants. Information shared is for general discussion and should not replace appropriate professional advice.

What if the most powerful thing you could ever learn was simply to be yourself?

In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Haylie, actor, fitness enthusiast and Principal of Little Voices Blackburn with Darwen and the Ribble Valley, for a wonderfully honest conversation about confidence, courage, self-discovery and following your own path.

Haylie's journey certainly hasn't followed a conventional route.

As a young girl, she dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. But an unexpected opportunity to audition for a BBC comedy series changed everything, introducing her to acting at just 11 years old.

From performing on television and studying drama to exploring British Sign Language and Deaf Studies at university, Haylie discovered that finding your place in the world isn't always straightforward.

After university, she found herself working behind a desk at Bupa, increasingly unhappy and knowing something wasn't right.

Then she made a brave decision.

She left her job, contacted Little Voices and sent an email that would change the direction of her life.

Seven years later, having worked as a tutor, supported the head office team and managed the original Little Voices business, Haylie became its owner.

Today, she helps children discover their confidence through drama and singing, creating the safe, supportive environment she wishes she'd experienced herself.

But this conversation goes much deeper than performing arts.

Jane and Haylie explore the difference between confidence and arrogance, why confidence grows through experience and why being your authentic self is one of the greatest strengths you can develop.

Haylie also talks openly about ADHD, self-awareness, challenging society's expectations and learning to stop looking outside yourself for approval.

There's a fascinating discussion about fitness, strength training and HYROX, and how pushing herself physically has helped Haylie develop resilience, discipline and a healthier relationship with herself.

As she beautifully explains, she once trained for perfection. Now she trains for peace.

And when Jane asks what she wishes school had taught her, Haylie's answer is wonderfully simple.

Kindness.

Because we never really know what somebody else might be carrying into the classroom, workplace or everyday life.

Throughout this uplifting conversation, one message shines through:

Just be you. Nobody can do you better than you.

An inspiring and refreshingly honest episode about confidence, personal growth, finding your voice and having the courage to create a life that feels right for you.

And don't miss Haylie's lovely school run memory about sharing wired headphones with her best friend on the school bus!

Follow

@littlevoicesbdrv on Instagram

Support The School Run

Enjoyed this episode? Please follow, leave a review or share it with someone who might need to hear Haylie's story.

Buy us a virtual coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

Connect with us

Instagram: @theschoolrun_official

Discover Little Voices and how we help children build confidence through drama and singing:https://www.littlevoices.org.uk

Podcast Production

The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real.

https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk

Disclaimer

The views expressed are those of the individual participants. Information shared is for general discussion and should not replace appropriate professional advice.