Celebrating Our Team and Their Impact: Oliver McGowan Training Team Meeting 2025

In August 2025, 1Stop Training held a team meeting for our Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training team. The meeting brought together our trainers and co-trainers, many of whom are autistic or have a learning disability, to reflect on the past year, share experiences, and celebrate the impact of their work.

The meeting was held in Hatfield and included a working session followed by a social lunch. It was attended by most of our team and created space for honest conversation, laughter, and connection. We shared updates, listened to feedback, and celebrated the achievements of our trainers and co-trainers. We have provided a summary of the discussions below.

Year of Impact

Since July 2024, our team has delivered 121 Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Training sessions, reaching 1,389 health and social care professionals across 13 organisations, including NHS hospitals, community services, and care providers. The training has consistently received high praise, with an average rating of 9.3 out of 10 and 100 percent of learners recommending the course.

Services have reported real changes following the training, including:

Improved language in policies
Creation of Easy Read guides
Use of hospital passports
Development of visual communication tools
+
OM courses delivered
+
Care staff trained
%
Average course rating

What Learners Said

Feedback from learners has been powerful and consistent. Many spoke about how the training helped them understand autism and learning disability in a new way. Some realised they or their children might be autistic. Others said they felt inspired to make changes in their practice.

Here are just a few of the comments we received:

“I learnt a lot and felt inspired.”
“Hearing real stories helped me understand better.”
“I now feel more confident supporting people with autism and learning disabilities.”
“Even as a clinician, I learnt new things.”
“The training felt safe and welcoming.”
“It was great to see how small changes can make a big difference.”
“No one felt judged. Everyone was treated with respect.”
“The added value of expert through experience trainers really made the difference.”

What Our Team Shared

The meeting was also a space for our trainers and co-trainers to share their own reflections. Their voices are central to everything we do.

Lee, our Lead Autism Co-Trainer, spoke about how many learners feel emotional during the training and how proud she is that people feel safe to ask difficult questions.
Alec shared that learners often ask how they can support the autistic community. His advice: “Be more curious, ask more, learn more.”
Sam shared his experience of delivering training for the first time, which included a delay to the autism session after the facilitating trainer became stuck in a lift due to a sudden fault. Despite the unexpected challenge, Sam remained calm and handled the situation with confidence.
Jon shared how learners were patient and kind when he needed more time due to anxiety or travel difficulties.
Amad talked about overcoming anxiety and now co-delivering over 30 sessions.
The team praised Fraser, one of our newest co-trainers, for his energy and personality in the training room.
Several trainers spoke about difficult moments in training, including challenging questions, and how these experiences helped them grow in confidence and resilience.

We also discussed what is working well and what could be improved. Trainers expressed interest in further development, including CV reviews and First Aid and Basic Life Support training. We are proud to support our team’s growth and career development.

Disability Confident and Proud

1Stop Training is a Disability Confident Committed organisation. We believe inclusion starts with opportunity. Many of our co-trainers are in their first paid roles, and we provide tailored support to help them thrive. This includes flexible induction, travel assistance, mentoring, and inclusive team events.

We are proud to create a working environment where people feel valued, respected, and able to grow. Our team’s success is a reflection of what is possible when people are supported to bring their whole selves to work.

Looking Ahead

We are expanding our Oliver McGowan Training offer nationally, with open courses now available in Colchester, Peterborough, Leicester, Hertfordshire and other regions. We are now also approved as a National Provider for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 training.

As a Quality Assured Care Learning Provider, approved by Skills for Care and the Department of Health and Social Care, we remain committed to delivering training that is current, accessible, real and engaging.

Join Us

We offer both in-house and open course options for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. You can view upcoming sessions on our Training Calendar, or contact us to discuss bookings and support.

We currently have a 20% discount available on all open courses, including:

Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training – £60 + VAT per person
Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Train the Trainer Programme for Facilitating Trainers – £400 + VAT per person

Together, we are not just delivering training. We are shifting cultures, empowering people, and making care better.

Upcoming Oliver McGowan Open Courses

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