In this episode I am talking to Andy Robins. Andy who is director of Affinity Fostering Services.

He’s a really nice guy and ex-cop. We talk about his policing career history and the why he left policing to go into the fostering services and working with a family member.

We talk all things fostering including what make a really good foster carer. Those key skills and behaviours and what makes it a really good fit for cops. There are already a number of cops working with Affinity and doing really well.

We also discuss the challenges, checks and timescales. Whether misconduct can stop you from being a foster carer. The earning potential and the support that Affinity offer. That they are rated outstanding by OFSTED and are a great company to work for.

This is a really interesting episode and I think you will get loads from it!

If you think you could help Affinity transform young lives use this link to find out more and make contact.

https://bit.ly/BLLAffinityFostering

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there.

There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there. If you go to the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well. We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every week in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: the ScoreApp Scorecard Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

In this episode I've got the absolute pleasure of talking to Cheryl

Thornley. Cheryl is the director of Puzzle Piece Law, they are an independent legal consultancy that advises and support individuals on all family law matters that includes separation, divorce, child contact and access to education, including special educational needs.

Cheryl is a former military veteran and an ex-cop. She did 20 years in policing before leaving to set up her own business. But actually, her journey to get to that point was really interesting and she did some additional qualifications.

In the episode she talks about how she went about doing those qualifications and actually the really diverse roles that she went to after leaving police and before actually creating puzzle peace law. Puzzle Piece Law is a franchise and it's a brilliant opportunity.

We talk about why you don't need to have those qualifications or what the qualifications that you might think you need to actually advise in this subject matter area. We talk about why it's a really good fit for cops and other emergency services professionals. As well as we talk about the power of networking and so many other topics.

It's a brilliant interview, really inspirational, and I'm really grateful to Cheryl for her time. If you're interested in contacting Cheryl, you can do it through LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/puzzle-piece-law/ or you can do it through the Blue Light Leavers website http://bit.ly/BLLPuzzlePieceLaw

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there.

There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there. If you go to the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well. We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every week in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: the ScoreApp Scorecard Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free! You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

This bonus episode is taken from a Live Session that was held to introduce our partners Frontline Financial Solutions.

I was deeply honoured to have Howard Reuben and Victoria Bennett join me on the session.

Founded by Howard, Frontline are a division of HD Consultants. Offering advice on Mortgages, Insurance and Estate Planning (including a FREE basic will writing service) specifically tailored to the needs of the Blue Light, Military and Emergency Services Communities.

Frontline are long time supporters of the Blue Light Card Foundation because they want to give back to the Blue Light Community! Howard and Victoria talk about the founding of Frontline. Their personal histories and how they can help members of the Blue Light Leavers Community!

So, I am really grateful for having them join me! You can use the link below to find out more and get in touch with them! https://bit.ly/BLLFrontlineFinancialSolutions

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there.

There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there. If you go to the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well.

We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every week in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: the ScoreApp Scorecard Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free! You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

In this episode I'm talking to Eddie Whittingham.

I'm not going to give too much away; however, this is an incredible story. So inspirational. Eddie is a serial entrepreneur and he's a former cop and he's just gone on to do some amazing things. He talks us through his policing career and why he left and what he left to do and how he felt about leaving.

He went on to create his own business and he talks about what happened at that point and honestly, it is jaw dropping. Eddie talks about how he approaches life. His humility and he has that lovely self-deprecating sense of humour and it was just a real joy to record this episode.

If you would like to connect with Eddie you can reach him through his LinkedIn. He'll be happy to hear from you! https://bit.ly/EddieWhittinghamLinkedIn

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there.

There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there.

If you go to the website: https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well. We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every day in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: the ScoreApp Scorecard Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?'

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free! You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

In this episode I'm talking to an incredible human being, Shirley Kennett.

Shirley is an ex-cop and a former police cadet like me, and she's gone on to do some incredible and amazing things.

She talks about policing career and what caused her ill-health retirement, and then what she's gone on to from that point. She's doing some amazing things, and I promise you will not regret listening to this episode. It's just incredible.

She really opened up and told me everything, including some of her challenges. This is honestly one of the most emotional and motivating episodes I've ever recorded.

A lot more came out after we'd stopped recording and there is other stuff that she's done as well that we forgot to talk about. So, we may well save that for another episode.

And she's also agreed to do it as one of the live guests in the academy for us as well.

If you'd like to connect with Shirley you can so through:

🔹Website https://bit.ly/ShirleyKennett

🔹Instagram @ready4realchange

🔹Facebook @ready4realchange

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there. There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there.

If you go to the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well.

We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every day in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: the ScoreApp Scorecard Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free! You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

This bonus episode is a Blue Light Leavers Live Session that that we ran with Dominic McVeigh.

Dom is a former cop and is now a lecturer with the University of West England.

The university starts is new course in September 2024 'The BSc(Hons) Applied Criminal Justice Top-Up degree' It is specifically designed to offer you the chance to gain academic recognition alongside your invaluable on-the-job experience. It would allow you to complete a three-year degree in one year (when taken as a full-time course)!

In this episode Dom explains what the course is, how it works and how to sign-up! If you are interested in signing up, you have until (Sunday) 30th June to do so for this year's course!

Click on the link below to find out more about the course. https://bit.ly/UWEAppliedCriminalJusticeTopUp

Or you can email Dom on Dominic2.Mcveigh@uwe.ac.uk

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review, and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there. There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there and please leave a review.

If you go to the website ⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and loads of other things as well, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well. We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every week in the private Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers/

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through the website.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is 1:1 time via Zoom with a Blue Light Leavers Coach, to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com) through the website.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with former police officer, Paul Rowland.

Paul is a Deputy Manager in the care sector, predominantly caring for young people who are no longer within the family environment, whether through behaviour or because of specific learning requirements. Much of this is on a 1:1 basis and is incredibly rewarding and utilises so many of the skills we pick up in our policing careers.

Paul worked on response, CID and firearms and left policing after 10 years with no specific young person related experience. He moved into the security industry and then during Covid and lockdown, he was introduced to the care sector and hasn't looked back.

Unified Care Services provide a specialist service that aims to support young people with complex social and emotional needs, whose behaviours can be seen to challenge systems and services, and who are currently finding that other integration methods do not currently support or suit their individual needs.

Handpicked staff with specialist backgrounds are trained to specifically meet the needs of the young people they support.

They manage their challenging behaviours, supporting all the agencies who provide the necessary health, social and education care. They utilise knowledge from different industries to ensure they're able to deal with any situation with the best possible outcome for young people.

You can register an interest HERE : office@unifiedcareservices.org.

If you like what you've heard, then please leave a review and share it with friends and let people know that this podcast is out there.

There's a lot of people looking at the moment, a lot of people struggling and so if there's a particular episode that resonates with you then just share it via WhatsApp or text and just let people know that it's there.

If you go to the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluelightleavers.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠there's loads of information there about some of the amazing partnerships that we've got, CV writing services and LinkedIn and interview prep, and tonnes of free stuff both within the Facebook group and on the website as well.

We also advertise dozens of amazing jobs, every day in the private Facebook Group!

If you've no idea where to start, you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck, and just not sure what career you think would be best suited for you or what steps you need to take to make it happen, then you can book a career clarity coaching call through this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is 1:1 time via Zoom with me, to help you get complete clarity and identify the roles and courses that are best suited to you, create an action plan and overcome any blockers you may have.

The Academy Membership from Blue Light Leavers is a low cost, no tie-in monthly subscription that gives you all the help you need to find your new role or career, including weekly live sessions with Andy and others who've been where you are, along with subject matter experts talking CVs, LinkedIn, interviews and much more, so if you're looking for a bit more support and want to find out more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bluelightleavers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can join the private Facebook Group via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers