Apoyo Courses -Mental Health and DEI

20/11/2025

On Tuesday, we celebrated the Mastering Diversity Conference Awards at the Senedd Cymru in Cardiff… and what a night!

I didn’t post straight away because I had to head to Liverpool at dawn the next morning to deliver a course to a brilliant group… Busy days, but all worth it.

The evening was full of inspiring, talented people who are genuinely making a difference. I felt incredibly honoured to be in that space.

Moments like this remind me why I love what I do. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are deeply connected to mental health, and creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported is something I care about deeply; shaped by everything I’ve gone through and witnessed along the way.

I’m incredibly grateful for my “Rising Star” Award🌟. Being recognised for work that comes from the heart means so much. Thank you, Bernie Davies, for organising such an amazing event.

It was wonderful to share the evening with the Women’s Academy Wales community and friends Beth Baldwin, Emma Jay, Caroline Smith, and Ellie Starkwood… huge congratulations on being finalists and on your awards; all so well deserved.

What a night. My heart is full.💖

18/11/2025

Today is the day for the Mastering Diversity Conference Awards!!

I'm feeling proud and truly honoured to be a finalist in the Champion in Education category.

I'm so grateful for the nomination, and I know it will be a wonderful event led by the incredible Bernie Davies.

There will be so many inspiring professionals taking part, and I wish everyone the very best.

🎉Let’s get the party started! 🎉✨

18/10/2025

✨ Feeling incredibly happy and honoured! ✨

I’m a finalist for the Champions in Education category at the Mastering Diversity Conference Awards 2025! 🌟

Huge thanks to Bernie Davies and the amazing Mastering Diversity Awards team for creating such an inspiring event, and to FinTech Wales for selecting me as a finalist. 🙏

I really believe that education is the most powerful way to share knowledge, raise awareness and break stigmas. It opens minds and drives real change. 💡

From my own lived experience, I’ve seen how deeply diversity and inclusion impact every person’s life. They shape who we are and how we connect with others. 💫

I’m so proud to be part of this movement that’s transforming learning spaces into places where everyone feels seen, connected and has a true sense of belonging. 💜

And a very special thank you to Beth Baldwin, I owe this one to you. ❤️

07/10/2025

06/10/2025

🌟 I’m so happy to share that I’ve been nominated for the Mastering Diversity Conference Awards 2025 in the category Diversity in Education Champion! 💜

A big thank you to Bernie Davies for the lovely email! The work you do through Mastering Diversity is extraordinary. Your journey, your voice, and your passion inspire so many of us to keep pushing for inclusion.

I’m honoured to be recognised in this way. 🙏

And a massive thank you to Beth Baldwin for nominating me, I’m so grateful! 💫

My work in diversity and inclusion allows me to help people learn, reflect, and grow. Every session is an opportunity to connect, raise awareness, and build spaces where everyone feels valued and included. 💕

27/09/2025

✨ I nearly missed this!

I wasn’t going to be able to attend the WAW Reignite Retreat yesterday. I had to deliver a course and didn’t sign up for the retreat.

My course was cancelled at the last minute (which was very frustrating!!)
.. but every cloud has a silver lining.

My day was freed and I could book onto the retreat at the very last minute (thanks a lot, Beth Baldwin 😘)

… it was meant to be! And I’m so glad it was, because the day was just incredible.

I spent it with amazing women who came together to lift each other up. We created a safe space where we could be open, vulnerable, and supportive of one another.

We met at the Beautiful Canada Lodge and Lake, the food was absolutely delicious, and we shared it under the warm sunshine. It felt so special 🌞🍴

A huge thank you to Beth Baldwin, Emma Jay, and Andrea Byrne for organising this event once again.

The photographer of the event was Gemma Griffiths, who not only captured the day beautifully but also took individual shots of each of us. She was just great! Thank you!📸

I feel recharged, inspired, and ready to embrace whatever comes my way.

Sometimes life has a funny way of redirecting us exactly where we need to be. Yesterday was that reminder for me 💛

18/09/2025

✨ I had the great pleasure of delivering the Apoyo Courses Ltd. 1-Day DEI Course (split across two sessions) for Risk Solutions.

This is a group of not only business partners, but also long-time friends who have shared a journey together for many years.

I loved meeting them and sharing this learning space together.

We covered important topics such as:

✅ Unconscious bias and its types
✅ The Equality Act 2010
✅ Disability & Neurodiversity
✅ Reasonable adjustments
✅ LGBTQ+ inclusion
✅ Discrimination & microaggressions
✅ Allyship – and more!

Our conversations were open, honest, and very practical.

What stood out most was how all participants connected the topics directly to their own business and the impact they want to make.

To top it off, I really enjoyed our dinner on Monday at San Carlo Restaurant Group, Bristol. such a lovely evening!

It was also wonderful to have Bianca Jones with us for dinner.

🎉Congratulations to the five of you for completing the course and for taking on the challenge of reflecting, asking questions, and committing to action🎉

Thank you all for your warmth and friendliness! I wish you continued success on your journey.

17/09/2025

I’m absolutely delighted to share that Apoyo Courses Ltd. is now officially a Small Business Sunday (SBS) Winner, chosen by Theo Paphitis and the hashtag crew! 🎉

From delivering Mental Health First Aid, Anti-racism, and DEI training to organisations and individuals, to now being recognised on this platform, it feels amazing to see the work I love being celebrated.

I feel so proud of how far Apoyo Courses has come and deeply grateful for all the support I’ve received along the way.

I’m excited to join the community and can’t wait to see what comes next. Thank you, Theo Paphitis, for helping small businesses like mine shine.✨

03/09/2025

Why Everyday Inclusion Matters

We often think of inclusion as something big: policies, training programs, or leadership statements. While these things certainly matter, true inclusion is built on the daily actions of people in the workplace.

👉It's in the manager who checks in when a team member looks overwhelmed.

👉It's in the colleague who listens without judgment when a different perspective is shared.

👉It's in the courage to challenge biased comments, even when it feels uncomfortable.

These small moments shape a workplace culture more than we realise. They build trust, a sense of belonging, and wellbeing.

When people feel seen, valued, and safe, everyone succeeds.

✨Creating an inclusive workplace means focusing on progress rather than perfection.

✨Every organisation has room to grow, and the most important step is being willing to start.

✨When leaders and teams commit to learning, listening, and adjusting, change becomes possible.

It's a journey, and every small action counts.

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At Apoyo Courses Ltd. we help organisations move from awareness to action. We explore how mental health, anti-racism, and diversity are not separate issues but are deeply connected.

If you're curious about how to take the next step, for your organisation, contact me to have a conversation.

18/08/2025

“No decisions without us”

This powerful message from disabled people is a reminder that inclusion means having access to power, choice, and influence.

Too often, decisions that affect lives are taken without the voices of those most impacted.

Whether it’s in daily life, workplaces, or government, everyone deserves the right to shape the spaces they belong to.

Real change happens only when every voice counts, and every seat at the table is open.

(🎥: credit to )

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Curious how your organisation can become more inclusive? 🌟

Apoyo Courses Ltd. runs a DEI course that guide teams in making real, lasting change.
From practical strategies to understanding different perspectives, we help organisations build environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to contribute.
If you’d like to explore how we can work together, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you!

https://www.apoyocourses.co.uk/ourcourses/dei-courses

06/08/2025

Do you want to become a Mental Health First Aider?

Do you prefer learning face-to-face rather than online?

Join us for our next in-person training!

📍 UBC Flexible Offices, Cirencester
🗓️ 17th & 18th September 2025
🕘 9:00am – 5:00pm (both days)
💷 £300 per person

In this Mental Health First Aid England accredited course, you’ll:

✅ Learn how to spot the signs of poor mental health
✅ Gain the confidence to start supportive conversations
✅ Know how to signpost to the right help

✨ Plus, you'll receive 3 years of continued support and access to MHFA England benefits.

Spaces are limited!

Message me or book your spot here:

https://www.apoyocourses.co.uk/service-page/2-day-mental-health-first-aid?referral=service_list_widget

28/07/2025

🛑 “I don’t see colour.”

It might sound kind, but it actually erases important parts of people’s identity.

Saying “I don’t see colour” ignores the real experiences of racism and the unique challenges faced by people because of their race.

It’s like saying, “I don’t see what makes you, you.”

Racism isn’t always obvious or loud.

It hides in everyday moments:

👉 Job offers that never come
👉 Voices that go unheard in meetings
👉 Systems built without everyone in mind

If colour isn’t seen, then racism isn’t acknowledged; and without that, change can’t happen.

Being “not racist” is not enough.

We need to be actively anti-racist in how we think, speak, and act.

Inclusion isn’t a nice idea.
It’s a responsibility we all share. 💥

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I’m Fabiola Doano, and I deliver Anti-Racism courses that help organisations understand bias, challenge racism, and build inclusive cultures.

If you want to train your team to be actively anti-racist and create real change, please get in touch. I’d love to support you⚡