12/11/2025
I’m Sheila the CEO of Hope Street Community Hub & Cafe, and I’m going to share with you some things that people don’t know about me.
Life hasn’t been easy. I was born in Kirkby to very young parents with ACEs (adverse childhood experiences). These were passed onto me.
I left school with no qualifications because it’s transpired in adulthood that I have ADHD and awaiting an assessment for ASD, and have been since 2023. I have difficulty learning in busy environments, I learn backwards (give me the answer and I’ll ascertain how), and I have to enjoy what I’m learning about or I don’t get the dopamine hit that I need to thrive.
I returned to education when I realised that I was struggling to support my children with their homework, and I wanted to give them a better life than I had.
In 2010, I achieved a BA Hons degree, and in 2017, I achieved a 1st at masters level in teaching and learning.
I had a breakdown in 2016, which stripped me of all my independence; however, I’ve rebuilt my life, continued to study throughout this period, started a coaching program, and set about building a community interest company to prevent others from reaching the place of despair that I reached.
I’m sharing my story in the hope that it inspires others to realise that you can be diagnosed with ACEs, ASD, ADHD, complex PTSD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder but still achieve in life if you work hard. Yes, it’s hard work that’s got me to where I am today, and the support of a husband and community who believes in me, and you can do this, too if you want it enough.
