Applying For ALP Was Easy — Now, It's Just The Learning!

I’m Danny, one of the students on the Aspiring Leaders Programme (ALP) (cohort five) — a three-year apprenticeship degree run by Brathay in partnership with the University of Cumbria.

Although we officially started ALP in January, it feels like my ALP journey started a long time before that. I wouldn’t be lying in saying that it started right from watching Liz present to our Cumbria CVS staff meeting in June last year.

From that point there was absolutely nothing that was going to stop me from getting onto ALP. It instantly felt like this was something that I’d been waiting for to ignite my confidence and ambition that had been lacking for what seemed like such a long time. So much so, I instantly pinged an email off to my line manager asking if we could investigate the logistics of getting me on.

Even the interview day in August felt like it was part of the course, I felt I got so much out of it, which is a testament to the comfortable and developmental environment created at Brathay. So, trying as much as possible not to count my chickens too early, I’ve kind of been on ALP for over a year already!

The Brathay side of ALP has been exactly what I expected, simply because nothing has come as a surprise. My sense of leadership, adventure and play is returning, which is what I was hoping for.

The June residential has been the best of the lot. Ghyll scrambling has been my highlight. Very refreshing on a hot day! But activities aside, it can go down as the residential where we really started to gel as a group and created a community feel.

Danny, ALP5 Student

Back to Education

The university part of the programme is certainly very different. I have absolutely loved formal/academic learning all my life, and this hasn’t been any different.

Already being qualified to Master’s degree level, I have a head start on a lot of other people on the course. Academic writing was drilled into me over 4 years and, although it was a long time ago, it’s luckily still there bubbling underneath the surface. This is just as well, because as an adult having to do adult things, I don’t have nearly the time I did when I was at university previously.

So far, we’ve worked through modules on Business Analytics, Business Finance and Creativity & Innovation. Each of these has built ideas and thinking when it comes to how the third sector operates and what could be improved. This is useful for me especially as I’ve only been employed in the third sector for a couple of years. A big hat off to the University of Cumbria tutors too, as they are adapting their practices and teaching to a sector they aren’t as familiar with. They have done this very well.

On Brathay Residential

Compared to formal education, the residential side of ALP was always going to be a lot further out of my comfort zone.

There is such a mix of activities, it’s impossible to generalise what each residential involves. But it’s certainly the more creative or ‘arty’ tasks that have pushed me the furthest. Climbing a waterfall? Fine. Sprinting down Windermere on the biggest rowing boat you’ve ever seen? Absolutely fine. Create a representation of..? Absolute Panic! But I can say that I’ve had a go and done it all so far, even if my brain tried to get me out of it.

The June residential has been the best of the lot. Ghyll scrambling has been my highlight. Very refreshing on a hot day! But activities aside, it can go down as the residential where we really started to gel as a group and created a community feel. These things take time with any group, and this was our time. We even went over a bit of group creation theory as to why this was, which seemed like the perfect time to introduce that topic.

I would also like to take this opportunity to shout out to the Brathay Dining Hall staff as the food on residential is brilliant. Don’t worry about lacking in energy for your waterfall climbs and boat sprints. It’s all replenished quickly!

Ch, ch, ch, ch, changes

I always find it difficult to notice how I’ve changed over time.

What I can say is that I have never been in such a psychologically safe and comfortable space as I am on Brathay residentials. Having that kind of environment to practice your skills and show up as your genuine self is key to transferring them into other situations.

Being Autistic, I have always found showing up and inputting into things as the real me very difficult. I’m creative and have good ideas, but these take a while to formulate, and years of programming tells me differently. But since I started ALP, I have found myself being increasingly confident of sharing my ideas within my work team, and even the wider Cumbria CVS.

The university side of things has given me the ideas, excuse and permission to get more involved in putting myself across to help the organisation. That’s part of what a leader does, right?! That excuse and permission is key for me as an Autistic person.

Looking forward

When we go back to university in September, I’m hoping to continue the momentum and success I’ve had in my grades so far. But I think more importantly, the inspiration and thoughts provoked by the course will continue too.

I’m also excited to see how we develop further as an ALP group in residentials, and what the ALP mentoring can help me with on a personal level. Unlike a lot of my fellow ALPers, I have never been in a leadership or management role as a professional. This could be a positive thing, as working from a clean slate on how to establish myself in such a role feels exciting.