Meet Jo

19.6.2024

Jo has worked at Whirlow since September 2021 as one of the Education Lead Officers

Jo works with children and young people who attend our “Whirlow LIFE” (Learning In a Farming Environment) programmes for children who are struggling in mainstream education due to medical and mental health issues, learning disabilities and personal circumstances, as well as young people with additional needs.

Prior to working at Whirlow, Jo worked as a learning mentor and Higher-Level Teaching Assistant in youth prison services and secure units in and around Yorkshire. She also has extensive experience in residential youth work and her twenties were spent as an English tutor and horse-riding instructor all over the world, including Europe and the Middle East.

Jo grew up in Dore, just down the road from the farm, and now lives at Bradway with her son. Two years ago, she received a diagnosis of ADHD with autistic traits, and uses her neurodivergence as a positive for working with children who have a similar diagnosis and function in a similar way.

Jo said: “I absolutely adore my role at Whirlow. My job gives my life definition, stability and a sense of fulfilment. I grew up in an equestrian environment and have been surrounded with all aspects of farming and countryside living for as long as I can remember. Being able to work on a farm with animals as well as people is a dream come true, and I can’t imagine ever working anywhere else!

I have forged some fantastic relationships with the adults and young people that I work with and relate to a lot of them on an emotional level.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed as having ADHD with autistic traits. This means that I am able to share many to share many triumphs and struggles with them, and a lot of the kids use me in a pastoral sense as somebody who understands personally the challenges of being neurodiverse in a neurotypical world.

Being a teacher with ADHD and teaching young people with ADHD is an absolute blessing, but not without its problems too. Those with ADHD are often easily distracted and can be forgetful so teaching in these circumstances is not straightforward. Fortunately, as I function in a similar way to the students, it gives me an insight and awareness, so it’s a two-way thing and we have an understanding of each other! It makes me proud to be regarded as living proof that neurodivergence does not prevent people from living full, happy, successful lives.

My journey towards obtaining an official diagnosis and access to medication was extremely challenging alongside my work at the farm. My manager and colleagues at Whirlow have supported me through some difficult and bleak times over the past two years. I had always suspected that there was something a little bit ‘off’ with my brain…. I remember being as young as five or six and wondering why everyone else seemed to find things so easy, when I found life in general so difficult. This led to low self-esteem which has plagued me my entire life-just as it does for many other people like me, alongside many other mental health difficulties which are comorbid with neurodiversity.

This is why it is so vitally important to me that neurodivergent young people have access to therapy, understanding, intervention, placement in the right educational settings and the correct support and empowerment. Without these things put in place, the world can be an extremely difficult and confusing place for the young people that I work with. Ultimately, I try to be the person to them that I needed when I was younger and am grateful every day for ongoing chances to make a difference in my career. Whirlow has enabled me to work not only to the very best of my ability, but also authentically as my true self. The work we do here at the farm is absolutely vital to the local education community, and I am beyond proud to be part of this amazing team."