#034 [GTN Awareness Week] High Potential & Mental Health with Denise Yates

Today’s Gifted Talented & Neurodiversity Awareness Week guest has more than 35 years of experience in education and giftedness, is an author, formerly the CEO of Potential Plus UK, currently a trustee of Potential Trust UK and MBE recipient(!). Denise talks to us about high potential, hidden potential, mental health challenges of gifted, and the importance of looking after ourselves. Check out our 5 PODCASTS over 5 DAYS for GTN Awareness Week and all the FREE events on this week! Hit play and let’s get started! Memorable Quote "If I had one plea for the parents and carers and the professionals on here, it would be to look after yourself; your own mental health and wellbeing so that you can support other people to be the best that they can be." – Denise Yates MBE Resources The G Word Gifted Talented Neurodiverse Awareness Week Potential Plus UK Potential Trust UK The School Handbook for Dual and Multiple Exceptionality: High Learning Potential with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities by Denise Yates BIO Denise Yates has worked in education and training for over thirty five years to enable all individuals to maximise their potential. Over the years, this has included ex-offenders, children with moderate learning difficulties, adults with numeracy and literacy problems and in inner-city areas working with young people at risk of offending. For ten years, Denise was Chief Executive of the national charity, Potential Plus UK (formerly The National Association for Gifted Children). In 2017, Denise left to pursue her passion which could be summarised as ‘hidden potential’; children and young people with Dual and Multiple Exceptionality, those with mental health problems and those who have been failed by the system, for whatever reason. A Cambridge economist, Denise is currently, amongst other things, a Trustee of The Potential Trust, a charitable trust which supports more able children from low-income backgrounds, a non-executive Director of Nisai Education Trust which is interested in exploring different models of education and a member of the Above and Beyond group which looks to work in partnership with organisations in the UK, in whatever sector, for the benefit of children and young people with gifts and talents (including those with DME). Denise is a Fellow of the RSA, a consultant on issues related to inclusion and also a trained Adviser with Citizens Advice and spends time practically helping individuals and families in her community.  In 2020, with Adam Boddison, she wrote The School Handbook for Dual and Multiple Exceptionality and in 2020 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to children and young people. In early 2022 her second book about DME, written for parents and carers, will be published. Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about your biggest takeaway in the comments. For more episodes, you can subscribe and to help others find our podcast please leave a review. You can find show notes and more resources at www.ourgiftedkids.com See you in the same place next week. Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn Instagram & Facebook!