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The Advisory Board

SPOKE has assembled a unique team that brings together corporate, academic and lived experience, specifically related to the challenges faced by undisclosed or misunderstood loneliness, in the workplace and beyond.​ Our mission is to change the language of loneliness through the sharing of lived experience stories, combined with a collaborative research project, with a difference. Through a "life journey" approach, this study will explore the unique experiences of individuals across the different stages of their professional and personal lives. 

By examining how loneliness manifests and evolves in workplace settings, this research will generate actionable insights, deliver measurable outcomes and provide evidence-based recommendations to support healthier, more connected individuals and working environments.

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ANTONIA YPSILANTI

Associate Professor in Cognitive

Psychology & Psychobiology
Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness

ANDREA WIGFIELD

Professor & Director, Centre for Loneliness Studies at Sheffield Hallam University & Campaign to end  Loneliness

Author – Loneliness for Dummies

JOHN TEER

Strategic Advisor to SPOKE.

Former COO & Head of Clients & Markets for KPMG Asia Pacific

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ANDREW MELLOR

RVP with 20+yrs Leadership in Tech

Social health advocate at SPOKE

PAUL DOLBY

Founder – SPOKE International

Lived Experience Speaker

Advocate for listening to loneliness

ANNA TOPAKAS

Senior Lecturer in Work Psychology at The University of Sheffield

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SPOKE
DEFINITION

Someone essential in your life at a specific point in time

Someone who strengthens your resolve, and reinforces your reason to be, during times of uncertainty.

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BECOME A
SpokesPerson

Spoke is built around the metaphor of the wheel. When your "spokes" are strong, the wheel can turn effectively. If your "spokes" are broken or weakened the wheel will struggle to move forward.​

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Spoke encourages personal reflection on the concept of the "spokes" in your life; a reflection that actively leads to self-awareness, personal wellbeing and stronger intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships.

 

SO HOW DO YOU QUALIFY A SPOKE?

IT’S NOT AS EASY AS YOU YOU MIGHT HOPE…

BUT AS A STARTING POINT THEY ARE

 

Safe – 100% trustworthy

Protective – of your best interests

Open – available, even when inconvenient

Knowledgeable – of your history

Earnest– with sincere and lasting conviction

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AND IT APPLIES BOTH WAYS, FOR YOUR SPOKES 

And for your ability to be A SPOKE, for someone who relies on you

 

ASK YOURSELF– “WHY ARE YOU IMPORTANT TO ME?"

ASK THEM – “WHY AM I IMPORTANT TO YOU?"

OUR APPROACH

SPOKE delivers evidence based experiences, combined with stories of lived experience.

Our workshops are designed by a highly qualified and experienced team of academics, business professionals and facilitators and created on a bedrock of evidence-based research in Well-being.

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The interactive and experiential activities are built with tools and principles from:

 

  • Educational Psychology and Pedagogy

  • Emotional Intelligence Theory

  • Systems Thinking research and

  • Social Science methodology

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