My Story

Lee's Story – Founder of Walk the Streets

I grew up in a broken home, surrounded by violence and instability. By the age of 10, I had lost both parents. Passed between family members, I experienced abuse, bullying, and rejection. At 18, I found my grandad dead. A year later, I was homeless, having lost trust in people and feeling completely alone.

Like many others facing overwhelming barriers, I turned to alcohol and drugs as a way of coping. I spiralled into instability, sleeping rough with nowhere to turn. My health deteriorated so badly that I spent a week on a heart monitor. There were times when I felt invisible, as though I had become just another number.

Despite everything, I never gave up hope.

Growing up, I always knew I experienced the world differently. Later, I learned that I am neurodivergent. Throughout my own journey, I found that many conversations focused on diagnoses, labels, or what I couldn't do, rather than what I wanted to achieve.

Everything changed when I was introduced to three simple but powerful questions. They helped me focus on my goals, understand the barriers in my way, and identify the support that would help me move forward.

Those questions became the foundation of the REWRITE Framework.

Today, Walk the Streets exists to help individuals, charities, public services, inclusive organisations, and businesses have better conversations about barriers, support, reasonable adjustments, and outcomes.

Whether it's improving staff retention, supporting managers, strengthening person-centred practice, or helping someone advocate for themselves, the principle remains the same:

Goal → Barrier → Support / Reasonable Adjustments

I believe every person deserves the opportunity to achieve what matters to them. Sometimes the barrier isn't the individual—it's the environment, the process, or the lack of the right support.

Walk the Streets was created to help change those conversations.

Through consultancy, workshops, training, public speaking, and free independent self-advocacy support, my aim is to help organisations become more inclusive while improving outcomes for the people they support.

For peace of mind, my consultancy work is backed by Professional Indemnity Insurance, ensuring a professional and accountable service for every organisation I work with.

Walk the Streets is built on one simple belief

Everyone has goals. Everyone faces barriers. With the right support, everyone should have the opportunity to succeed.