[Speaker 2] (0:00 – 5:24)
Hello, this is Anna Kennedy and we’re talking all things autism and it’s a beautiful sunny day today. It always makes you feel so much better when it’s sunny. So I am going to just give you a little bit of chat about what’s been going on and what we’ve been doing and some exciting things that have happened.

So one thing I wanted to tell you all and give an announcement that one of our charity patrons, Russell Wiggins, he has basically this week, which we’re all really excited about. He’s in a band called Blythe Road and their single went to number one in Spotify. And it’s a metal, you know, one of those bands that, you know, that I just can’t believe he’s just gone to number one.

We’re just so excited. So it’s a metal band. We’re just really excited about what he has achieved.

And what’s that? Chris Moyles. I was just trying to think of his name.

Chris Moyles is a radio presenter on Hearts X and he actually gave him a shout out and aired the single. So that was so excited. So we’re we’re keeping our fingers crossed that other things will come from that.

Also wanted to remind you that one of our charity ambassadors also has written a book called From a Tier to Here. So that’s Dawn Avery. And she’s written a book about her son, Aston.

So she actually had a book signing just recently. And that was all very exciting. So if you’re interested in purchasing a book, you can buy them from the charity website, which is www.annaKennedyonline.com.

Reminding you about our Autism Hero Awards. And they will be closing the nominations in the first week of September. We have some of the judges I can let you know about, which is David Grant, MBE, who is husband to Cary Grant.

Casey Ainsworth, one of our ambassadors, whose husband is on the spectrum and also her son. Dr. Pam Spare, a long time supporter of our charity. And there’s quite a few judges coming in.

So all that information will be on the charity website very soon. So there’s 12 different categories. If you feel you might like to nominate someone that goes the extra mile, please send in your nominations before the first week of September.

And then all of the nominations will be looked at. It’s going to be so difficult to choose three finalists for each category. And then the three finalists from the categories will be traveling down to London to the Chelsea Harbor Hotel.

So that’s very, very exciting stuff. We’re also got Autism’s Got Talent, the roadshow. So we’ll be going hopefully to St. Ives in the first week of October. So that’s exciting stuff. And then Autism’s Got Talent will be celebrating the big show 10 years. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.

And that will be happening in the middle of October at the Mermaid Theatre, which is Blackfriars in central London. If you’re interested in checking out the charity website, there’s lots and lots of different resources on there. And one of our well-being ambassadors, Juliana Wieter, she every week shares basically well-being.

So it could be therapeutic touch. She’s also written an article on touch for bullying and anxiety. So what she’s saying is therapeutic touch and massage to massively alleviate anxiety and stress.

The tips shared in this week’s video can be shared between friends and family as part of your therapies. If you are a registered therapist or as tools to self-administer and get your inner red carpet strong and flowing again. So lots of different videos.

And every week, Juliana has a new video to share for you to try out. One of the things is that we’re excited about is that we’re working alongside NHS England and they have basically shared some information that’s really useful for families who are looking for personalised care, trying to get the best out of it. So it’s called the peer leadership framework.

And basically, there’s four different steps. So whether you want to improve your situation, you want to use what you’ve learnt to help others, you want to work collaboratively with others to affect change within the system, or you want to facilitate the work of peer leaders to affect change within the system. So if you check out the charity website, you will find lots more information about the peer leadership framework.

So that’s very, very interesting. I believe there’s 1,500 people have signed up already. It’s free.

And also, my petition is still carrying on 10,250 signatures so far to help in social care. So I will keep you updated on what’s going on. So today, my guest is Greg Smith.

So Greg is 24 and he’s from Berry St Edmunds in Suffolk. And he is going to be talking to me a little bit about Club 100. He’s going to be talking about being diagnosed on the spectrum, but also about working with Harry Spectors.

And if you remember, Harry Spector, the founder, Mona Shah, was on the women’s radio station last year. So welcome to you, Greg.

[Speaker 1] (5:24 – 5:27)
Thank you very much. It’s an absolute privilege to be on the show.

[Speaker 2] (5:28 – 5:39)
Oh, thank you, Greg. So just I know that we’ve talked about that you’re from Berry St Edmunds. Just talk to me a little bit about who is Greg.

Tell me a little bit about yourself, if you don’t mind.

[Speaker 1] (5:40 – 6:03)
So I was born in Berry St Edmunds on the 13th of April, 1997, and 24 years later, I still live here, obviously with my mum. And it’s, yeah, Berry’s got quite, Berry’s only one of the safest towns in the country. So, yeah, it’s still my home even today.

And so I love it here.

[Speaker 2] (6:04 – 6:10)
I’ve never actually been to Berry. I’ve never actually been to Berry St Edmunds. Would you recommend that at home?

[Speaker 1] (6:10 – 6:38)
It’s a lovely little town. It’s not quite as glamorous as, say, like London in some sense. But I mean, the Abbey Gardens is a really good place to go.

So they got like a really beautiful flowers and perfect scenery. And, yeah, there’s the swings and the slides for the children to go down on. So, yeah, it’s really nice there.

And the town is really nice to go in as well.

[Speaker 2] (6:38 – 6:47)
Oh, well, I’ll have to check it out. You were chatting to me just before we came online about your brother. He’s going to be getting married soon.

So tell me a little bit about that.

[Speaker 1] (6:48 – 7:29)
Yes. So originally, the wedding date was meant to be on the 15th of May. But unfortunately, we’ve had to postpone it due to the Irish government guidelines over there.

So we have to really rely on how quick their vaccination process gets underway. So it’s been booked for August. So I’ll be flying off to Ireland for his wedding.

So I’m going to be his best man at his wedding. So responsible for protecting the wedding ring.

[Speaker 2] (7:29 – 7:40)
Oh, I bet your mom’s going to be very proud of both of you. So tell me a little bit about your school years. How were they for you?

[Speaker 1] (7:40 – 8:23)
Yeah, I mean, when I went to school, the first school I went to was Westgate. So Westgate, which is just directly next door to Riverwalk, which is a special needs education school. They treat children with autism, cerebral palsy, as well as Down syndrome.

So Westgate, I went to Westgate feeling like there was nothing wrong with me. I could just get on with my education. So I went there from 2000 to I think until 2006.

So, you know, they were good time.

[Speaker 2] (8:24 – 8:36)
So if you if you don’t mind, I believe you were diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Was it how old were you? Can you remember?

[Speaker 1] (8:37 – 8:51)
I can’t remember exactly, but probably around five, six years old. So I was probably in year three or year two. So I can’t.

I don’t really remember it all too well. So OK.

[Speaker 2] (8:52 – 8:57)
And how how when did you find out when did your mom tell you or when you told at school?

[Speaker 1] (8:57 – 9:44)
I found out in 2017 that I was on the autistic spectrum. So, yeah, of course, it was a bit of a hard one for me to sink in. But, you know, it also really helped me thrive in confidence.

So just to help me look for jobs. So it was 2017 for me in particular was really was a really tough time for me. Because, you know, I left college.

I was constantly searching for paid employment. I broke up with my ex in May of 2017. So that was that was another one thinking.

But I just had to get on with it. So it was my future on the line. If I don’t if I didn’t get a job soon, then I wasn’t going to go anywhere.

[Speaker 2] (9:45 – 9:49)
So can I ask you? Had you ever heard of autism before before you were told?

[Speaker 1] (9:51 – 10:19)
No, not particularly, but I do know some information about it now. So obviously, with my helmet, I’ve got the autism awareness ribbon just to help the paddock know who I am, what I’ve been through, how I was diagnosed. And it just would help and just helps a bit of popularity in the Club 100 product.

So they all know who I am now.

[Speaker 2] (10:19 – 10:34)
OK, we’re going to be talking a little bit later on about your carting drives of people listening, thinking helmet or helmet. So if you can talk about what was job search like for you, what type of jobs were you looking for? Did you have an idea of what you might like to do?

[Speaker 1] (10:35 – 11:30)
Well, ideally, what I wanted to do was be a warehouse operative. I always felt that lifting boxes would be good for me. It would just help with my exercises and also I booked a job interview with UPS.

And then so I got interviewed the next day by a foreign manager who I just clearly did not understand a single word at all. So it was it was it was really hard for me to understand what she was saying, especially with my special needs and learning difficulties. So I didn’t get that job in the end.

Obviously, thankfully now, because Harry Spector’s took me on in September and October. So I’m just so, so grateful to the charge for bringing me on board and be part of their team now. So it’s all going really well.

[Speaker 2] (11:31 – 11:54)
So so was that the second job a job employment that you went for Harry Spector’s or had you tried others as well? Because I just sometimes when I’ve spoken to other autistic adults, I spoke to one chap. I think it was one hundred applications he’d sent in before he actually got a job.

So I was just wondering how many applications did you send in or were you fairly lucky that you got it within the first few?

[Speaker 1] (11:55 – 13:26)
Well, well, after the UPS interview, I did search for like other jobs. I even went to a new market and sat down with a job recruitment agency and they they agreed. And, you know, they were sort of going to look out and see what jobs are right for me.

I’ve spoken to I can’t remember the other speaking. I’ve spoken to C-TECH. The other one was now.

But they really put those those agencies sort of really helped me on my journey towards getting a job. So I think that my real breakthrough moment was when my dad who was working for cultures for oyster fishery at the time bumped into Shah Shah, who was I was doing on the stall and said, oh, you employ people. You employ people with autism.

My son is autistic. So I’ll give him a ring. So my dad rang me up and so he he told me a little bit about Harry’s track record for all.

OK, so I emailed the Shahs and asked if I could come in. And then, yes, they brought me in. And then, yeah, I went through the interview process and then they put me on the two week trial shift.

And then two weeks after that, I got the job.

[Speaker 2] (13:27 – 13:34)
Oh, that’s brilliant. Oh, that’s absolutely brilliant. How long have you been there now?

[Speaker 1] (13:35 – 13:42)
For nearly four years. So coming up at around September or October, I would have been there working there for four years now.

[Speaker 2] (13:42 – 13:45)
Oh, so you’re a production worker.

[Speaker 1] (13:46 – 14:28)
Yes. So like mainly assistant chocolate here, which is mainly part of producing chocolates. So yes.

So my job is I work making the chocolates from milk, white to dark. So we make and yeah, we make all different types of chocolates for like the public when they put their orders through. So, yeah, it took me a little while to adapt to adapt to working as a chocolate.

But I’m now fully up to speed with it now because of all the stuff that Mona Shah has taught me. So, yeah, and I’m having a really good time there and I’m really enjoying what I love doing at the moment.

[Speaker 2] (14:29 – 14:42)
So if people are listening in and they might like to look up Harry Specters and a little bit more, could you just show a little bit more information? I’ve got the link. So it’s www.is it harrystocks.co.uk?

[Speaker 1] (14:42 – 14:57)
So it’s www.harrystocks.co.uk and then customers can find more information on Harry’s background and, of course, how to what they would like and how they can order.

[Speaker 2] (14:57 – 15:41)
So talk to me about making the chocolate because I remember when I was a teenager and I went to work in a department store, one of my friends actually got a job herself, but she was working on the counter where this old confectionery. And for the first few weeks, what she found difficult was the smell of the chocolate. It just was obviously there’s so many different smells.

There are various different chocolates, handmade chocolates. And she took her a little while to sort of adjust. And then after a while, she just she couldn’t smell them anymore.

So talk to me about have you got with you with your sensory difficulties that you may have because you’re on the awesome spectrum. Did that affect you at any time?

[Speaker 1] (15:43 – 16:23)
Well, I mean, the thing is, I’ve loved chocolate since childhood, really used to have it every morning for breakfast. So that does bring sort of like some elements into it. But no, most most of the time I really I still love chocolate now to this day.

I still eat it. But I need to be careful like how much I eat because I don’t want to gain a huge amount of weight. Because otherwise I’ve been too heavy for straight line speed.

And of course, well, it does help you in the corners, but it doesn’t necessarily help when you’re going up hills. And when you’re on the straight. So I do need to be careful how I eat.

So.

[Speaker 2] (16:24 – 16:27)
So it wasn’t what you didn’t find it overwhelming or anything.

[Speaker 1] (16:28 – 16:33)
Well, I mean, I love the smell. It’s still the smell is still there today. I still enjoy it.

[Speaker 2] (16:34 – 16:34)
OK.

[Speaker 1] (16:35 – 16:41)
I need to be careful not to eat too much of it. So yeah, it will give you a tummy ache and it will make you sick.

[Speaker 2] (16:42 – 16:47)
So yeah. What about your other colleagues that you work with? So how many are in your team?

[Speaker 1] (16:48 – 17:13)
So at the moment, because of the pandemic, we’ve got around about two, three members of our team on board. One who is autistic himself. He works in the packaging area and we’ve got a supervisor that helps us along.

Yeah, we work very well together and we are a good team. So the orders.

[Speaker 2] (17:14 – 17:18)
So are you ever asked to create any new chocolates?

[Speaker 1] (17:19 – 17:56)
I mean, Mona did inform us from what new flavors could be invented. So we’re working on that at the moment. So I was thinking more like Turkish delight style chocolate.

So because I was down at a Spanish restaurant in Barrie and it was my mum’s 61st birthday. So I had like a chocolate brownie with like an ice cream that looked like a strawberry ice cream, but it actually tasted like Turkish delight. And it was really, really lovely actually.

[Speaker 2] (17:57 – 18:11)
That sounds really delicious. So we touched a little bit. You talked about your helmet.

So for people listening in, talk to me a little bit about when did you first get into motorsport?

[Speaker 1] (18:13 – 19:18)
So I got into motorsport when I was very young. My brother was a big Formula One fan at the time. The family are big Formula One fans.

So my brother had the PlayStation 2 back in the early 2000s. And he had the Formula One 2003 video game. And then when I started playing it, my first driver that I looked up to was Ralph Schumacher.

He was the brother of great Michael Schumacher, the seven times world champion. And then, yeah, we’ve watched a lot of the races over the years. So my brother during his time as a child, he was a big Damon Hill fan.

So Damon Hill was his hero. And he also enjoyed watching his own Lacey as well. So mostly from my side, I remember watching the last years of the V10 era and then into the V8 style era and now into the V6 Turbo Hybrid era, which they’re in now.

[Speaker 2] (19:22 – 19:26)
OK, so can you remember your first race?

[Speaker 1] (19:27 – 20:42)
So the first race, well, actually we started, I started karting just for fun at first. So we was on holiday in the south of France and there was a kart circuit near the beach. And I stepped into a go kart for the first time and it just felt so fresh air going through me.

But no, my career started at Red Lodge, which is on the way to just outside Newmarket and on the way to Cambridge. So I went to Red Lodge and so me and my brother, we got into their karts and we had a session. So and then after the session had finished, one of the Red Lodge marshals came up to me and said, you were my favorite in that session.

Do you think you want to have a go in young stars? So and then I just thought about it and said, yeah, why not? I’ll give it a go.

So, yeah, so I took on young stars at the age of 14 in 2012. And then, yeah, it’s been growing ever since now. So I’ve been racing for nearly 10 years in the sport and I still love it.

[Speaker 2] (20:44 – 20:47)
So can you remember your proudest moment in your racing career?

[Speaker 1] (20:47 – 21:27)
So the proudest moment of first was winning the young star senior winter championship in 2014. That was the first. So that was the first championship title I’ve got.

And last year I won the name of Club 100 debut. And then I won the Club 100 lightweight spring class three championship. So because I entered as a rookie.

So that was my second title. And it’s the biggest trophy I’ve ever had in my trophy cabinet. So that was probably the proudest moment so far.

[Speaker 2] (21:28 – 21:38)
So you touched a little bit earlier when you were talking about your crash helmet. So what happens? Do you help create them or how does it work?

[Speaker 1] (21:39 – 22:25)
So I got my helmet painted by a good friend of mine who doesn’t do helmet designs anymore. But he did it in 2019. So my crash helmet is an Arai SK6 helmet, which is basically a GB6 series helmet, but built specifically for carter use.

So the Arai GP6 series of helmets is used by a lot of professional racing drivers all around the world. But this one, the SK6 is specifically used for karting only. So because it doesn’t have the headrest button mounts on the side.

[Speaker 2] (22:25 – 22:44)
So for people listening in and they might think they might like to have a go, you know, start the sport themselves, would you say it was expensive and would you say it was something easy for them to try?

[Speaker 1] (22:45 – 23:20)
Well, I mean, my advice is, yes, in some parts the sport is expensive. I mean, Club 100 is still very expensive, but the racing is really good fun to watch. So what I would recommend, even if you have a disability, just go out there, have a go.

Start at your local circuit first and then gain some experience both in the wet and dry. And if you think you’re good enough to do it, then just then get stuck into it and look back.

[Speaker 2] (23:21 – 23:23)
So do you need to get yourself a sponsor?

[Speaker 1] (23:24 – 24:11)
I do have two sponsors on board with me. Sadly, they don’t give me any money. So I’m sponsored by Red Lodge themselves, and I’m also sponsored by my stepbrother’s car company called JW Auto Repairs.

But yeah, they don’t give me any money, sadly. I just like promote them every single race meeting I go to just to get their attention. And I’ve got the logos on my suit as well.

And I’m also in association with another casting team as well as a charity called AIM, which are autism and motorsports. So I’m hoping to become a part of that thing very soon.

[Speaker 2] (24:13 – 24:21)
OK, so somebody listening in, they might think they might like to find out a little bit more information about you. Greg, I might think they might like to sponsor you. Where can they find you?

[Speaker 1] (24:23 – 24:48)
So the best way to do it is if they contact me by GregSmith13497 at gmail.com. But yeah, my Instagram is always open for discussion. So I do need to be careful how I respond to them because throughout last year, there’s been a lot of scamming and frauds all over the place.

[Speaker 2] (24:48 – 25:00)
Yeah, I’ve heard so many. So if people want to follow you on Instagram, see your progress, they can look up GregSmith underscore 12. Is that right?

[Speaker 1] (25:01 – 25:02)
Yes, that’s correct.

[Speaker 2] (25:03 – 26:28)
Yeah, so it’s GregSmith. So just 1G, G-R-E-G-S-M-I-T-H underscore 12. And if you want to follow Greg’s progress.

We’ve also got one of our overseas ambassadors, Austin Riley. So Austin is a champion race car driver who lives in Lindsay, Ontario and Canada. And Austin has been racing since the tender age of seven and is a multi-time champion in Go Kart.

And he has just won, well, he recently won a championship, his first car championship in October 2020, making history. In 2012, Austin has his dad started an organization called Racing with Autism, which promotes autism awareness by sharing Austin’s life story at school and events all over the world. I met Austin for the first time when he came to Brunel University during a speaking tour when he was doing a tour of the United Kingdom.

So if you want to find out more about Austin, you can check out the charity website and he’s in our overseas ambassador. We also have another one of my ambassadors, Mattie Street, who also is the founder of Team Karting. So there’s lots of information on the charity website about Mattie.

And if you type in Team Karting UK, you can check out everything that Mattie does. He does sponsorship as well for young people on the autism spectrum. So, Greg, do you think that being autistic has helped you become a better person?

[Speaker 1] (26:29 – 27:00)
Definitely, definitely. It’s really me. If it wasn’t for our inspectors in the first place, I wouldn’t be sitting here speaking to you now.

So they really just took me on board and they’ve taken me on a journey that really allows me to open myself up to more people who are like me. You know, also normal, intelligent people as well. So I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity that they have given me over the past nearly four years.

[Speaker 2] (27:02 – 28:04)
OK, well, I spoke to Mona, obviously, because she was one of my guests on the radio and we had a really good conversation and she’s obviously very passionate and very driven about what she’s doing. And obviously I’ve tasted the chocolates and they are amazing. And she very kindly sent us a box when we had our charity raffle because obviously many, many charities, as you know, are struggling at the moment because, you know, we can’t do events.

You can’t do a lot of the things. A lot of charities have closed down or they’ve had to let some of their staff go. I’m fortunate that most of my charity volunteers, they just volunteer their time, you know, which is absolutely amazing because they’re giving up their valuable time for the charity.

And if you want to check out the charity website again, everyone, it’s www.annakennedyonline.com and follow me on Twitter. See what we’re up to, at Anna Kennedy One on Twitter, Anna Kennedy Online on Facebook and at Anna Kennedy OBE on Instagram. Is your mum there, Greg?

Do you want to have a little chat?

[Speaker 1] (28:04 – 28:06)
I think she’s in the bath at the minute.

[Speaker 2] (28:09 – 28:17)
Because I know you said she wanted to have a little chat. It doesn’t matter. No worries at all.

She’s having some time out, some much needed time out as his parents.

[Speaker 1] (28:20 – 28:27)
She’s been out for nearly this morning, so she’s in the bath at the minute.

[Speaker 2] (28:28 – 28:54)
Can you talk to me a little bit about how lockdown has affected you? Did it affect you in any way whatsoever? How do you feel about it?

Obviously, you know, we’ve got the easing as well that’s happening. So people are keeping their fingers crossed that, you know, June 21st, that we’re going to be with you. I’m not 100 percent that that’s going to happen.

We’ll just have to wait and see. So how has it been for you?

[Speaker 1] (28:55 – 29:42)
Yeah, I mean, just before the coronavirus hit our country, I just completed my first round of Club 100. I just got my first class when back in February. So.

But yeah, the coronavirus pandemic was a real surprise really to us, to me, personally. So obviously, me and mum have been living together for a long time. So we were already forming a bubble of our own.

So we were in the first lockdown lasted for around about four months, I believe. And then so I stayed at home for four months as well. So I didn’t go to Harry’s for the next four months.

[Speaker 2] (29:42 – 29:49)
So how was it for you being at home without not being going to work?

[Speaker 1] (29:50 – 31:09)
Yeah, I mean, obviously, it is very annoying. But I think thanks to Rishi Sunak’s furlough scheme plan that has really helped a lot of people. But, yeah, of course, I couldn’t go to the gym.

I couldn’t go. I couldn’t race for the next four months. So, yeah, my last the last four months, really, just been staying in, trying to do like work, work, home workouts, which unfortunately didn’t work out fairly.

But yeah, most of the time I’ve been taking my dog out for a long period, long walking period. So that sort of really helps with wellbeing and also. And then obviously we can see other family members for the next four months before lockdown could be ease.

So, yeah, my my brother and his girlfriend, they came home just before I think it was around July time. And, yeah, they spent around about a week or so staying with us. So that was it was good.

It was good for them to be here. Obviously, we can touch each other, which is the same.

[Speaker 2] (31:10 – 31:10)
Yeah.

[Speaker 1] (31:11 – 31:14)
Because of the coronavirus restrictions and all.

[Speaker 2] (31:16 – 31:24)
So if you had a magic wand and someone said to you, you know, I’m going to give you this one. What would you like to see happen with your career?

[Speaker 1] (31:28 – 32:11)
Well, well, that’s that’s the that’s the next real question, really, isn’t it? Of course, I do love racing. I mean, if team are listening, so because I did send them an inquiry about maybe joining their sort of driver academy or something.

But I mean, there are there are plenty of other opportunities as well. I mean, I have sent out inquiries to Mercedes and Williams F1 teams talking about about my articles. So I’ve had no response from them either, but it was worth a good, good try.

Good send off.

[Speaker 2] (32:12 – 32:46)
So if you don’t try, you’ll never know. And that’s what I say to everybody. You know, just keep, you know, just keep sending letters.

Just don’t give it. And eventually someone will listen. So, yeah, because obviously it sounds like you’re very, very passionate about what you’re doing, you know.

And you’ve achieved so much. And I believe also that you’ve been chatting to Bobby Trundley because he’s one of our winners of the Awesome Hero Award. So he’s a racing driver and also believe he’s part of Team Brit as well.

Is that right?

[Speaker 1] (32:47 – 33:06)
Yes, yeah. I only spoke to Bobby to Bobby Trundley briefly. So I haven’t had like a long period, long chatting periods with him.

But yes, I have spoken to him briefly and I told him, yeah, I’m a bit, I’m a big fan of yours. I remember watching you on the Daytona D-Max coverage and he said, yeah, thank you very much.

[Speaker 2] (33:06 – 33:09)
So, and yeah, he’s a really nice guy.

[Speaker 1] (33:10 – 33:37)
Yeah, I heard he’s very nice. He was part of the team Applewood’s independent team. So I know two Applewood drivers in Club 100 who are very good friends with him.

So one of them is seated at number three in the lightweight rankings in Club 100. And the other one, I believe, must be number five or six. So, yeah, I have spoken to them and they’re very good guys themselves.

[Speaker 2] (33:39 – 34:26)
So how would you like to say this right? So how would you like to see things change to offer more equal opportunities for people who’ve got a disability? And we’re not just talking about autism.

I’m part of an organisation. I’ve been asked to be an ambassador for an organisation called Includeability and their website will be going live next month. And they’ve got so many different companies interested.

There’s so many people out there who are on the autism spectrum or who have got a disability who are looking for work. And I believe that this company is a fantastic company. I like what they’re doing.

And if you want to check them out, they’re called Includeability. So what do you think should change to give more opportunities?

[Speaker 1] (34:27 – 35:55)
Well, I mean, this is the thing. It’s all like it’s part of climate change. So like the whole climate change situation that’s going on.

I know multiple countries are getting to work on that. But yeah, for public sectors in particular. So like I sent out an article to the Dutch Cap Company called Cap One.

And they said, yeah, they’re interested. What kind of partnership do you want to have? And I said, yeah, possibly make new caps with the autism ribbon logo on it.

So I sent that out to them. And so far I’ve had like no further replies from them. So I mean, and I’m also I mean, I’m trying to become a bit of a fashion expert.

I mean, I am sort of trying to be interesting. I am interested in the fashion business. So I’ve got as well as this Cap One cap.

I do have Louba Mistook’s hoodie. So you know who Louba Mistook is. She’s strictly come dancing.

I’ve got one of her hoodies on me today claiming, no, you can do better. And she does have other stuff as well.

[Speaker 2] (35:55 – 36:03)
So things like to do in the fashion. So to create what? T-shirts or what you’re looking at?

[Speaker 1] (36:03 – 36:21)
Shoes or just different types of fashion products, I think would be a good start. So like from hoodies, shirts like coats, you know, and all the other stuff on all the other products. So yeah, that would sort of be a good start.

[Speaker 2] (36:21 – 37:12)
I had a young lad who started his own clothing, mainly T-shirts at the age of 16, Oliver, and he’s doing really well, Oliver Jude clothing. And then also there’s another chap that I recently met and he’s doing really well with his clothing. And his clothing started off with because he put on so much weight and he couldn’t find tops and jogging bottoms.

And like more casual wear and he created a company called UpThere and it’s doing really, really well. And he’s lost so much weight since he’s been doing this project now and he’s into bodybuilding. He looks absolutely fantastic.

But he, you know, he found it really hard, but he persevered. He never gave in. And now he’s got a really successful company and he’s on the autism spectrum as well.

[Speaker 1] (37:12 – 37:19)
Good man. Good for him. Very impressive.

That’s another thing to do.

[Speaker 2] (37:19 – 37:35)
Yeah, his name’s Ben. Ben Pearson. So if you want to follow him, his company’s called UpThere and he’s called Ben and he talks about going to the gym and, you know, all of the different things that he does for his own mental health and well-being.

So what do you do to relax?

[Speaker 1] (37:36 – 38:03)
Yeah, what I do to relax. I do like going to the gym. I like taking my dog out for a walk as well as like going out.

We’ll be trying to go out a bit more. So normally I’m a stay-at-home kind of person. So yeah, me and mum, we do love to watch plenty of our programs on TV.

[Speaker 2] (38:04 – 38:06)
What’s your favourite?

[Speaker 1] (38:08 – 38:13)
Well, me, mum and mum, grandma and I, we’re big Strictly fans.

[Speaker 2] (38:14 – 38:16)
Oh, me too.

[Speaker 1] (38:16 – 38:34)
Yeah, I remember watching the show since I was about eight or nine. So I remember when Mark Rampacash won the Glitter Ball. I remember Alicia Dixon winning the Glitter Ball.

Also, I remember all the past winners are now including up to now.

[Speaker 2] (38:35 – 38:42)
Have you ever tried dancing? Have you ever tried dancing yourself? Have you ever tried dancing yourself?

[Speaker 1] (38:42 – 39:03)
Well, back in, obviously back in my school days, through physical education lessons, we did kind of, used to teach us a little bit about dance, but nothing related like Latin ballroom or street dance related. So it was like skipperoonies kind of dance. So I don’t know what it is.

[Speaker 2] (39:05 – 39:09)
What’s your favourite dancing on Strictly then? If you had to choose one, what would be your favourite?

[Speaker 1] (39:11 – 39:56)
Good question. I think the one dance that really, that can really make or break a celebrity, probably is the Argentine Tango. It’s the one dance where it’s so easy to go one strike and you’re out.

So I know the rubber is really tricky to do because it’s the hardest one for the boys. It’s his job to leave the lady around the ballroom and it’s his job just to get through it. So that would be pretty scary.

I mean, if I was a contestant on the show, I’d probably be very good in the ballroom department, because I did have long legs and long arms.

[Speaker 2] (39:57 – 39:59)
What do you think about the costumes?

[Speaker 1] (40:01 – 40:31)
Costume wise, in particular, I do love the Argentine Tango side of things. I think it really brings out a lot of the best in the celebrities and the pros. So it makes them sort of like you’re looking at them from a Bond film or like a club out of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

So because that’s where it came from, the Argentine Tango in Argentina. So my favourites are the Argentine Tango costumes.

[Speaker 2] (40:32 – 41:27)
OK, sounds good. I was lucky enough to see a lot of the costumes because I did something that was called The People Strictly. And they’ve never ever done it before.

It was in 2015. So I did The Charleston, which I absolutely loved. And then we did a group number.

And there were six of us that were lucky enough to be able to dance at L Street Studio, at Strictly Studio, which was amazing. And we still remained friends. We still do things together.

And obviously, I danced with Robin afterwards, who was my partner. I danced in quite a few more theatres. After that, it was and I loved the costumes, but they’re so expensive.

But they’re really, really lovely. I watched them, you know, in the all the seamstresses, putting all the costumes together and the fabrics and the sequins and the glitter and the shoes. It was just amazing.

[Speaker 1] (41:28 – 41:35)
I bet you must be a bit jealous right now. Robin is in the London Palladium performing here. Come the boys at the moment.

I know.

[Speaker 2] (41:36 – 42:01)
They were really worried about it because they didn’t think it was going to go ahead, but it’s going really, really well. But obviously, they had to. Training was quite hard for them because obviously they’d had a long break.

So they hadn’t been dancing. But, you know, they said it’s the best feeling ever. So he’s on a bit of a break now.

And then he’s got a few more shows at the Palladium. So great. So maybe you should think of taking up dance lessons.

[Speaker 1] (42:01 – 42:32)
Well, I mean, if the bosses at the BBC got in touch with me, I’d be very happy just as long as they partner me up with the perfect professional in mind. So you’ve got sights set high then. Well, I know there’s a lot of Oti, Amy, Diane fans out there.

I know they’re the most popular ones at the moment, but let’s not forget. Jeanette and Karen are the better ones on the show. They sort of.

[Speaker 2] (42:32 – 42:33)
Yeah, I love them.

[Speaker 1] (42:33 – 42:48)
They’re absolutely amazing. You’ve got to give the ones in the back as well some credit. I mean, because they’re sort of the quiet ones.

And they wouldn’t mind going for the quiet ones. So it’s just how it makes sense.

[Speaker 2] (42:48 – 42:55)
OK. So talk to me. Have you got any competitions coming up with your driving, your racing driving?

[Speaker 1] (42:56 – 43:33)
So I’ll be off to Lid in two weeks. That’ll be my first. So that’ll be my first official Club 100 meeting back.

OK. Clay Pigeon back in April because it was too far for me to travel. So I was hoping to get on the grid for Wilton Mill.

But the problem is I entered too late. So and unfortunately I couldn’t get through. And it was a livestream event as well.

So that made me even more annoyed. So I’m used to being on camera and people talking about me here and there.

[Speaker 2] (43:34 – 43:46)
OK. So what’s the build up like to a race? How many hours do you have to put in for training?

And what’s it like for you to the build up to the race? How do you feel about it?

[Speaker 1] (43:47 – 44:52)
Well, yeah, every build up is where you have to obviously I go to the gym. That’s one thing. But it’s also good if you study different tracks which would really help you.

So like I print out satellite copies of different circuits around the country and then I immediately go through YouTube videos and study where I need to go out of time, my braking and my turning. Because timing is one of the most important key factors when you race. Because that can give you a really perfect lap.

So it’s basically so when you put in a test session and it’s essentially a rehearsal before the race. So it’s like what you see in the theatre. Like lots of people rehearse a dance or choreography.

But obviously on track I’m used to sitting in the saddle all the time. And I just try to time my turning in my head how to get perfect lap out of it.

[Speaker 2] (44:53 – 44:56)
Okay, so have you ever had an accident?

[Speaker 1] (44:58 – 45:49)
Well, I mean one accident, two years ago I was racing in a Club 73 weekend series meeting up at Anglia near Swaffam. And the track itself was like so, so small and so narrow. Which meant it was almost impossible for me to look for any opportunities of overtaking.

So then unfortunately about two or three laps into the race somebody tried to look up my insides and then as soon as we touched bumpers I got taken out and then another car just came like straight on into me. And then we clapped with helmets. But I didn’t make any bones.

But I was completely winded after that.

[Speaker 2] (45:49 – 46:06)
So does it stop from getting in a car again? Because I’ve heard that obviously when people are driving in regular cars if you have an accident you need to get into a car straight away because sometimes it stops people from getting back into the car because of the anxiety. Has that ever happened to you?

[Speaker 1] (46:07 – 47:02)
No, not particularly. I mean I was a little, I was shaken after that accident but I didn’t break any bones. But I was a little bit busy.

And I couldn’t speak. So eventually I gave up on it. And then I walked back into the pit lanes and then just sat down and spoke with one of Anglia’s management and they wrote down what happened.

But really what really happened was it was my fault. I just wasn’t looking. I moved across the guy behind me.

And that’s really the cause of the accident really. So it was my fault. So you have to really be switched on at all times because go-karts don’t have rear-view mirrors.

You have to really use your head all the time.

[Speaker 2] (47:03 – 47:06)
You have to be spot-on alert then.

[Speaker 1] (47:07 – 47:14)
Yeah, absolutely spot-on all the time. So that’s one of the biggest factors when you race. You have to be fully switched on.

[Speaker 2] (47:17 – 47:31)
Are you allowed to listen to anything? Because I know that other people say that they would like to prefer to listen to sounds or music to help them as they’re doing the race. Is that something that you do?

[Speaker 1] (47:31 – 47:47)
Yeah, I mean I do bring my Bluetooth headphones with me. And I do have Spotify on my phone. So I just go to Spotify, put my Bluetooth headphones on and then listen to any perfect forms of music.

So just to get ready for race.

[Speaker 2] (47:48 – 47:54)
Right. So talk to me about your hopes and ambitions for the future.

[Speaker 1] (47:56 – 48:42)
Yes. So that’s the next big question. What am I going to do next after Harry Spector’s?

The more I age now, the more it’s going to have to really start me thinking what am I going to do now? So as I said, with the article I sent out to Capital One, I’m a bit unsure at the minute. I still haven’t heard anything from them.

So I’m also looking to try and get another two more interviews from BBC Breakfast and ITV News Anglia’s if they want to have a little chat with me. So I’ve heard nothing from them recently.

[Speaker 2] (48:43 – 48:50)
You just have to keep persevering all the time because they get bombarded with so many different requests. You’ve got to try and make yourself stand out.

[Speaker 1] (48:51 – 48:52)
Yeah, exactly.

[Speaker 2] (48:52 – 49:01)
Yeah. So how does your mum feel about you and your dad feel about you racing? Do they come to watch?

Do they get anxious? Or how does that work?

[Speaker 1] (49:02 – 49:45)
I mean, in the early stages of my career, my dad used to come with me all the time to young stars. And then he would support me very, very much for around two years. But yeah, my mum sometimes does come and watch me race.

And yeah, they’re both very happy with what I’m doing. But yeah, when I go to probably 100 weekends, I go by myself. So yeah, they don’t come to a lot of my race weekends as much now.

But I do give them, like I said, my social media feed. I do always post it. And they usually keep up with what I’m doing.

[Speaker 2] (49:45 – 49:55)
So have you got a driver’s license as in a regular car? So are you able to sort of go around with your own car?

[Speaker 1] (49:56 – 50:29)
Yeah, I’ve got my own car and I do have a driver’s license. Yes, I’ve also got a motorsport UK KX license that I use for Club 100. So I need to keep that on me at all times before when I race in Club 100.

So because Club 100 are in association with motorsport UK, which is the UK’s governing body. So yeah, I do own a motorsport UK KX license. So I have to keep it on me every time before when I race.

[Speaker 2] (50:29 – 50:51)
OK, so if somebody’s listening in and they’ve just recently got a diagnosis of autism, you’ve got any advice for them to help them with thinking things through, what they might like to do? Any advice or maybe advice to give to a younger you when you were diagnosed?

[Speaker 1] (50:53 – 51:39)
Just simply be yourself out there. Whether you’re diagnosed with a disability, you just keep on learning about yourself, keep learning, get in education, go to college or university, whatever it is you want to do. If you ever want to get into racing, whatever you want to do other things like racing, dancing, theaters or others, just go for it.

Just open up to the bosses, producers and promoters and just be brutally honest with yourself to speak about your story. And the more you speak about it, the more they’ll accept you on board. So that’s my biggest ambition and best advice possible.

[Speaker 2] (51:41 – 53:44)
Well, that’s great. I think the thing is, it’s just like, just keep going, just keep trying. And obviously, if you have a dream, if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

So that’s really fantastic advice. Thank you so much. So I wanted to just say, I was reading an article in the Daily Mail just recently, and the headline was, My fear over the neurodivergent TikTok stars who make ADHD and autism seem cool.

And this article was written by a Dr. Dinesh Bhugra, I believe it’s spelled B-H-U-G-R-A, and it was in the help section. And he’s just started the article off by saying, A woman with shocking pink hair is describing her psychiatric symptoms in a video shared with her 14,000 fans on social media platform TikTok. She eats too much chocolate.

She confesses after struggling to focus on work and regularly spends a small fortune on makeup. Entirely normal, you might think. At first, at worst, there are small lapses of willpower that should cause no one real concern.

According to this social media influencer, there are symptoms of a recently diagnosed health problem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. And to control them, she says she is making a cocktail of, she is taking a cocktail of powerful medicines. Another influencer has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok claims over working, multitasking and feeling tired after a night of no sleep or part and parcel of her eye functioning anxiety.

Another says 5,000 followers. So it’s almost like ADHD and autism is almost making it like a cool thing to have on TikTok. So what do you think of TikTok?

I don’t use TikTok. I use Instagram, I use Facebook and I use Twitter, but I don’t use TikTok. And I know there’s been quite a bit of bullying as well that’s been going on on TikTok.

What’s your opinion?

[Speaker 1] (53:45 – 54:42)
Well, I mean, the thing is with the whole social media stuff and like the whole tabloid system, like from the newspapers and so on, so on. They can be just such a toxic environment. So like I only use Facebook and Instagram because then it doesn’t because then I don’t have to worry about people constantly coming in and bashing all the time.

But yeah, I mean, the whole media and tabloid system can be such a toxic environment and they can, you know, they can make up fake news stories and just tell lies to the public about, oh, he’s done this, she’s done that, he’s done this, she’s done that, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I mean, it’s the thing with the royal family. They’re always in the front pages nearly every single day and they just can’t catch a break.

So because they’re the most famous family in the world.

[Speaker 2] (54:44 – 57:13)
Yeah, there’s something else that I picked up that he said that was the most striking example of this problem came last month when Great Ormond Street Hospital reported an explosion of young girls being referred during lockdown for behavioral tics that are usually associated with the neurological condition Tourette’s. Experts suggest that it could be linked to a swathe of TikTok videos featuring teenagers with genuine Tourette’s. Video’s tagged Tourette’s have attracted almost three billion views.

The research has noted an increase in consumption of which videos prior to onset of symptoms. What he’s worrying about is creating a generation that believes that every bad day or unpleasant emotion requires medical intervention to help them cope. And it’s also a green light to behave in an unusual manner.

It can’t be bad timekeeping or rudeness if it’s actually ADHD or an autism spectrum condition. In these times of lockdown and isolation, social media has seen the links to the outside world for the younger generation and it can be both a boon and a curse. I think reference to social media would be a really positive thing, but it can also be a negative thing.

And I think if you are being trolled on social media, just don’t engage, just block them because that’s what they want you to do. And there’s also some information on the charity website what to do. You are being trolled on social media.

So please check it out. We update our resources page every week and we have lots of different taglines, headlines such as addiction, advocacy, anxiety, bullying. And the list goes on.

And if there’s something that you think that should be on our charity website, and you would like to send us an article, please send it in on the contact form and we’ll check it out. And if we feel appropriate, we’ll put it up on the charity website. So Greg, you’re going to write an article for me.

And so people can listen and read your article and they can basically put you put all of your different contacts on there and information, for example, like Club 100, the link to them, obviously the lovely, delicious Harry Chocks, the link to them. And yeah, so that people can check out some of these links that you have shared with everybody and also read a little bit about your story. So I just want to say that, you know, thank you so much for speaking to me today.

And is there anything else that you would like to share with our listeners? We’ve got a couple of minutes left.

[Speaker 1] (57:13 – 57:27)
So just a big shout out to one who may be listening and also to where the merch spelt M-E-R-R-T-H, which I’m promoting for this interview.

[Speaker 2] (57:29 – 57:45)
And if people want to follow you, you said that it’s on Instagram, which is Greg Smith underscore twelve. You’re also on Facebook, which is Greg racing new Roman numerals twelve. Is that right?

[Speaker 1] (57:46 – 57:46)
Yeah, correct.

[Speaker 2] (57:47 – 57:57)
Yeah, brilliant. So so have you got any any any races coming up in the next couple of weeks? Just quickly that we could have for the lid is in two weeks.

[Speaker 1] (57:57 – 58:18)
Unfortunately, it won’t be a live streamed event. But however, the next event which would be at right house will be a live streamed event streamed by Alpha Live. So if you want to watch the coverage, just you can find Alpha Live on Facebook and Instagram and then you can follow the whole coverage as it goes on throughout the day.

[Speaker 2] (58:19 – 1:00:25)
Thank you very much indeed. So just again, if you want to check out the charity website to read Greg’s article, it’s www dot Anna Kennedy online dot com. We update our latest news page every couple of day.

We’ve also got a shop where we sell some items on there to help fund the charity. We have collaborations with Born Anxious. So if you have a child that might be quite sensitive to fabrics or labels, there’s some fantastic T-shirts on the Born Anxious website, which is www dot Born Anxious dot co dot UK.

We’re also in collaboration with mood bears where now they’re fantastic bears with lots of different emotions are in hospitals. They’re used by speech and language therapists. They’re used by occupational therapists.

So if you’re interested in checking out mood bears, that’s www dot mood bears dot com and lots of different, as I say, events that are happening very soon for us. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it’s going to be September or no, it’s changed now to October, which is awesome. And then we’ve got the Autism Hero Awards, which we’ll be celebrating at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel.

So if you want to nominate somebody, 12 different categories. So whether it’s a parent, a carer, a professional, somebody who you feel goes the extra mile, please send in your nominations before the first week of September. And then the judges will look through them all and choose three finalists for each category.

And then they’ll be at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel. It’s such an emotional evening. It’s such a fantastic event.

So all the winners will be announced on the night. So thank you again to you, Greg. I really appreciate you chatting to me.

And I wish you all the best and all the best for your brother’s wedding as well. Keep keep safe and take care.