We are “Something Different”, a fresh, vibrant, forward-thinking consultancy born from the unique journeys of three individuals who have walked very different paths in life. Our diversity is our strength: a Black heterosexual man, a White gay man, and a White woman, each viewing the world through their own lens.
Yet, within our differences, we find profound sameness, in a shared commitment to self-improvement, inclusivity, and creating a better world for all.
So What is Different?
Our approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the human experience. We don’t just work “for” people - we work “with” them. Whether we’re supporting strategic leaders, frontline practitioners, or individuals on their personal journeys, we meet people where they are and walk alongside them with compassion and respect.
We believe that meaningful change starts at the personal level. By addressing the individual, we create ripples that transform teams, organisations, and communities. Our work is life changing and trauma-informed, recognising that unresolved past experiences often shape present challenges. We create safe spaces for healing, growth, and the rediscovery of purpose.
Our methods are inclusive, facilitative, and empowering. We do not believe in the “saviour syndrome” approach. Instead, we build community capital, equipping people with the tools and confidence to address their own challenges. From psychotherapy and life story work to recovery and life coaching, we help individuals and organisations rewrite their narratives and create sustainable change.
Our Values
1. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: We celebrate difference and actively work to create spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that diversity is a strength and that inclusion is the key to unlocking collective potential.
2. Integrity: We operate with honesty and transparency, building trust through every interaction.
3. Respect: We honour the dignity of every individual, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity.
4. Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in our work, constantly innovating to meet the needs of those we serve.
5. Accountability: We take ownership of our actions and decisions, ensuring we deliver on our promises.
6. Social Responsibility: We are committed to making a positive impact, both in the communities we serve and in the wider world.
We believe that change is possible when we approach challenges with empathy, courage, and a willingness to listen. We see the emotional weight of issues like equality and inclusion, but we also see the opportunity to create a new narrative, one that is rooted in ethics, legality, and the undeniable business case for diversity .
Our Vision
We envision a world where difference is not just tolerated but celebrated . A world where every individual, team, and organisation has the tools to overcome division, build deeper connections, and achieve their full potential. We are here to make that vision a reality, one step at a time.
Our Mission
To realise our vision we will work with organisations, teams, individuals and systems. Our aim is to listen deeply to everyone, and value the life experience of all of our stakeholders.
-
People from global majority cultures have universally lower uptake of drug & alcohol services across the UK. John and Leonie were commissioned by Wandsworth & Richmond Councils to work with local BAME people to understand the reasons for underuse of services, and with wider system partners to address issues around accessibility and cultural sensitivity of treatment services.
The first thing we did was to reach out to specialist BAME drug & alcohol support organisation BAC-IN (https://www.bac-in.org/). Together with BAC-IN we worked to support local people to carry out research within their peer groups and cultural communities, and we allocated half the budget towards paying local people.
There are cultural factors such as shame, taboo and stigma, which make it harder for people from some cultures to access support. Additionally aspects of the ‘medicalised model’ of addiction were developed with mainly white people in mind.
And yet it is only once addiction is understood in the context of traumas stemming from experiences of systemic racism - such as being the only black or brown person, cultural dislocation, absence of mentorship, subtle ‘othering’ and overt racism - that services can begin to respond humanely and appropriately to the experiences of people from different cultures.
Leonie and John have both been been through our own journeys with recovery, and the step of accessing support was hard for us to take as white people. We bring an appreciation of how much harder it can be for people of colour, where the links between racism and trauma/addiction are only partially understood.
We are drawn to connecting with others who are committed to working to tackle systemic racism. And we welcome approaches from colleagues who share our values, motivations, and would be interested in working with us as friends or associates.
The work isn’t easy…
“As a white person, I will inevitably find myself taking positions that on closer examination feel like I am a part of the problem - for example when I align myself with colleagues whose decisions have the impact of propogating racism. As a therapist I have some grasp of how my (white) nervous system is conditioned to feelings of guilt/fear/shame/anger when confronted by black people’s pain. I cannot take myself out of my ‘whiteness’ nor my heritage. A continual reminder to humility is when I find within myself the ‘racism’ that is more comfortable to project out onto the macrocosm.” (John)
We have experience of working in: Health and social Care, Criminal Justice, Refugees and asylum, Voluntary Sector commissioning and infrastructure, Carers, Dementia, Drugs and alcohol, Children and Young People (including gangs and knife crime), Mental Health, Racial Issues and marginality. Social investment, voluntary sector consortium development, community development (ABCD).
