After a Devastating Car Accident, She Lost Her Confidence—Then Everything Changed

She Stopped Leaving the House After Her Accident. What Happened Next Is Inspiring

Innovative People Podcast | Hosted by Tina Jesson

Guest: Melissa Harriman

Host: Tina Jesson

What happens when a life-changing accident takes away your confidence, your independence, and your sense of purpose?

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Innovative People Podcast, host Tina Jesson sits down with Melissa Harriman, a former Skilled Hands participant whose remarkable journey demonstrates the power of resilience, creativity, and community support.

Melissa shares how a severe car accident changed her life dramatically. Following significant spinal injuries and three separate spinal operations, everyday activities became a challenge. The confidence she once had disappeared, and she found herself withdrawing from the outside world, rarely wanting to leave her home.

Everything began to change when her carer discovered a Skilled Hands workshop advertised on Facebook and encouraged her to attend.

Initially unsure about stepping outside her comfort zone, Melissa decided to enrol on a 12-week millinery course. What started as a simple creative workshop soon became a turning point in her recovery journey.

The course gave Melissa something she had been missing for a long time: purpose, routine, confidence, and connection.

Encouraged by her experience, Melissa continued her learning journey by enrolling on Skilled Hands’ Jewellery Making programme, followed by the Bag Making course. Over time, the workshops became much more than opportunities to learn new skills—they became stepping stones towards rebuilding her confidence and rediscovering her potential.

Melissa discusses how the skills she developed through Skilled Hands inspired her to start her own small business, providing a flexible way to work around her health needs while regaining independence and control over her life.

Her determination and entrepreneurial spirit led to an important milestone when she participated in a summer fair at her children’s school. The response exceeded all expectations, with nearly all of her products selling on the day.

In recognition of her achievements, Melissa was awarded the Skilled Hands Woman of the Moment Award, celebrating her courage, initiative, and commitment to turning adversity into opportunity.

During the conversation, Melissa reflects on the significance of receiving awards and recognition, explaining how they continue to serve as powerful reminders of what she is capable of achieving despite the challenges she has faced.

The discussion also explores the importance of Skilled Hands’ annual Red Carpet event, where participants have the opportunity to showcase their work, celebrate their achievements, build confidence, and share the spotlight with their families. Melissa explains how events like these not only empower workshop participants but also create confidence-building opportunities for their children through involvement in the runway experience.

This episode is a powerful reminder that resilience is not about avoiding hardship—it’s about finding the courage to move forward, one step at a time.

Key Topics Covered:

• Recovering from a life-changing car accident

• Living with spinal injuries and multiple surgeries

• Overcoming isolation and rebuilding confidence

• Discovering Skilled Hands through social media

• Learning millinery, jewellery making, and bag making

• The therapeutic benefits of creativity and crafting

• Starting a small business after injury

• Winning the Skilled Hands Woman of the Moment Award

• The importance of recognition and celebrating achievements

• Red Carpet 6 and Threads of Resilience

• Empowering women through artisan skills and entrepreneurship

• Building confidence through community support

About Skilled Hands Organisation CIC

Skilled Hands empowers women through artisan crafts training, enterprise development, confidence-building programmes, and community support. Through workshops including millinery, jewellery making, dressmaking, bag making, soap making, and other creative skills, the organisation helps women develop practical skills, confidence, and pathways towards greater independence.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE⬇️

https://youtu.be/_D9da86yg3I

Thank you for listening to Innovative People Podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who may need encouragement to keep moving forward through life’s challenges.

#MelissaHarriman

#InnovativePeoplePodcast

#SkilledHands

#ThreadsOfResilience

#WomenEmpowerment

#Resilience

#OvercomingAdversity

#ConfidenceBuilding

#InspiringStories

#WomenInBusiness

#SocialImpact

#CommunitySupport

#Entrepreneurship

#CreativeRecovery

#RedCarpet6

LIVING WITHOUT ABUSE

SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

HOST: LAUREN SIMPSON
GUEST: EMILY CORRIGAN
BEHIND THE CAMERA: MARTHA PERCIVAL

Having spent 25 years in the corporate sector managing communications and events Emily took the role of Head of Fundraising for Living Without Abuse in September 2022. 

"I have been volunteering for Leicestershire Cares for several years, and was awarded Volunteer of the Year, representing the charity at the Queen’s Garden Party" she said.  For the past 2 years she has supported people suffering domestic abuse as a Befriending Volunteer with LWA. 

As a domestic abuse survivor, having escaped a 13-year abusive relationship in 2005, Emily benefitted from 2 years’ counselling with a domestic abuse charity in Montreal, where she was living at the time. 

"It is not an exaggeration to say that without their care and support I don’t think I would be here today.  I vowed back then that, once I was able to do so, I would support those who are in the situation where I once found myself" Emily shared all these and more on INNOVATIVE PEOPLE'S PODCAST.

You may have listened to interviews on Relationship, Abuse and Sexual Harassment but this particular interview top's it all, with all there is to know about the above topics.

Have a listen and please don't forget to subscribe for updates to new episodes.

Innovative People’s Podcast (YouTube Channel)

CONTACT EMILY CORRIGAN

Tel: 07584 002640
Facebook: Living Without Abuse
Instagram @lwacharity

CONTACT SKILLED HAND SOUNDS

Tel: 074 32 44 0997
WhatsApp: 074 86 87 6873
Website: www.skilledhandsorganisation.org
Instagram: @skilledhandsorg
Facebook: Skilled Hands Organisation

CYCLING HAS BROUGHT ME A HUGE SENSE OF FREEDOM

SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

HOST: LAUREN SIMPSON
GUEST: LILY BEAVEN
BEHIND THE CAMERA: MARTHA PERCIVAL

Lily is one of the Directors at Women In Tandem.
This is a women-led, Nottingham-based bike collective to support women with all their bike needs.

On Innovative People's Podcast, Lily shared that they want all women to have the opportunity to access cycling and they are committed to breaking down barriers and creating spaces for women to thrive.

She also shared that, cycling has brought her a huge sense of freedom. Listen to the full interview for the juicy bits.

Youtube channel

LILY'S CONTACT:

Email: steph@womenintandem.org.uk 
Phone: 0115 958 4662 or 07511502741.

CONNECT WITH US EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR NEW EPISODES

Connect with INNOVATIVE PEOPLE’S PODCAST at: www.skilledhandsorganisation.org

Send us a email at: skilledhandsmediateam@gmail.com

Call us on: 074 32 44 0997

BEING AN ILLUSTRATOR IS A PRIVILEGE

Season 1, Episode 1: Emily Catherine

HOST: LAUREN SIMPSON

GUEST: EMILY CATHERINE

On this episode we interviewed Emily Catherine CEO of Emily Catherine Illustration. One of Nottingham's finest illustrator. Emily specializes in hand-drawn and hand-painted illustrations and artworks, and has worked with a multitude of Hip Hop artists from both sides of the pond, including names such as Your Old Droog, D Prince, Pharoahe Monch, Micall Parknsun, and Juga-Naut to name a few. We talked at length about Emily's classic illustrated album covers, Hip Hop art workshops, her creative process, working with legends and what lead her to become the woman she is today. She stated that being an illustrator is a privilege and she loves what she does.