Growing up with adversity
How fear, instability and domestic violence can shape childhood, relationships and behaviour.
John Ryder · Speaker & lived-experience practitioner
Real experience.
Honest conversations.
The possibility of change.
I’m John Ryder, founder of Climb Nova Consultancy. I bring together lived experience, education in Criminal Justice and Criminology, and community work supporting people through difficult circumstances.
BSc (Hons) Criminal Justice & CriminologyPortsmouth Lord Mayor’s Civic Medal 2026University of Portsmouth Alumni Impact Award 2026
Enquire about a speaking session
A human starting point
A difficult past can become a meaningful conversation.
My life has taken me through childhood adversity, domestic violence, crime, prison, loss and rebuilding. I bring those experiences with reflection, professional knowledge and a commitment to helping people recognise their strengths, choices and potential.
I offer talks, workshops, guest lectures, facilitated discussions and question-and-answer sessions. The aim is to make difficult subjects understandable and relevant, with respect for the people in the room.
Explore our reported 2026 impact · Read about my recognition and awards
Topics we can explore
Sessions shaped around your audience.
Identity and belonging
The search for acceptance, peer pressure, self-worth and finding a stronger sense of direction.
Choices and consequences
Honest reflections on crime, imprisonment and the effects of decisions on families and communities.
Pressure and asking for help
Making room for conversations about difficult feelings, expectations and reaching out.
Substances and risk
Lived-experience discussion about risk and influence, without lecturing or glamorising harm.
Rebuilding and community
Taking responsibility, returning to learning, making connections and finding opportunities after setbacks.
Who can book a session
Schools and young people
Age-appropriate sessions agreed with the organisation’s staff, learning aims and safeguarding arrangements. Young people are never expected to share personal experiences publicly.
Prisons, probation and resettlement
Conversations about responsibility, identity, setbacks and rebuilding, complementing the work of prison, probation and community teams. Ongoing mentoring is discussed separately.
Professional learning and events
A lived-experience perspective for police functions, university sessions, social services, emergency services, staff development, workplaces and conferences.
- Schools
- Academies
- Alternative provision
- Pupil referral units
- Colleges
- Universities
- Adult education
- Youth groups
- Youth justice services
- Prisons
- Probation
- Resettlement services
- Police forces
- Police training events and functions
- Social services
- Children’s services
- Family support
- Social work courses
- Criminology and criminal justice courses
- Fire services
- Ambulance services
- NHS and healthcare teams
- Public health
- Local authorities
- Charities
- Community groups
- Housing associations
- Homelessness services
- Supported accommodation
- Recovery services
- Domestic abuse organisations
- Care-leaver services
- Employers
- Businesses
- Sports clubs
- Football organisations
- Conferences
- Professional networks
Content, suitability and safeguarding arrangements are discussed before confirmation. These sessions provide lived-experience education and reflection; they are not clinical treatment or accredited professional training.
Let’s start a conversation
Enquire about a speaking session
Tell me about your audience, preferred timeframe and what you want the session to explore. Format, availability and fees are agreed before a booking is confirmed.
Need urgent support?
This enquiry service is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, call 111 and select the mental health option for urgent mental health help. Call Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
NHS urgent support informationA conversation can be a starting point
Contact John at
Climb Nova Consultancy.
For personal support, advocacy, speaking and workshops, or a community collaboration. Start with a conversation about what you need.
For immediate danger, call 999. Climb Nova is not an emergency response service. Please avoid sending confidential documents or identifying information about children.
Every part of Climb Nova
Explore the whole picture.
Support. Community action. Stories. Recognition. Everything is here.