“Our values are more than just words, they guide how we learn, work, and grow together as an organisation.” – Laura Cook
As a leader, it’s easy to assume that the culture of our organisation reflects everyone’s perspective. But I didn’t want to lead the Learning Support Centre thinking our values were in one place while the rest of our team or the people we support felt differently.
That made me ask an important question: ‘What do our team and stakeholders truly believe are our core values?’
“Finding the answer inspired us to refresh our values so they genuinely reflect who we are today and where we’re headed in the future.”
I founded the Learning Support Centre over 15 years ago because I wanted to create a holistic support system for learners. From study skills to assistive technology, my goal was to empower students to become independent and give them the strategies to succeed in the workforce.
“The values we have today really come from that original purpose, they’re rooted in why we started and what we believe in.”
Our values aren’t just words; they guide how we work with our team and our learners every single day. I want every support session we provide to be empowering, so our learners can develop independence and confidence.
I often say we almost have the purpose of doing ourselves out of a job. Through mentoring, coaching, and study skills support, we equip our clients with the strategies and tools to thrive on their own. These values also guide our approach to inclusive education, helping learners and the wider community succeed.
To empower our learners, we need to stay current, especially with technology like AI. That’s why we created an AI Taskforce to explore how we can support both our team and our learners in this fast-changing environment.
Innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about providing the right guidance and resources, so learners feel confident and prepared for whatever comes next.
For me, the value that resonates most deeply is commitment. I am committed to delivering the best possible service to our clients, supporting change, and ensuring inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.
I am also committed to raising awareness about neurodiversity and helping society, employers, education providers, and communities to make nuance changes that create inclusive environments.
“These environments empower people to succeed and celebrate diversity.”
Our refreshed values give clarity and purpose to everyone at the Learning Support Centre. They help us build trust with our learners and stakeholders and ensure everything we do aligns with our mission: providing empowering, professional, and inclusive support.
“Our values are more than just words, they guide how we learn, work, and grow together as an organisation.”
Whether you’re part of our team, a learner, or an employer, our values are designed to create meaningful impact. They remind us to lead with purpose, empower independence, and foster inclusive, forward-thinking learning environments.
I hope that by sharing our journey, our refreshed values inspire you as much as they guide us. Each one reflects who we are today and who we aspire to be for the learners, assessors and partners we support:
Words by Laura Cook