Who We Are

Founded in 2011 by Damian Fearns, RealChange is a small but mighty team of practitioners with a shared commitment to growth, learning, and wellbeing. We draw from decades of experience across psychotherapy, coaching, applied arts, and frontline support. What unites us is a human-centred, emotionally intelligent approach to helping others develop and flourish.

We’ve worked with NHS trusts, housing associations, homeless charities, creative organisations, and global corporations — always bringing warmth, depth, and rigour to our work. At RealChange, we believe in supporting those who support others.

I do what I do because I believe we are all here to learn and grow. This is a fundamental truth of nature and the essence of evolution itself - through learning, we adapt to changes in our bio-psycho-social environment, not just to survive, but to thrive, both individually and collectively.

What does this mean in reality?  

It means staying open-minded and willing to challenge our beliefs. It means valuing knowledge from diverse sources - whether rooted in ancient wisdom or emerging from cutting-edge science. Some truths don’t need randomised control trials or peer review to be validated; their effectiveness is revealed in practice and lived experience. The solutions to our problems often lie in unexpected places and may surprise us.

This ethos is at the heart of why I founded RealChange: a commitment to continuous learning, growth, and reshaping ourselves and the world around us.

For over 25 years, I’ve taught, trained, and supported others in their development. I started my career working closely with a deeply autistic child, helping him develop communication strategies to replace self-harm and aggression. That experience taught me patience, adaptability, and resilience—qualities that have shaped my work ever since. I’ve worked with people struggling with addiction, trained others in similar work, and later moved into public health leadership, driving behaviour change and tackling health inequalities.

Most of my UK work is within the charity and statutory sectors, including mental health services, the NHS, housing associations, homeless charities, and hospices. For over a decade, I’ve also been a trainer with TNM Coaching, developing leaders and transforming workplace culture in global organisations like Maersk, Nokia, and UPM.

I’m trained in solution-focused therapy, person-centred counselling, and motivational interviewing, as well as three forms of coaching: GROW Coaching, Integral Coaching, and Evolutionary Coaching.

Right now, I’m particularly interested in how people and organisations can adapt to the AI revolution in a way that remains deeply human—keeping values, ethics, and human nature at the forefront of the world we are creating. I’m currently writing a book on this and human intelligence, exploring how we often overlook our uniquely human abilities and how we can apply them for healthier, more meaningful living.

Seeing the bigger picture, helping others, and continuing to develop myself, gives me a deep sense of meaning in life.  I live in East Sussex with my dog, Bobby.

Damian Fearns

Founder & Director
Trainer
Solution-Focused Psychotherapist
Integral Coach
PGDip, HGDip, MCC, BSc Hons

“If you treat an individual as though they are what they ought to be and could be, they become what they ought to be and could be.” – Goethe

What Others Say

"As a trainer and coach of over 30 years, as well as having managed a large corporate training and development team, all I can say is that I would happily have Damian in my team (or as my boss)."

"Best trainer I have experienced in my 20-year career—very engaging and knowledgeable."

"He was kind and inclusive of everyone and made the course fun."

"Healing is about being present with everything that is inside of us and learning how to hold it."
 – Gabrielle Roth

Trainer
Sound Therapist
Creative Practitioner
MA, BA(Hons), HVTDip

Bex Fidler

For 20 years, I’ve used creativity to connect, heal, and empower. With a Master’s in Applied Theatre in Social & Community Contexts, I’ve led a wide range of creative and community projects — both as a freelancer and as Creative Learning Manager at Brighton Dome & Festival. Much of my work has focused on supporting marginalised young people in complex life situations, often in partnership with Youth Offending Services, PRUs, and social care teams.

I founded and led Miss Represented for 12 years — a critically acclaimed, trauma-informed arts project supporting young women facing significant challenges. It offered a safe space for creative expression, helping participants build resilience, self-love, and a deeper understanding of their lives. We toured work locally and nationally, fostering community dialogue and influencing local policy.

As a singer, I’ve become increasingly drawn to the healing power of voice, sound, and song. This path led me to complete a Higher Diploma (with distinction) in Holistic Voice Therapy with the British Academy of Sound Therapy, alongside training in ancient wisdom traditions. These practices involve working with the body, breath and different layers of consciousness — supporting emotional release, insight, and reconnection. In one-to-one sessions, I integrate voice, sound, and somatic awareness with these approaches. With groups, I facilitate singing circles and therapeutic voicework, and I’m currently developing projects that bring this work into community and ecological settings.

I believe growth happens when we create space to listen — to ourselves, to one another, and to the land. My approach is grounded, embodied, and creative; whether in a training room or a singing circle, I support people to meet themselves with curiosity and compassion, gently move through resistance, and make space for more resonance in their lives.

I love delivering RealChange training, not only for the practical tools it offers but for the rich, reflective conversations it opens up. The bio-psycho-social approach resonates with my own practice. I continue to learn from every group I work with — and that ongoing exchange is what keeps the work alive for me.

What Others Say

"I loved our trainer, Bex, and felt that the information was incredibly relevant to my role. Even with my experience of working here for years, I learned something new about how to approach my job in the most professional and compassionate way."

"Bex was so interactive, made references outside of the training spec, and was extremely aware of our work and the factors we experience."

"Bex was authentic, and the course was excellent - delivered with humility, friendly warmth, and safety, allowing everyone to feel equal and be heard."

Coach
Trainer
Author
Director of Psychologically Informed Ltd.

Shaun Young

“The foundation of all success is to take action.”
– Pablo Picasso

I have been a coach for over 20 years and have coached and facilitated training for thousands of individuals at all levels in some of the world’s leading corporations and organisations (inc. Maersk, Nestle and Nokia). I am the director of a leadership and personal development training company called Psychologically Informed Ltd. I am also an affiliate of TNM Coaching, the world’s premier coaching group, and the author of Loved: How to Coach Yourself to Well-Being Through Self-Love.

I have authored and co-authored many personal development, leadership, and coaching programmes. All of my work is psychologically informed, designed to tap into people’s personal strengths and wisdom and to grow emotional intelligence, resilience, and willpower. My intention is to transform people and organisations from the inside out.

I have a Behavioural Science Degree (Hons), diplomas in Life Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and hold certificates in Integral Coaching, Person Centred Counselling, Pysch-K Balancing, and Learning, Development and Support.

As well as my corporate work, I use my knowledge of Psychology, Mental Health, Transactional Analysis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Motivational Interviewing, Human Givens and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to deliver training and support for frontline staff in the public and not for profit sector (NHS, Police, Care workers, Therapists, Teaching profession etc.).

I believe that our thoughts, feelings, and actions define our experience of reality. Becoming conscious of this enables us to stop doing what doesn’t serve us and start choosing the reality we want. We all have the ability to access our inner wisdom, and I see it as my role to help people tap into this.

What Others Say

"Shaun is an insightful, perceptive, brave, and intuitive coach. Shaun's style and skill mean that he is able to coach all personality types. Without exception, everyone I have coached at my company has learned and applied new skills, and some have even experienced significant personal change. Shaun's approach is underpinned by years of experience and knowledge of psychology. In summary, Shaun is an excellent coach and trainer, and a delight to work with. I would have no hesitation in recommending him."
— Amanda Menahem, Brighton

"Your professional and spacious intellect presented me with the opportunity to face myself with candid awareness. I am comfortable addressing and communicating about my limitations in a way I have not previously experienced. I am, very simply, more able to be me."
— Hulda Armine, Copenhagen

"It was extremely useful and enlightening and an opportunity for us to review our way of leading.  The course was a life-changing experience for me."
— Ken Dawkin, USA

Learning & Development Consultant
Facilitator
Coach

Duncan Purvis

“Progress is fueled by the undying belief that the future is bright”
- Simon Sinek

I am passionate about helping individuals and teams grow, for their benefit and that of their organisations. My passion for Learning comes in supporting people to find their "light bulb" moments, where an insight leads to meaningful change in the way they work or live.

With 20 years experience in the third sector in learning and development, operational, and management roles, I have gained a wide range of practical knowledge and experience. I bring this to my work in supporting the development of people at all levels.

My consultancy work as a facilitator, trainer, and coach sees me working with individuals and teams across the third and commercial sectors, disciplines and different levels.

I believe that, at its best, learning must be meaningful, action-focused, and enjoyable. I always aim to create relaxed, open, and inclusive spaces to support this, bringing energy, empathy, and, when appropriate, a bit of fun to all the learning environments I create.

I deliver leadership and management development, team dynamics, and building high-performing teams and  support values and purpose development, guide difficult conversations, and help managers develop a coaching mindset to enhance their leadership style. I provide individual coaching and facilitate skills training.

I hold certifications in Everything DiSC® and Five Behaviours, Insights Discovery®, Motivational Maps for individuals and teams, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I am trained as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner and certified coach, with additional qualifications in Trauma-Informed approaches and CIPD Leading Learning in Organisations. I also hold a Level 3 Certificate in Education and Training.

What Others Say

“Duncan is a thoughtful, positive and skilled facilitator and coach. I have learned what is important to me as a professional, improved relationships with my colleagues and learned techniques to navigate challenging behaviours/ conversations. Duncan’s support and expertise has been an invaluable asset to both myself, and the wider team, especially at a time of change and uncertainty. “ 

— Programme Manager, Private Trust.

“Duncan strikes a brilliant balance with his sessions. The day session he ran was so well received by our leadership team and the board of trustees. The feedback was glowing, and the content we gathered was really rich”

— CEO, Youth Charity 

“Having worked with Duncan in various contexts over almost 20 years, I have long appreciated his skills as a facilitator and coach. Duncan quickly built rapport with all our participants, including those who were initially sceptical due to previous negative or repetitive experiences. He skilfully drew out years of knowledge and experience from the group, kept us focused on the subject matter, and ensured the session reached a positive and productive conclusion.”

— Executive Director, Youth Charity