When Caroline Snaith decided to step away from a regular wage and pension to launch her own coaching practice, she was under no illusion about how big a leap it would be. But what drove her forward was simple: a belief that people thrive when they’re given time and space to think – and someone who listens deeply. She formalised her training, becoming an EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) accredited practitioner coach.
Through her business, Clear Hope Coaching, Caroline offers 1:1 online coaching sessions to individuals across sectors, including senior leaders in education, early-career teachers, and professionals for example in law, finance, and tech. Her sessions are person-centred, non-directive, and entirely bespoke, taking place over Zoom for convenience, privacy, and accessibility.
Caroline explains it like this. “Coaching is a unique brand of conversation, perhaps different to any other you have in your life. There are two people involved but the focus is entirely on one of those people: you. You set the agenda for sessions – it may be that you wish to talk over current issues, discover limiting beliefs that may be holding you back, seek challenge, define goals and find solutions, or create a shift in the way you think, feel, behave.”
“I listen deeply to your challenges and hopes as a respectful and supportive partner. Using coaching tools and techniques, I support you to free up your own thinking and realise answers within yourself.”
Find Solutions and Gain Confidence
Clients typically come to Caroline for support with change, clarity on decisions, or to feel more grounded and confident in their roles. Many come through their organisations (including schools and trusts) as part of their professional development, while others choose to invest in themselves directly.
Whatever the route, the outcomes speak volumes. Caroline’s clients report feeling more resilient, invigorated, motivated and self-aware. They see value in themselves and what they do.
Most rewarding to Caroline is the meaningful work with her clients, when they share that their sessions have led them to realisations, clarity, and greater happiness.
This testimonial is detailed and heart-felt, and worth sharing in its entirety. One of Caroline’s clients shares:
“I’d been telling a friend about feeling more clear about the route I want to take at work and that it was because I’d come to certain realisations and understandings through my coaching conversations with you. She asked more about having coaching and I explained I find it a chance to talk out loud about long term things and short-term challenges.
“That there’s something about knowing I won’t be interrupted means all sorts of thoughts and feelings surface – I hear myself saying things and realise the truth of the situation when we dig into it.
“The way you ask questions with curiosity and in a way that is supportive draws out more. I feel like you’re on my side but not there just to agree with me. I know I’m being challenged. It feels like a partnership where I can be honest without worrying about the sensibilities of other people/situation involved.
“The coaching tools we used to see things in new ways and form certain decisions helped me feel more confident and capable. I’m fortunate this is through my organisation; it is professional development and its personal development – it’s growth. I feel like I’m not being carried along by the tide anymore, I’m intentional about what I’m doing and that is so positive for me.”
Taking the Leap into Self-Employment
Before starting Clear Hope Coaching, Caroline already had experience using coaching models in her role in education, but she wanted to take that further – working directly with adults to support their growth, development, and wellbeing.
The decision to leave behind a stable career wasn’t easy. “The thought of giving up a regular income was daunting,” she admits. “But I knew I had something valuable to offer, and I wanted to build something that allowed me to do meaningful work, my way.”
Currently her most popular package is a bundle of six sessions with an agreed number of weeks in between. Setting up for sessions is easy with a simple contract and welcome letter and a 25 minute warm up session to get comfortable with each other and ready to make a great start.
How TEDCO Helped
Caroline worked with TEDCO who offered advice on everything from attracting new clients to making the most of media and promotional opportunities.
“I found the advice so helpful, especially the chance to reflect on how to grow the business and share my message more widely,” Caroline says. “The opportunity to feature in an article like this is really appreciated – it helps build visibility in an authentic way.”
Rooted in the Northeast
Based in South Tyneside, Caroline is proud to offer her coaching services in a region she describes as “full of hard-working people who wish to develop and move forward – for themselves and for the benefit of others. Great work is being done here… in schools and in business.”
She adds, “There’s real innovation happening here – in education, in business – and coaching plays a powerful role in helping people make sense of change and show up at their best.”
Her reach now extends beyond our region to clients across the UK.
If you’re curious about coaching, you can find out more about Caroline’s work at Clear Hope Coaching www.clearhopecoaching.co.uk
And if you’re thinking about starting a business of your own, TEDCO is here to help. Register here www.tedco.org
Start Up South Tyneside is a business Start up programme delivered by the TEDCO Business Support on behalf of South Tyneside Council which aims to support local residents with their aspirations to start up a business.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus