Max: Creating Connections Through Creativity
Alumni Max founded “Wise Connections”, part of The Agency Chester (produced by Storyhouse)
Chester Alumni Agent Max developed Wise Connections, a buddy system for neurodivergent young people to come together in the wake of COVID through creative activities, like escape rooms, podcasting, creative workshops, special interest quizzes, etc.
Before joining The Agency, Max had already discovered the transformative power of creativity. Through his involvement with Storyhouse in Chester, he found a space where he could express himself, develop his confidence and find his voice. As someone who has Asperger’s, creativity and performance became an important outlet, helping him connect with others and step outside of his comfort zone.
Storyhouse had brought out the best in him as an artist, and he dreamed of one day working there. When he approached the team to ask about opportunities, they introduced him to The Agency.
The idea immediately captured his attention.
Young people were being given the opportunity to create and lead their own projects, receive funding and bring their ideas to life from scratch. It felt unlike anything he had experienced before.
"The whole thing seemed out of the ordinary. Young people were being trusted to create something meaningful in their communities and lead it themselves. I had to get involved." – Max
His project, Wise Connections, was born from his own experiences as a neurodivergent young person. Following the isolation many people experienced during Covid-19, Max wanted to create opportunities for young people to reconnect in a safe, structured and welcoming environment.
Wise Connections brought neurodivergent young people together through creative activities such as escape rooms, podcasting, workshops and special-interest quizzes. The project built on an earlier initiative he had created called Meet N Mix, a social group designed to help young people form friendships and connections.
Drawing on feedback from participants about their hobbies and interests, Max shaped Wise Connections into a programme that reflected the needs and passions of the young people it was designed to support.
Throughout the programme, there were moments that challenged and shaped him. While he quickly felt at home within The Agency's theatre-based approach, there were aspects of the process that initially felt unfamiliar. One example was the use of "compasses" to explore ideas and personal motivations.
At first, he struggled to understand the purpose behind the exercises. It wasn't until he completed his own compass that he realised how valuable the process was in helping him understand his vision and ambitions.
A particularly significant moment came when he met Agency founder Kate Bradnam. At the time, Max was questioning whether his idea was ambitious enough and briefly considered joining another Agent's project instead of pursuing his own.
After sharing his doubts, Kate encouraged him not to underestimate himself or the potential of his idea.
"Kate was the person who made me realise I was selling myself short. She encouraged me to keep developing my project and believe in what I was creating. Looking back, that conversation changed everything." – Max
That encouragement gave him the confidence to continue, and Wise Connections went on to become a successful and growing project.
Through The Agency, Max gained practical experience in fundraising, project management, volunteer recruitment, event planning, facilitation and marketing. He successfully secured additional funding to continue Wise Connections and built relationships with organisations that continue to support his work.
The Agency also opened doors to opportunities he had never imagined.
As Digital Storyteller, Max developed new creative and communications skills, learning to create digital content and discovering the full potential of tools such as Canva. His confidence as a communicator continued to grow, leading him to interview Alumni at the 2024 National Gathering and launch Inspire to Achieve, a podcast celebrating Agents and Alumni who are creating positive change across the UK.
Since joining The Agency, Max has gone on to:
Create Wise Connections
Secure additional funding to expand the project
Become The Agency's Digital Storyteller
Launch the Inspire to Achieve podcast
Speak at business and community conferences across Cheshire and Warrington
Interview young changemakers at Westminster Foundation events
Recruit and inspire new Agents to join The Agency
Help secure significant funding to support future Agency activity
Perhaps most importantly, The Agency helped Max realise that his experiences, skills and perspective could create meaningful change for others.
Today, Max continues to champion opportunities for young people to connect, grow and find their voices. His work facilitating creative spaces through Wise Connections has inspired him to pursue a future career in Drama teaching, combining his passion for creativity with his commitment to supporting young people.
The Agency has shown him how the arts can empower people not only as performers, but as entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers.
"The Agency has given me a clear pathway as a creator of positive change. It showed me that the ideas which matter most are often the ones rooted in your own experiences." – Max
Looking back, Max encourages anyone considering joining The Agency to embrace every opportunity that comes their way.
From working with the national team and producing content, to interviewing changemakers, attending major events and representing young people at influential gatherings, his journey has taken him far beyond what he imagined when he first signed up.
"Don't limit yourself. Think about what matters to you, what you would want to see in your community, and build your project around that. The best ideas are the ones that genuinely reflect who you are. Be ambitious, be authentic and don't be afraid to think big." – Max
Learn more about Max, his project and journey here: The Faces of Change: Max — The Agency. Change Makers.