Small steps, big change: positive risk taking that builds confidence

For many autistic people and people with learning disabilities, those same moments can come with extra planning, extra questions, and extra support from the people around them. This usually comes from a place of care. People want someone to feel safe and supported. When we hold onto that care, and keep the focus on possibility, people can take steps towards the life they want with growing confidence.

At EveryStory, we believe people deserve the same opportunities and life experiences as anyone else, with support that feels respectful, practical, and led by what matters to them.

That belief sits right at the heart of positive risk taking.

What we mean by positive risk taking

Positive risk taking means supporting someone to try something that matters to them, while taking sensible steps that help them feel safe. It’s about working alongside a person to make something possible, at a pace that suits them.

Most of us take small risks every day without even thinking about it. We try a new route. We meet someone new. We speak up. We travel somewhere unfamiliar. We make choices that might not work out the way we hope. These everyday steps help us learn, adapt and build confidence.

Autistic people and people with learning disabilities deserve that same chance to try, to learn, and to build a life that feels like their own.

Why this matters

When someone is supported to take steps towards what they want, their confidence and sense of identity grow, and they begin to see themselves as someone who can make choices and build skills over time.

This reaches far beyond one activity. It can mean being able to visit family when you want, join a group, apply for a job, travel more independently, or feel part of a community. These experiences bring purpose and belonging, and they matter deeply.

At EveryStory, we put people at the centre and support them to take bold steps that lead to fuller lives.

Planning that supports real life

Support is at its best when it makes everyday life feel possible and meaningful. Good planning starts with listening to what the person wants and what matters to them. It focuses on the risks that are real and relevant, and it agrees practical steps that fit into everyday life.

Planning can include clear, reasonable safeguards that support independence. It can involve practising a skill in a familiar place first, building routines that help someone feel confident, or trying something with support and then gradually stepping back, one small change at a time.

Finding the right balance means holding on to safety while also protecting quality of life, so people feel supported to move forward with confidence.

Working together, with the person in the lead

Positive risk taking works best when it is collaborative. The person stays in the lead, and the people around them support in a way that matches their goals. That can include families, friends, and staff, depending on who the person wants involved.

It also helps to be clear about what “going well” looks like. That should come from the person. For one person, it might be doing something independently. For another, it might be feeling confident enough to try something new with support. For someone else, it might be trying something once and feeling proud of taking that step. The point is that the person sets the direction.

Choice, capacity, and respecting what matters to the person

Sometimes concerns about risk are really concerns about choice. People can feel unsure when someone wants something that feels unfamiliar, or when they choose a path others would not choose for themselves.

The Mental Capacity Act offers an important reminder here, often described as the “unwise decisions” principle:

“People have the right not to be treated as lacking capacity merely because they make a decision that others deem ‘unwise’. Everyone has their own values, beliefs and preferences which may not be the same as those of other people.”

In everyday terms, this means we support people to understand options, share information in ways that work for them, and respect that their values and preferences matter.

Supporting staff to feel confident too

Positive risk taking becomes part of everyday practice when staff feel supported and confident. Social care can bring pressure and worry, especially when people fear blame if something goes wrong. A positive culture helps by encouraging thoughtful planning, open conversations, and learning together over time.

Reviewing and reflecting also plays an important role. When we look back at what worked well and what can be strengthened next time, support becomes even more personal, practical and effective.

At EveryStory, we care about this so much that positive risk taking is one of our core beliefs, and we are working to embed it across the whole organisation, including staff teams, leadership, and the people we support.

Aisha’s story

For years, Aisha* relied on staff support for every journey out of the house. People were worried about how she would manage social situations, how she would get help if she needed it, and how she would feel around dogs. At the same time, Aisha was very clear that travelling on her own mattered to her. She wanted to be able to visit her dad whenever she wanted, without relying on staff availability or her support hours.

So we started with what would help Aisha feel confident, and we built it up in small, manageable steps. We supported her to use a phone confidently, trying different devices until we found one that worked for her, then practising how to call staff or 999 if she needed help. We worked on her fear of dogs through gradual exposure, including having a puppy visit the house a few times. We practised social situations using accessible tools, role play and repetition, and we supported her to practise travel routes until they felt familiar.

Over time, we reduced support slowly, one journey at a time, until Aisha made her first trip alone. That was a year ago. Now she visits lots of places independently and sees her dad whenever she wants. Her confidence has grown because she was listened to, supported and trusted. There was planning that stayed practical, and it was shaped by what mattered to Aisha every step of the way.

*Aisha’s name has been changed.

A good place to start

When you’re supporting someone and you’re wondering what to do next, it can help to come back to one simple question:

What matters to you, and what would help you feel ready to try?

That keeps the person at the centre. It creates space for careful planning that supports real life. And it reminds us that small steps, taken in the right way, can lead to big change.

If you’d like to talk about how we approach positive risk taking at EveryStory, or how we support people to build confidence through practical planning, we would love to hear from you.