Maryam Seyad

Hi, I’m Maryam

I’m a three-time graduate of Staffordshire University and founder of Commence CIC, passionate about social justice, holistic wellbeing, and ecotherapy. Holding a BA (Hons) in Social Welfare Law, an MA in Sociology and Social Justice, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Post-16 Compulsory Training and Education. I am also a qualified Mentor, Neurodivergent Skills Coach, Mindfulness Life Coach, and Ecotherapy Guide. With a background in social welfare, education, care and community work, I now focus on helping people grow and reconnect with themselves through coaching programmes, nature, retreats and community outreach.

With a diverse and fulfilling career spanning care, support work, customer service, further and higher education, and specialising in neurodivergent skills training, my journey has always been anchored in a deep passion for social justice, social welfare, and empowering others through education and connection. My academic background and life experiences have shaped a lifelong mission: to create positive, meaningful change for individuals and communities.

Along the way, I discovered a profound truth: true wellbeing extends beyond the social and emotional; it also requires inner balance, connection, and growth. This awareness guided me towards holistic wellbeing and ecotherapy, where nature becomes both the teacher and the healer.

Today, my work integrates delivering workshops, coaching programmes, ecotherapy sessions, transformative retreats, and, most importantly, community outreach and projects. Each initiative is designed to support personal growth, foster resilience, and strengthen communities, helping individuals reconnect with themselves, with others, and with the world around us. Through these combined approaches, I aim to create spaces where people can grow, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their communities.

My Passion: Empowering Through Coaching

My passion in coaching, the transformative process of helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength, clarity, and potential. In a world that often leaves people feeling overwhelmed, unheard, or stuck, coaching creates a powerful space to pause, reflect, and realign with who you truly are.

Coaching is not about fixing people, it’s about unlocking what already exists within them. It supports confidence, resilience, and purposeful action, helping individuals move forward with intention rather than fear. Through guided conversation, reflection, and accountability, coaching can reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and empower lasting change.

Coaching has deeply shaped my own journey. It has taught me the power of self-belief, honest reflection, and courageous decision-making. It has helped me move through challenges with clarity instead of confusion, and purpose instead of pressure.

This is why I am so passionate about sharing coaching with others, because when someone realises their own strength and potential, everything begins to shift. And there is nothing more powerful than witnessing that transformation.

My Passion: Healing Through Nature

My passion in ecotherapy, the powerful practice of reconnecting with nature to restore balance, calm, and clarity. In a world that moves too fast, ecotherapy offers a moment to pause, breathe, and return to the present. It has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by helping us regulate our nervous systems and reawaken our connection to the natural world.

Ecotherapy has deeply transformed my own life, teaching me to surrender, accept, and let go of past and future anxieties, to live fully in the present moment, and to embrace peace with what is. It has helped me heal, slow down, and live with greater intention and ease, and it’s this experience I’m most passionate about sharing with others through my work.

My Passion: Building Stronger Communities

My passion in community outreach and community-led projects, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected. In a time when many individuals feel isolated or overlooked, community work brings people back together. It reminds us that we are not alone, and that healing and growth often happen collectively.

Community outreach is about meeting people where they are, without judgement, without expectation, and offering practical support, opportunity, and hope. It’s about creating accessible programmes that uplift, empower, and strengthen local people from the ground up. Whether through wellbeing initiatives, skills development, movement sessions, or shared experiences, community projects create pathways for confidence, belonging, and positive change.

This work is deeply personal to me. I have seen how powerful it is when communities come together with compassion and shared purpose. I have witnessed how small acts of support can create lasting transformation. Community outreach has shown me that change doesn’t always start in big institutions, it starts in conversations, in safe spaces, and in collective action.

It is this belief that drives my work: that when we invest in people and create inclusive opportunities, we build not just stronger individuals, but stronger, healthier communities.

What I Do

Founder of Commence CIC - Dedicated to holistic well-being, empowerment, and community

Community Projects 

Coaching Programmes 

Ecotherapy & Nature-Based Activities

Transformative Retreats

What Drives Me

Empowering individuals to overcome personal challenges and live a peaceful life

Advocating for equitable access to wellness and physical and mental health resources

Creating safe, inclusive spaces for belonging, growth, and community connection

Whether through education, social support, or holistic wellness, my mission remains the same: to uplift, inspire, and guide others toward their fullest potential.

Let’s connect and explore how we can create meaningful change together.