
Transforming your business and leadership for positive change and growth
Social Impact, Social Justice And Social Mobility Business Specialists

• NEED TRANSFORMATION? • GROWTH FOR YOUR BUSINESS? • GROWTH FOR YOURSELF? • IN CRISIS AND NEED HELP?
Whilst we assist a number of organisations, we are specialists in startups and services supporting vulnerable groups, children and young people, criminal justice, education as well as social public interest causes. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compassionate Leadership underpins all of our work. We have specialist experience in Business Continuity, Contingency Planning, Regulation and Compliance as well as safeguarding of vulnerable groups. Let us also help you to embed Sustainable Development Goals in your organisation. For additional support, come and join our community.
Gain great benefits from any of these sectors:
• PUBLIC • STATUTORY • VOLUNTARY • CORPORATE • PRIVATE SECTORS


As an existing SME or business with a turnover between £250k and £10 million, we can assist you to maximise revenue and streamline your existing services whilst managing all resources needed.
As a start-up or business trading for less than 2 years we will assist you to define your business model and bring you quickly up to speed, enabling you to seize opportunities.

As a middle manager looking to move up into a senior executive role or looking to excel in your leadership capacity, we can assist your development with our bespoke, goal-oriented and purpose driven programmes.



However troubled the waters are or when you urgently need to change course in business, we are there to assist.
We work with you, taking a pragmatic approach to find timely solutions to resolve your challenges in stormy times.
We work strategically with your business, including crisis and change management and restructuring.

The Compassionate Business is one that uses holistic people-centred approaches in all areas of service putting people first to get results. Complementing our Compassionate Leadership Series, this promotes healthy leadership structures for positive organisational culture in the workplace.
Approaches have been used in governance, leadership development, turnaround initiatives and crisis with great results and are embedded within all of 1st Life Group values.
Click below to find out how The Compassionate Business and Leadership can lead to positive outcomes in your company or organisation – we offer a combination of programmes, workshops, support from our community and consultancy through this series.



Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) underpin everything we do.
We can assist you to embed DEI in your organisation and make it an intrinsic part of your ethos.
With a solid reputation and substantial strategic experience in criminal justice, education and care, we have a good understanding of services provided for vulnerable groups.

































"There is a gap between vision and execution in most businesses, institutions, start-ups, and social programs. Toni bridges this gap. She is an extraordinary person with exception skills. She is consistent and constant in her values and presence. Toni moves the ball forward in all endeavours, she is professional, and mission driven. Leading through crisis and change is a unique, exceptional skill set, created through depth of experience, constant learning and wise grounding in ethics and values. Toni is so solid. She knows who she is and helps so many see the path ahead and plan the necessary steps forward. Toni has vision combined with understanding and the business chops to advise, teach and deliver. Toni is an all-star facilitator, strategist, and critical friend. We all need some of Toni's magic in our lives."
"Rarely have I encountered a professional as motivated, compassionate, and forward-thinking as Toni. Her solid work ethic, perseverance, integrity, and extraordinary ability to deliver beyond expectations again and again is beyond reproach. In summary, Toni just "gets it done" on time, on target, every time. Her leadership skills are both rare and remarkable, distinguishing Toni from so many other top tier professionals."
"Toni is a consummate professional, driven, meticulous, possessing great skill and ability to grasp the essential details of a brief and deliver on time with high quality! I had the pleasure to work with her on a youth project at very short notice, with a very tight deadline. The task required comprehensive details of youth work legislation, government and local authority knowledge. Toni delivered, I was very impressed with her support, attention to detail and assistance throughout the whole task. Looking forward to working on similar projects in the future, I will certainly be recommending Toni's services to my colleagues and other organisations, I know could benefit from her depth of knowledge and experience. Toni is top draw."
"We had a coaching session, then a meal and my business life changed, what greater recommendation can I give? The chance to bounce ideas with her, talk things through in a safe but stretching space- it allowed me to make the changes necessary to move my business forward. Toni is funny, friendly and an expert at what she does. Don’t baulk at the price, this level of expertise is valuable, if you want diamonds you can’t expect to pay Poundland prices! I love working with her... you will too."
"Toni is a valuable person to have on your side and excels as a critical friend in business. Toni provided excellent constructive feedback on a funding proposal for an organisation she has been instrumental in supporting the CEO to build up from the ground. Toni’s in-depth knowledge of the client’s service and what they needed, helped tremendously. I have introduced Toni to my clients so they can benefit from her skills and knowledge, and I would not hesitate to do so again."
"Due to her strategic expertise and guidance, within one week of me implementing the plan mapped out by Toni, my business soared, and I am so grateful! I highly recommend Toni McLelland MSc! She has literally helped me scale my business AND a high ROI was achieved within the first month of hiring her! Definitely worth the investment."
"Toni is an absolute pleasure to work with. Her subject knowledge is so varied and her expertise in each of these areas has proved to be astonishing. Her ability to bring out the best in a person and their business potential is phenomenal. She demonstrates a clear passion for supporting individuals on their pathway to success, and to make sure success is achieved she will leave no stone unturned. If you really are ready to launch or relaunch your business, I would absolutely recommend Toni McLelland. If you’re feeling as if you are at a crossroads, do not hesitate to contact her. Her profile, as informative as it is, does not do her justice."
"Toni was recommended to me as I required a business coach. Firstly, her professionalism, experience and commitment are outstanding. Toni supported me in many ways and made me face my fears and filled me with confidence and excitement in the progression of my business. Toni has given me the tools required for business and how to strategically position myself. Toni’s sessions always left me empowered and ready to take on the world. Her humour and honesty need to be commended. If you are seeking a business coach look no further. I passionately believe you can achieve any goal you want if you have the tools to help you. Toni gave me those tools. I cannot thank you enough Toni."
"The Rhondda Hub for Veterans would like to thank this extremely wonderful lady for all the hard work and time that has been giving to us. An extraordinary Lady."
"Toni gave me practical, honest advice in a 1-to-1 consultation about how to think about a new revenue stream for my business. She lives up to her billing of being a "Critical Friend", and I'd recommend anyone to speak with her if they need no-nonsense direction for their business. Thank you, Toni."
"Toni will turn you inside-out, make you look at yourself from unfamiliar perspectives and then summarise you in a way you might not recognise at first, but she is prospecting for gold - and finds it where others fail to dig! Thank you, Toni."
"In the hands of a gifted woman, great things happen”. (Gift Gugu Mona) That is certainly true of Toni McLelland. I have been working with Toni on and off for over a year now. In that time, she has helped me so much to realign my life, believe in myself and guide me on a path to achieve my professional goals and develop my business. Toni is like a whirlwind of ideas and actions to the point where I am inspired and my head spins with excitement. If you want a business coach or mentor who will challenge you, offer a listening ear and support you with some laughter along the way, then I would recommend Toni. She is the fairy godmother of the business coaching world spreading her fairy dust with a smile when required."
"I would like to say a big Thank you to yourself and Rob with regards to my life coaching, I feel that the transformation has improved my confidence and I have a clearer picture of what is important to me and, as a result I am finally and taking steps towards achieving my goals."
"I recently spent with time with Toni in her capacity as personal mentor and coach. WOW, what an impact this woman made on me in the space of several hours. Toni really listens to you, takes a very keen interest in your wants, needs and desires and then somehow manages to come up with a plethora of suggestions and ideas to start you on the road to a re-discovery of yourself and your worth aligned with the practicalities of what you need to do to make it happen. I found our time totally invaluable and priceless. I would highly recommend you talk to Toni for either personal or business direction. The coaching I received was of exceptionally quality and integrity."

We have a number of initiatives, bespoke programmes and memberships to suit your needs.
Why not share your challenge over a complimentary consultation?
020 3504 0250
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"I had the pleasure of working with Toni at a time when I was going through a change management process in a previous role. Having grasped the brief, I was impressed by Toni's initial approach to facilitating an away day for me and my team, and when the away day was delivered Toni engaged the entire team and I saw the morning as a success. Whilst having some fun elements to the day, because of her approach, Toni was able to cut through the tension and identify the underlying issues. It wasn't just me that was impressed with Toni's approach, the team were too and without exception they found the day to be useful. Following the away day Toni provided clear and professional feedback which I was able to utilise to help support change."