Our Team

Hi my name is Anthony, I am an Intervention Mentor here at Great Minds Together, providing guidance and support to children and young people on the Great Minds Together Intervention programme. I have various experience working in the community in a variety of settings including schools, holiday clubs, youth work and mental health programmes. Currently I am studying Health and Social care.

I have a shared passion of the views and values Great Minds Together holds and am a  proud member of the Great Minds team.

Hi, my name is Oj, I am an Intervention Mentor at Great Minds Together. I studied social work at Manchester Metropolitan University and achieved a qualification in Social and Environmental studies. I also have a level 3 qualification in health and social care and a level 1 qualification in child care. I have several years of experience working with both adults and children. When I came across Great Minds Together I was really impressed about what they do and I knew this could be a perfect start to my career as I could see myself growing, learning new skills and developing my confidence in building professionalism.

Hi, my name is Claire and I am an Intervention Mentor at Great Minds Together. My background is in health and social care and I feel passionate about young people being supported to achieve their true potential. 

I have been working with a number of students of the past year on targeted intervention and Growth Mindset programs. Every student I work with is now in full-time education, and when our programs initially began they were all out of education for one reason or another. Having seen the difference the Great Minds programme makes for young people first hand, I could not be prouder working for this organisation. It is the most rewarding job I have ever had. 

Hi my name is Rosemary, I am a Life Skills Coach at Great minds together, a role which I really enjoy. My experience started when I was teaching English to adults and children, who had come over to the UK because of extenuating circumstances and couldn’t communicate to even get food or register with a doctors. The progress I saw in them at the end of the course, was astonishing and gave me immeasurable pleasure to see what they had achieved. Through that I came to gain two qualifications: a level 4 diploma teaching qualification and an ESOL certificate. This is when I knew, I wanted a career where I could help young people. So, I started my degree in science and sadly however, my grandad got ill, and I ended up being a carer to him, as well as my nephew who is disabled with a range of complex needs. I could see the struggle we had to obtain the support he needed, as well as his friends in a club he attended, and which I volunteered in called wasps. Alongside this, I finishing my degree. 

That’s where I saw the Great Minds and the help and support they offered people and I knew instantly I wanted to join their team. I love their ethos to ‘inspire the future,’ and how they thrive on helping children with SEND and SEMH needs and their families, which is a topic close to my heart. The team go out of their way to really make a difference with their compassion and it is amazing getting to see the change in the children and families they help and support. As well as constantly learning myself, it is great being surrounded by an extremely skilled and supportive work force, all after achieving the same goal. I have gained two CPD certificates through my role already and I can’t wait to grow alongside them, and look forward to achieving even more great things.

Hi my name is Monique, I am an Intervention Mentor with Great Minds Together. So far I have studied for 8 years. 

I am currently studying a Postgraduate Taught Master's Degree in Childhood and Youth Education Studies (Postgraduate, Research, Education and Society) at Manchester Metropolitan University. 

I have an undergraduate BSc (Hons) in Psychological Studies from The University of Huddersfield (2018) covering modules in:

 Health Psychology, 

Developmental Psychology. 

Psychology of Health and Well-Being. Psychological Difficulties and Counselling, Interpreting Psychological Data, Contemporary Thoughts in Psychology 

and Criminological Thought 

with the overall aim of becoming an Educational Psychologist. 

I aim to demonstrate an excellent ability to work with passion and enthusiasm to help improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people to ensure a better quality of life. 

     Hi, I'm Rebecca. I’m currently working as a teaching assistant, breakfast club assistant, after school club assistant and holiday club manager. 

I hold over over 10 years experience of working with children.
 

   I am really proud of becoming a mentor for Great Minds Together and I am hoping that my experience will help to support families.    

     Hi, my name is Lorna. I love to listen to music, watch films and spend time with my   family and friends. 

I absolutely adore dogs - big fluffy ones are my favourite, or little ones that can sit on your knee at night in front of the TV. 

I work in a primary school as a teaching assistant, helping an individual with autism. 

I'm always smiling and having fun and would love to support you to do the same - children, mums, dads, grandmas and grandads. 

With patience, enthusiasm and dedication, I like to think I am able to support anyone in   need of a listening ear or a helping hand.   

My name is Steve Wetherill and my background is in primary education. 

I have taught in primary schools since 1983. I was a headteacher for 16 years and I have been an associate headteacher in three other schools.

I am a governor in three schools, two primary schools and a high school, and I work as a governor tutor for the local authority governor service's team.

  Ms Gianni is a teacher (QTS) and holds a BA in Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology (University of Athens) and a MA in Childhood Studies (University of Leeds). 

She taught Modern and Ancient Greek in Greece and has also been working as a Supply Teacher/Teaching Assistant (English, Religious Education, Music, Drama Studies) as well as Exam Invigilator for primary and secondary state schools in the UK. 

Ms Gianni is, in addition, currently working for ‘Great Minds Together’ where she mentors and supports children with special educational needs (SEN) and social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) and their families. 

Lastly, Ms Gianni is working at the Greek School of Manchester as a Teaching Assistant.

Hi I am Maryam. I recently graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Newcastle University following my Bachelors in Counselling Psychology. 

Having worked with individuals with special needs for the last five years, I have learned that supporting such individuals is only successful when the care is person centred (the person is involved in their care), evidence-based, and involves support to their families. 

I have worked with both children and adults with a variety of needs including Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, and other mental health difficulties including depression and anxiety alongside Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Social Workers, and Occupational Therapists. 

My most recent role at Victim Support involved providing emotional and practical support to victims of crime, and therefore, I am aware of resources that might be helpful to you and your child. 

I like to believe that I am a bubbly, creative, approachable, and positive individual. While I enjoy painting, knitting, and gardening (the quarantine this year really helped me pick up these hobbies), I also enjoy watching movies, and following football games and Formula1 races. 

I can speak four languages: English, Hindi, Urdu, and intermediate Arabic. 

I am interested in supporting SEMH and SEND individuals and their families both by helping develop core skills, but also through providing practical support. 

The recent COVID-19 situation has been difficult for everyone and given my vast experience working within mental health populations, I am well-equipped to support in any way that I can. 

     Hello! My name is Zenis, I am recent graduate with a degree in Biomedical Science. I hope to specialise in Clinical Psychology and work with children in the   future. I am a virtual volunteer mentor with Great Minds Together. I love working with children and young people and have done so before when working at Explore Learning. The mentoring programmes enhances the connection of young people and their families to help provide better outcomes. I enjoy the opportunity to learn about the children, answer their questions, address   their concerns and share in their accomplishments. My hobbies include reading   and journaling. I love to read all genres of books and science is my   favourite topic. Journaling allows the time to self-reflect and focus on   myself, whilst reading helps to enhance my knowledge. I hope to be able to   provide a source of comfort and support to the young people registered with   Great Minds Together.     

My name is John.

I live in Stockport, South Manchester.

My whole working background is in Recruitment and employment advice.

I was MD of my own Recruitment Company for over 20 years.

Over the last 6 years I have been helping young people and adults gain training, education and sustainable employment.

I am a Safeguarding Officer for my employer and my local football club and I am a qualified football coach to U7s to under 16s.

All my training, employment and experience gained over the last 6 years has been focused on helping families move forwards in many aspects of their lives. I have provided service to many individuals experience barriers/crisis.

I believe we all have a duty of care to each other to make everybody as happy, safe and life fulfilled as possible.

Hi I am Mahwish Saleem.

I am an ambitious psychology graduate motivated to make a difference in peoples’ lives by understanding and listening to their experiences and helping them through their darkest moments and promoting positive mental health. My professional experience as a teaching assistant has interested me further in mental health. Having the opportunity to witness and support young children suffering from mental health disorders such as anxiety, at such a young age, with little knowledge on how to manage their emotions and feelings, has impacted me emotionally. It has also made me conscious about experiencing the joyful and positive moments when they feel they are protected and happy. Observing this has motivated me to become an intervention mentor with Great minds together in order to positively support children and families with interventions and resources specifically tailored to them. Additionally, I have worked for the University of Oxford as a research assistant. In my free time, I like to draw bespoke patterns as a professional henna artist for clients on their big day and I can speak three languages English, Urdu and Punjabi. 

Hello, I’m Alice. I have a degree in psychology and I have recently completed my level 2 and 3 in counselling skills and studies. I hope to continue my studies with a masters in counselling and psychotherapy. 

I have experience working as a support worker, helping people with many different mental and physical disabilities. 

I volunteer for Great Minds Together, providing virtual support to children and their families. I hope to use my skills I have acquired through my studies and my work experience to comfort, support and encourage the children I mentor. 

     My   name is Amy and I am a Contemporary Art and Film Photographer. I am a very creative person and love spending my time outdoor photographing or filming.   But I am also experience in the charity industry from working as a Team Leader to deliver food to vulnerable people in need; this involved operating with lots of people from all ages. I love working with people due to being a Social Sectary and an Equality and Diversity Advisor for the Harry Potter   Society at university. As this shows I am a huge fan of anything fantasy or fiction based, this from books to movies to TV shows and all manners of digital fantasy art. I also have a crazy mad spaniel called Freddie and loud fluffy cat called Rollo.
   I have lots of experience with mental health within young people, as many of my friends and family have conditions such as OCD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Down’s Syndrome and also from dealing with my own Depression and Anxiety. I have come a long way with my condition and I would like to help people through their journey to reach   their goal. To inspire others is what is strive for, in the hope that they will inspire someone else, thus threading a deep message into young people in need.     

Hi my name is Hannah, I recently graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology. I currently work as a support worker supporting many individuals with different needs, however I work closely with a young person with a learning disability.

I have also worked with young people whilst volunteering as a Teaching Assistant and through my previous role as a Student Ambassador. I am passionate about children’s and young people’s mental health and special educational needs, with a desire to improve access to support for anyone who needs it. I am hoping this role allows me to make a small difference within this area. 

I have many interests such as crafts, video games, board games, reading and baking – but I love to try anything new especially where I get to be a bit competitive (mini golf, bowling, or arcade games – I’ll take it!) 

I am looking forward to supporting you in any way that I can!

Hey, I’m Hayley. I am a mum of two children (11 and 14yrs) both with additional needs (autism and ADHD). I have been through the whole process of waiting list, speech and language, CAMHS, EHCP meeting and having to push for the right education/environment for my children who are both the complete opposites of each other (just to make life easier).

I struggled a lot in high school and came away with no qualifications and feeling very deflated by the whole experience, developing anxiety and depression. I had to start from the beginning but have recently completed a degree and have been accepted onto a master’s in clinical counselling.

I love animals and have a cat (Pikachu) and a border collie (Willow), I like watching anime, horror movies, video games and reading. I am very calm, relaxed and a great listener.