Team
Our team are all Mental Health First Aid instructor members who have completed MHFA England's training programme.
Why do we do it?
Our passion for mental wellbeing is what drives us. We all have a strong desire to improve wellbeing, support people with their mental health and prevent suicide. We like to work together, co-delivering courses when we can, to model supportive relationships.
Why are we different from other training companies?
We put people first, we support you, and we have fun. As a team, we have varied life and work experiences that we can use when delivering trainings. We continue to work with people and their mental health, which keeps our skills up-to-date and relevant.
Why is what we do valuable?
On every course, we raise awareness about mental health. We support people to improve their wellbeing and we train people to save lives with supportive conversations. Most of our delegates report increased confidence and knowledge at the end of our courses, which they can use when needed at home or at work.
Why do we do it?
Our passion for mental wellbeing is what drives us. We all have a strong desire to improve wellbeing, support people with their mental health and prevent suicide. We like to work together, co-delivering courses when we can, to model supportive relationships.
Why are we different from other training companies?
We put people first, we support you, and we have fun. As a team, we have varied life and work experiences that we can use when delivering trainings. We continue to work with people and their mental health, which keeps our skills up-to-date and relevant.
Why is what we do valuable?
On every course, we raise awareness about mental health. We support people to improve their wellbeing and we train people to save lives with supportive conversations. Most of our delegates report increased confidence and knowledge at the end of our courses, which they can use when needed at home or at work.
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Caron Kirkham
I've worked in mental health since 1992, mainly in the Voluntary and Education sectors. I had a range of roles, counsellor, teacher, NLP coach and Community Development Manager. I became an Adult Mental Health Instructor member in 2013. I trained to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid in 2019.
I am an Associate Instructor for MHFA England (Commercial and Community Teams) delivering Adult two day, one day, half day and Refresher courses nationally and nowadays virtually. I am also an Associate Trainer for the British Safety Council (BSC) delivering the two day Adult MHFA course and three BSC mental health courses, Start the Conversation, Facilitate the Conversation and Manage the Conversation. I deliver MHFA courses for Roundhouse Thinking, the commercial arm of Derby College.
I am a confident and enthusiastic instructor, passionate about raising awareness of mental health in the workplace and in communities. I am fascinated about the mind and wellbeing and I am also excited to learn more. I practice EFT -Emotional Freedom Technique and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. I am involved with supporting several mental health charities.
I've worked in mental health since 1992, mainly in the Voluntary and Education sectors. I had a range of roles, counsellor, teacher, NLP coach and Community Development Manager. I became an Adult Mental Health Instructor member in 2013. I trained to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid in 2019.
I am an Associate Instructor for MHFA England (Commercial and Community Teams) delivering Adult two day, one day, half day and Refresher courses nationally and nowadays virtually. I am also an Associate Trainer for the British Safety Council (BSC) delivering the two day Adult MHFA course and three BSC mental health courses, Start the Conversation, Facilitate the Conversation and Manage the Conversation. I deliver MHFA courses for Roundhouse Thinking, the commercial arm of Derby College.
I am a confident and enthusiastic instructor, passionate about raising awareness of mental health in the workplace and in communities. I am fascinated about the mind and wellbeing and I am also excited to learn more. I practice EFT -Emotional Freedom Technique and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. I am involved with supporting several mental health charities.
Alicia Vernon
I co-deliver the Adult two day and deliver half day courses independently and with Caron Kirkham. I provide ‘compassionate conversations’, and bespoke programmes for organisations. I worked as a tutor for Derby Adult Learning Service, in their health and wellbeing programme and other programmes related to mental health for the over ten years, having a break to work for a government agency dealing in funding adult training and education, formatively the Learning and skills Council and subsequently the Skills Funding Agency.
I trained as a MHFA instructor in 2016. I have volunteered and worked in the area of Mental Health since 1986 in the voluntary sector for The Padley centre – drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, Rape Crisis, Gamcare and Karma Nirvana. In all but Rape Crisis centre these became jobs. I was seconded in 2016 as the project co-ordinator for Derby as part of a National research programme, looking at ‘does community learning help improve people’s mental health and wellbeing’. We achieved the best results in the England for reduction of anxiety. I have been involved in psychoeducation and was trained by Trent PTS to deliver their programmes on Anxiety, Depression and Sleep.
I have lived experience and was a child and adult carer, experiencing a traumatic childhood and have been through my own learning and development, which enables me to bring enrichment and experience into all I deliver. I am also able to respond to people’s needs and support them in a safe way. I always insist on co-delivery for the two day course as I believe it enables a much richer and responsive delivery, with compassion and understanding at the heart. I have been a foster carer and worked in hospitality.
I co-deliver the Adult two day and deliver half day courses independently and with Caron Kirkham. I provide ‘compassionate conversations’, and bespoke programmes for organisations. I worked as a tutor for Derby Adult Learning Service, in their health and wellbeing programme and other programmes related to mental health for the over ten years, having a break to work for a government agency dealing in funding adult training and education, formatively the Learning and skills Council and subsequently the Skills Funding Agency.
I trained as a MHFA instructor in 2016. I have volunteered and worked in the area of Mental Health since 1986 in the voluntary sector for The Padley centre – drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, Rape Crisis, Gamcare and Karma Nirvana. In all but Rape Crisis centre these became jobs. I was seconded in 2016 as the project co-ordinator for Derby as part of a National research programme, looking at ‘does community learning help improve people’s mental health and wellbeing’. We achieved the best results in the England for reduction of anxiety. I have been involved in psychoeducation and was trained by Trent PTS to deliver their programmes on Anxiety, Depression and Sleep.
I have lived experience and was a child and adult carer, experiencing a traumatic childhood and have been through my own learning and development, which enables me to bring enrichment and experience into all I deliver. I am also able to respond to people’s needs and support them in a safe way. I always insist on co-delivery for the two day course as I believe it enables a much richer and responsive delivery, with compassion and understanding at the heart. I have been a foster carer and worked in hospitality.
Andy Barber
I have recently retired from the Fire Service after serving 30 years. During this time I had dealings with people who were at their lowest point. I felt I was unprepared for dealing with situations with people in crisis.
I touched upon this at the community fire station from where I retired and became involved with a men's support group and its trained counsellors. It was a male support group due to the high suicide risk to males in the local community. I took it upon myself to improve my understanding of mental health, having realised there is no health without mental health. I am a proven trainer with over 20 years experience in delivering physical first aid training to organisations throughout the country. I undertook a Mental Health First Aid England Instructors course thus enabling me to offer both online and face to face training in both. I have a passion and enthusiasm, focused towards helping people and spreading the message about wellbeing.
I have recently retired from the Fire Service after serving 30 years. During this time I had dealings with people who were at their lowest point. I felt I was unprepared for dealing with situations with people in crisis.
I touched upon this at the community fire station from where I retired and became involved with a men's support group and its trained counsellors. It was a male support group due to the high suicide risk to males in the local community. I took it upon myself to improve my understanding of mental health, having realised there is no health without mental health. I am a proven trainer with over 20 years experience in delivering physical first aid training to organisations throughout the country. I undertook a Mental Health First Aid England Instructors course thus enabling me to offer both online and face to face training in both. I have a passion and enthusiasm, focused towards helping people and spreading the message about wellbeing.
Lucy Silk
As a mum and teacher for over 25 years of which 10 were as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), I have experienced the effect barriers to learning have on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. In 2018 I decided to up skill to become a Youth MHFA instructor. This opened further doors for me, including counselling, psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy. In 2021 I left teaching within a school setting and have set up as a tutor and therapist. I find it enormously rewarding to deliver the Youth MHFA one day and two day courses as I meet such a wide range of like minded people all on a journey supporting others towards positive health.
As a mum and teacher for over 25 years of which 10 were as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), I have experienced the effect barriers to learning have on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. In 2018 I decided to up skill to become a Youth MHFA instructor. This opened further doors for me, including counselling, psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy. In 2021 I left teaching within a school setting and have set up as a tutor and therapist. I find it enormously rewarding to deliver the Youth MHFA one day and two day courses as I meet such a wide range of like minded people all on a journey supporting others towards positive health.
