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2125 Educators providing Charity courses

Francesca Lo Verso Counselling and Psychotherapy

francesca lo verso counselling and psychotherapy

My name is Francesca. The following bio may offer some more background on why I work the way I do. I grew up in Italy, but I spent half of my life outside my country of origin. This brought me face to face with the challenges of finding a sense of belonging and home elsewhere. This makes me particularly attuned to cross-cultural dynamics, multi-lingual living and the struggles of understanding who we are in this new reality. My early studies (a degree in International Relationships and Peace Studies) helped me understand human distress from the perspective of power dynamics and systemic oppression, hence why my framework of reference is systemic. A decade later, when I retrained as a counsellor, I combined my earlier studies and previous work experience in the third sector (ranging from supporting victims of human trafficking and refugees to the homeless) to find voluntary and subsequently paid work within a counselling service for people who use substances and are involved with the criminal justice system. Through my time at this counselling service, I understood trauma from a systemic point of view and learned to convey safety and support clients to find it in their life and within themselves. I am now a senior counsellor for a local charity for alcohol use. Since 2017, I’ve volunteered as a counsellor for the therapeutic community Time and Space, supporting people who hear voices, dissociate, and self-harm. My experience here has taught me how to look beyond the labels, centre the person in the work we do together and trust, no matter what, that the person knows best what works for them in their healing journey. Alongside this, over the years, I have nurtured a deep connection with nature, which kinship brought me a sense of connection, dignity and respect that I now extend to the other-than-human beings and world, too (hence why I have embraced a vegan lifestyle).

Uk Finclusion

uk finclusion

London

Chris Pond (Chair) is also Chair of the Lending Standards Board and the Equity Release Council Standards Board and is an independent director with Current Account Switch Service (part of Pay.UK) and of Cape Claims Services, an asbestos compensation scheme. Chris is also a trustee of the Money and Mental Health Policy institute (for which he chairs the Mental Health and Income Commission) and is a member of the Treasury FinTech Development Panel. Chris has in the past been CEO of two national charities (Low Pay Unit and Gingerbread) and chair or trustee of many others, most recently The Money Charity and GambleAware. He was Member of Parliament for Gravesham between 1997 and 2005, serving as Work and Pensions Minister and as a ministerial aide in the Treasury. Sian Williams VICE CHAIR SIAN WILLIAMS Sian Williams is Head of National Services at Toynbee Hall in London’s East End. Sian has been responsible for Toynbee Hall’s local and national financial inclusion programmes since October 2009, including Transact (the UK’s national forum for financial inclusion), financial inclusion training, research, evaluation and strategic consultancy. Sian takes a whole systems approach to financial well-being, supporting organisations to develop policies and practice which make it easier for people to make the most of their money. She has co-led the Financially Inclusive Tower Hamlets programme, which adopts this environmental approach within one of the UK’s most deprived communities. Sian’s team have also created a ground-breaking needs and impact digital measurement tool for financial health, the MAP Tool, to fill the gaps around knowing “what works” in financial health interventions. Sian provides advice on financial inclusion to financial services providers, and is a member of advisory groups for the Payments Council, the LINK Scheme, the BBA, DWP, HMT and the Big Lottery. Sian is also a member of the new PSR Panel, and a trustee for the Money Advice Trust.

Kwes Kent Woodland Employment Scheme

kwes kent woodland employment scheme

London

KWES Kent Woodland Employment Scheme is a charity established in 2012 to offer employment (in the form of apprenticeships) to people seeking forestry employment, but having difficulty finding it. Those difficulties stemmed most often from lack of skills and experience, but were worse for those entering the jobs market from an institutionalised life, for instance in the armed forces or prison. KWES’s interest was mainly in mixed broadleaf woodlands – “boots on the ground” forestry in woods managed on a commercial basis. KWES has never been involved in arboriculture, (tree surgery or working at height), nor with hobby or recreational forestry. The word “apprenticeship” signifies a three-way contract, involving the apprentice, an employer and a training organisation. The government’s “trailblazer” apprenticeship scheme set up in 2017 runs (and provides a small level of funds) under rules administered by the Department for Education. It envisages two-year apprenticeships, with the apprentice typically working four days a week in the employer’s business, and being released for one day each week to be taught more theoretical knowledge in the trainer’s accommodation. Looking at this from the employer’s point of view, it gets the services, (part time and part subsidised), of a worker who starts with no skills or experience, but can be expected to gain these over the two year period. “Employing” him/her is thus a pure burden at first for the employer, but its apprentice should be more or less paying his/her way at the end of a couple of years, especially if s/he is still quite young. However, the real value to the employer is that its former apprentice, to be fully “employable” after qualification, needs in most industries another, say, two years of experience – and s/he can realistically only gain this in that same employer’s business, (which explains how the government can say that apprenticeships “lead to a continuing job”). It is the wage-rate that the employer pays his ex-apprentice during this period which gives the employer real value from the whole operation.

Volunteer Cornwall

volunteer cornwall

London

We are a charity dedicated to building social capital and developing the wellbeing of individuals and communities in Cornwall. We do this by working in collaboration with a wide range of organisations to promote and support active citizenship and voluntary action covering the emotional, social, environmental and economic needs and opportunities in Cornwall. From our Head Office in Truro, and our outreach teams across Cornwall, we provide support to all aspects of volunteering across the county. As you explore our website, you will see the range of projects and services we are involved in. Values Our values below describe the way we behave towards each other, our partners, our communities and within the environment. The focus of these values directly relates to achieving lasting outcomes for people and having a positive impact on communities. Creative Being creative and always exploring the ‘art of the possible’ to find solutions to the challenges Cornwall faces. Thinking ahead about potential issues that could impact on the resilience and wellbeing of people and the sustainability of communities. We want to be ‘doing’ not just ‘talking’. Caring Being kind and having compassion for people we work with, both inside and outside our organisation. Seek to understand the issues that may cause people to worry. Having respect and empathy for all people, living creatures and the world in which we live. Collaborative Look for every opportunity to improve outcomes and impacts by cooperating with people and organisations. Understand the connections within the system and the positive impact collaboration can have on people and communities. Act with honesty and integrity when working with local people and partner organisations. Build trusted relationships with people and organisations. Challenging Be passionate and bold about the work that we undertake and open to new possibilities. Challenge ourselves and others to do better and work positively with the people and partners to identify ways to improve services. Focus on the mission of the organisation challenging established practices in order to achieve sustained outcomes.

The Island Project

the island project

Meriden

The Island Project School was set up to provide a school for children and young people with autism. It was founded by parents whose children had previously been taught at home using Applied Behaviour Analysis ("ABA"). Without functional communication, adults with autism can be isolated from their family, community and even carers. Without clear and early intervention, children and young people may grow into adults with no communication or independence skills meaning that they become the most dependent, and sadly most vulnerable group whilst needing the largest amount of support. If, as a school, we can give young people a means of communication plus independence skills, we can give them a better quality of life, whilst reducing their long term dependence upon their community. Unfortunately, whilst Local Authorities have a legal obligation to provide appropriate education for all children, they do not have the space, funding, or expertise to provide appropriate education for all pupils, particularly those with complex communication needs and associated difficulties, or for those who have ABA on their EHC Plans In the West Midlands, there were no ABA schools when the Island Project was founded, and this remains largely the case. The School was founded using the principles of ABA, and the Pyramid Approach to Education which gives pupils an effective means of communication using the Picture Exchange System. The School recognises that having an effective means of communication, putting in place strategies around managing sensory difficulties, and the development of independence skills are key to enabling children and young people to successfully access education and a better quality of life in the future. In recognition of this, all pupils at the School have input from a Multi Disciplinary Team which includes Behaviour Analysts, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists specialising in Sensory Integration. The School originated with three pupils in a small unit in Balsall Common. The Schoo was founded as a charity, and within a few years, had outgrown its original building and moved to new premises at Diddington Hall in Meriden.

The Food Safety Company

the food safety company

After leaving University I worked for a bakery company which is where my journey in Food Safety began: I went on a basic course where the trainer (an Environmental Health Officer) showed us an disturbing object which he had found in food, and told us various horror stories such as seeing rats in kitchens and about many other experience during his work. This is where the fascination began. Not a glamorous career for a young girl, looking down drains and climbing down to dirty cellars, but it provided plenty of tales to fascinate people at dinner parties! After a career change which resulted me spending 25 years as a government food inspector, I decided to hang up my badge and defect to the other side. Literally Game keeper tuned poacher or should I say head chef turned food critic? I wanted to help businesses obtain a good rating and allow them to not feel terrified when the inspector calls at their premises So I set up The Food Safety Company in 2015 and have successfully helped many businesses to obtain – and maintain – high food hygiene ratings. I have also enjoyed conducting accredited and bespoke training courses for clients, and creating bespoke food safety management systems for many businesses. To date I have a 100% success rate with clients wishing to obtain a 5 rating (if they follow my advice!). This include all types of business; from small cafes to large, prestigious wedding venues I would like to share this success with you. On a personal note, I consider myself to be a foodie: I like talking about food; cooking it; eating it and more importantly sharing it with friends and family. People often ask if I think about anything other than food. My answer is “very rarely”! I also like to visit food festivals and restaurants, trying to keep ahead of the current food trends and products, and I support Alice Charity Food Bank.

River Network

river network

Derbyshire

One of the UK’s most loved and popular evangelists, Terry has been described as a tonic: humorous, high energy, yet still vulnerable and relational. Using the strong gift of encouragement placed in him, Terry shares the full Gospel message that has so radically changed him: a miraculous testimony of healing and total redemption from brokenness, severe drug addiction & crime. This transformation has seen him become a graduate of and speaker at two bible colleges, further rising to become a CEO within the Christian charity and media sector, influencing and helping thousands worldwide. Terry is a creative communicator with an instant appeal that transcends all cultures, people groups & denominations. His much-appreciated art of motivational faith, coupled with deep insight, helps people to discover (or rediscover) their God-given purpose and spiritual vitality! His manner is at once humorous, friendly & and deeply impacting – and opens the door to life, salvation and healing, in a demonstration of the incredible power of the Spirit. He is also an Ambassador for Compassion UK. JILL Terry’s wife and partner in life, Jill, is a source of strength and inspiration to all Terry is and has accomplished, and she often sings when accompanying Terry on speaking engagements. They come as a great team! Jill loves chocolate, music, and fashion – working as a stylist for some of the world’s leading brands, dressing the housewife to the celebrity! She is also an accomplished worship leader, singer, song-writer and author. Alongside Terry’s testimony of complete transformation, Jill has her own, different testimony. Having watched her parents’ heartache as her older brother suffered tragically under the effects of extreme bullying from a young age, and the dependency that this created in him, Jill determined early in life to be completely independent – a burden to no one and reliant on nobody. This led to unrealistic perfectionistic tendencies and incredible pressure during her twenties. It was not until Jill was in her thirties that she was able to make the paradigm shift to be free of the intensity of perfectionism, leaning into the wisdom of Psalm 138: Psalm 138:8 (AMPC) 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever—forsake not the works of Your own hands. What a relief it is to realise that it is the Lord who perfects, not us!!! We can only truly please God by having faith in Him, not by how perfect we try to be. Jesus finished all, accomplished all, at the cross, so that now, as the writer of Hebrews declared, we can “fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favour to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” (Hebrews 4:16Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)) Both Terry & Jill are ordained by RMI and hold RMI Ministerial Association. In 2018 both Terry & Jill received Honorary PhD Doctorates in Christian Ministry from Excel Christian University for over 20 years of Ministry, Leadership, Service & authoring many books & musical publications. One of the UK’s most loved and popular evangelists, Terry has been described as a tonic: humorous, high energy, yet still vulnerable and relational. Using the strong gift of encouragement placed in him, Terry shares the full Gospel message that has so radically changed him: a miraculous testimony of healing and total redemption from brokenness, severe drug addiction & crime. This transformation has seen him become a graduate of and speaker at two bible colleges, further rising to become a CEO within the Christian charity and media sector, influencing and helping thousands worldwide. Terry is a creative communicator with an instant appeal that transcends all cultures, people groups & denominations. His much-appreciated art of motivational faith, coupled with deep insight, helps people to discover (or rediscover) their God-given purpose and spiritual vitality! His manner is at once humorous, friendly & and deeply impacting – and opens the door to life, salvation and healing, in a demonstration of the incredible power of the Spirit. He is also an Ambassador for Compassion UK.

Alice Leahy

alice leahy

Southampton

About Alice Leahy Trust TRUST was founded in 1975, and this year we are 35 years working people who are homeless in Dublin. TRUST is a non-political, non-denominational voluntary body set up in 1975 as a private charitable trust (Charity No.CHY7014) to provide medical and related services for people who are homeless. We work in premises provided at a nominal rent by the Iveagh Trust. Between 30 and 40 men and women call each morning, the majority of whom are sleeping out (age 18 to 85). We see new people daily and often have people calling who were housed – settled- and become homeless again. Washing facilities are available and each month we give out in excess of 500 outfits of clothing to people who are homeless as part of our total health service. Members of the public, Rotary and church groups donate the clothes and shoes. Developing a Sense of Self-Worth We encourage and help people who come to us to avail of statutory services and to obtain their entitlements; to place a value on themselves; to develop a sense of self esteem and avoid dependence on private charity. “When we first entered TRUST on the Monday at the beginning of the week Alice asked us if we could ever see ourselves homeless and straight away we answered “No”. But now after all we’ve experienced and seen I now realise there is only a very, very fine line between having a home and being homeless. Homelessness is not just being houseless -it’s about not feeling wanted or belonging somewhere. Society has an awful opinion of homeless people as drunks, down and outs -whereas they are only human beings like the rest of us who just couldn’t keep up in the rat race. We met some very well spoken people -teachers who couldn’t get jobs, doctors who couldn’t “make it”. They become so institutionalised that they will not move out of a hostel. Before, I would have been anxious or afraid to approach a homeless person on the street but now I know that they would be happy to have someone to talk to. I also never realised all the organisations and people who devote and have spent most of their life working with the homeless” Extract from diary of student nurse on placement. Helping to Create a Society where Everyone is Important We see a major part of our work is in the field of advocacy or promoting more awareness of the outsiders amongst us, and the creation of this web site and our Transition Year Project and Essay Competition grew directly out of that commitment. We are a relatively small agency but through our work we have gained valuable insights and using our experience we try in different ways to bring that into the wider community and seek to effect change. For example, we have been intensely involved in prison and psychiatric work since the beginning of Trust. In 1998, Trust Director Alice Leahy was invited to join the National Crime Forum. Trust is on the Consultative Board of the Homeless Initiative and is involved in on-going training of specialist groups. We make submissions in response to requests from government agencies and are involved in relevant research on the issues relating to homelessness. Trust feels that some agencies involved with people who are homeless may not respect everybody’s right to the confidential use and storage of information. Some people who are homeless feel pressurised to take part in research into homelessness in case they may lose their hostel bed or their entitlements. Trust only participates in research when we believe the research design is sound, ethical and likely to provide useful information. “I was most impressed by your service. The bright coloured walls and wooden floors were warm and welcoming, and mirrored the bright cheerful staff who welcomed me… I was particularly impressed by the pictures on the wall, which captured the sensitive nature of the people who use your service and speaks of a place where everyone is accepted just as they are. Those pictures tell me that every life is a work of art. I felt I was in a solid, comfortable place and ordinary enough to feel at home.” Letter from Dr. Kieran McKeown,Social & Economic Research Consultant after a visit to TRUST

Mersey School of Anaesthesia

mersey school of anaesthesia

Liverpool

Established in 1997, The Mersey School of Anaesthesia (MSA) is principally concerned with preparing Trainee Anaesthetists facing their Primary & Final FRCA Examinations. Originally held within a Charitable Trust Accounts at Liverpool Heart & Chest and Aintree Hospitals, it was advised by the Trust Account Managers that it should be moved and run as an independent Charitable Company. In 2012 the MSA registered with the Charity Commission (Reg. No. 1149165). Income is invested back into the Courses that the MSA run and at the end of each Financial Year, any surplus income is donated to Research, Education and Patient Care charities, these mostly of an anaesthetic texture in the UK or used to support Volunteer Anaesthetists in various Charitable Ventures Abroad. Overall, by the end of March 2021, the MSA has donated a total of over £900,000 to such concerns, all of it by reason of candidates’ subscriptions to our courses and classes allied to the full support of those Anaesthetists, who contribute as Faculties to those Courses without expectation of recompense. Here is a collage of some of the Donations/Funding Grants that have been made in recent years: HERE Its Motto & Objectives The Motto of the MSA is “If you Feed the Children with a Spoon, they will never Learn how to Use the Chopsticks” If you are a Trainee planning on attending MSA Courses, it is important that you must appreciate before you attend that the MSA never claim to provide teaching or distribute teaching materials on its Courses. You must not attend expecting to be taught. The Courses are designed for Exam Preparation and include; – Exposure to Exam Style Questions – Opportunities to Practice in as close to Exam Conditions as we can muster – Learn & Fine Tune Exam Techniques – Peer Learning The advice to Trainees is that they should attend MSA Courses only when they consider themselves adequately Prepared, in terms of knowledge, for the Imminent Examinations. The MSA’s emphatic advice regarding all the FRCA Examinations is that trainees should only sit these examinations when they feel that they Deserve to Pass. It has to be courting Disappointment to enter for these exams Hoping to Pass We also fully appreciate our methods do not suit everyone’s learning style, therefore, you must feel assured before attending that it will help you in your Exam Preparation and subsequently embrace the ‘gameplay’ we offer. We are very conscious of Trainee’s valuable time and want to make sure you make the best use of it. Not everyone finds the same approach useful. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have, but also advise you to speak to Colleagues who have been to MSA Courses in the past to ask them the questions: ‘Why they would recommend?’ and ‘How did the Course help them?’. Supporting Lifebox… The MSA also contributes to Lifebox, an international charity concerned with the improvement of Anaesthetic Services in underprivileged parts of the world where the mortality from General Anaesthesia can be unacceptably high due to a lack of suitable equipment or adequately trained personnel. To date this specific donation is over £35,000. You can find our recent donations HERE Supporting AquAid… We at the Mersey School of Anaesthesia are aware that keeping our Candidates hydrated will aid them to perform at their very best throughout the work day. In 2016, conscious of plastic pollution, the MSA stopped distributing Bottled Water to Candidates at Registration to the Courses. Instead, we invested in a couple of AquAid Water Coolers to be used on the Courses and asked Candidates to bring their own refillable bottle. With each purchase of a Water Cooler Refill Bottle an automatic donation has been made to the Africa Trust. We are delighted to be informed that, as a result, these funds have helped to build an ‘Elephant Pump’ in Africa to provide a much needed source of clean & fresh drinking water for many in the community. Thank you to AquAid for providing an excellent service and for giving us the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Please consider AquAid when looking for a ‘Water Solution’ in your business or offices; we would highly recommend! To date [2021] AquAid have donated in excess of £16 million and helped bring a life-time supply of clean, fresh drinking water to more than 3.2 million people.