Meet some of our staff.

 


Richard

Hi, my name is Richard and I am the Director of Tameside Oldham and Glossop Mind. I report to the Executive Committee of the organisation who, while ultimately responsible for the company, delegate the day to day management to me. As a relatively small organisation we do not have the luxury of dedicated workers for finance, IT, human resources etc which means that a lot of these functions fall to me. In the course of one day I might battle with a spreadsheet, offer a 121 to a distressed client, begin work on a new project, and fix the photocopier. At times this makes the job pretty busy and I can feel stretched but it is also the variety that I love. I am also very lucky to lead such an enthusiastic team of paid workers and volunteers which makes me very proud of what we achieve and the differences we make to peoples lives.

I came to the organisation in 2001 having spent 15 years working with people with serious mental health problems in Inner London Boroughs. It was around that time that I found a strong attraction to being in wild and mountainous places and moving to this part of the world allows me to live in the Peak District and be within easy travel of Snowdonia, the Lakes and Scotland.

The ideas of 'well being', social inclusion' and 'recovery' seem to be on everybody's lips at the moment but here we really believe this is the way to make positive changes for the public. We have not just 're-badged' ourselves, nor are we doing this on a shoestring. I hope you benefit from what we have to offer and that you will recommend us to your friends and family.



 

 

Jenny

I began my work at Tameside Oldham and Glossop Mind as a volunteer  1-2-1 worker. As I was also doing my diploma in counselling at the time I did my placement counselling Hours here too.

In January 2005 I got the job as an Assistant worker within the Social Club. I spent 13 months in the role and enjoyed working with the social club members and learning new skills.

In March 2006 I began my current role here as Client Services Manager. I am responsible for overseeing and managing our team of 30 volunteer counsellors. I am also responsible for ensuring our 121 system runs effectively and efficiently. I could not do me role without the dedicated, hard work and commitment from our volunteer work force.

To ensure we have volunteer workers available part of my role is to recruit then appropriately train and support our volunteers.

I work closely with 1-2-1 & counselling volunteers to ensure they are happy within their role and to support their learning and growth.
This involves me coordinating an in-house training calendar for personal & professional development.

A big part of my role is to ensure the client receives a good positive service and are allocated appropriate counsellors. I do this through supervision of 1-2-1 workers and assessments with clients.
I still continue to see counselling clients and have completed a course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills.

If you have any enquiries about volunteering or accessing our 1-2-1 services then please contact us.





Maureen

Hello! My Names Maureen. I have worked at Mind for over 15 years.  I started as a volunteer in the office and then became interested in mental health so after doing a basic in house training course became a volunteer in the old Social Club.

When the previous Administrator left I took over the role and it went from there. Over the years I have undertaken more training courses with the help of Mind and have seen many changes. I have always loved working in and being part of such a well respected organisation that has always been in the forefront of mental health.              

Since reaching retirement age I have cut my hours and to reflect this my job will change slightly to deal mainly with financial and human resource issues. However, I am sure you will still see me hanging about as I have in the past so please say hello!





Ingrid

My name is Ingrid and I feel very honoured to join Topaz@Mind at this exciting time for the organisation. I started work as the Group Services Manager in June 2008 and have been warmly welcomed by a great team.

In my role, I oversee the course related work within the Well Being Centre, from recruiting volunteer group facilitators and working with other organisations, promoting and advertising the courses as well as evaluating them. I also oversee the running of Topaz cafe and once the allotment has been handed over, I will also manage the work there.

I have worked in the numbers of different settings during my career and enjoy supporting people to improve their own lives. I have worked in mental health crisis centres, mental health community support teams as well as in refuges, supported accommodation for ex-offenders and with parents and children in a community setting based at a nursery school.

I have lived in the area for approximately 5 years and really like the mixture of lovely countryside and the exciting city life. To relax, I enjoy gardening, so will be taking a keen interest in the allotment! I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, having a good chat and a meal. Little walks with my big friendly Labrador keep me fit as well as cycling to work on my bike, which is a great way to get round Tameside.     





Kirsty

Hi, my name is Kirsty and I’m the Group Services Assistant here at Topaz.  I work alongside Ingrid organising the various courses and promoting them, as well as recruiting and supporting the volunteer facilitators.  I joined the organisation in November 2009 after previously volunteering as a course facilitator and am looking forward to developing my skills further.

After a career in the media, I re-trained as a complementary therapist in 2004 and my interest in health and well-being has been growing steadily since.  I have completed extra training in anatomy and physiology and nutrition, and have also completed my introduction to counselling.  I am always interested in finding natural ways to stay healthy, including using flower essences, homeopathy, meditation and crystals.

In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the local countryside with my family - whether it’s finding somewhere for a picnic or going for a muddy walk in my wellies - and I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the country.





Gina

Hi my name is Gina, I am the Client Services Assistant. I started this role in 2009.

I first started as a volunteer at Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind in 2005, whilst on a counselling Certificate course. Whilst volunteering I have had many roles, 1-2-1 worker, assessments, 1-2-1

Volunteer training facilitator, Beating the Blues Clinical Helper and volunteer Counsellor.

In 2007 I completed my Level 4 Diploma in Counselling. I have also completed a ten weeks course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I am looking forward to continuing my work with a fantastic team of both volunteers and members of staff here at Topaz at Mind.

Adil

Hi, my name is Adil and I am the Finance Manager of Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind. I started to work here in January 2010 and I am responsible for the overall financial management of the organisation.

I have worked in the charity sector for the past ten years. My previous work has mostly been in international organisations and I have worked in Pakistan, Liberia, Guinea Bissau and, most recently, DR Congo. Much of my work has been with international medical charities and some of these have also developed programmes related to mental health issues.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with this organisation. As well as giving me the chance to contribute to the important work that is being done within the community, I also have time to pursue my long-term ambition of completing the CIPFA qualification. I am enjoying having the time to study again!

I am also pleased to be working close to my home. I enjoy the countryside and at the weekends love to go walking and be outdoors. I also enjoy playing cricket and volleyball. My friends and family tell me I am a great cook - I often do the cooking for my family at home! I also have a very lucky cat who enjoys sampling my curries.

 


Kevin
                                                                                                                    
Hi, my names Kevin and I'm the chef here at Topaz Café.
I'm responsible for the day to day running of the café and making great food!
The emphasis is on freshly prepared food which is tasty, imaginative and affordable.
We also serve fair trade tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

It is my intention to source local ingredients where ever possible and some from our own allotment for fresh quality produce.

I'm committed to making Topaz a warm and friendly place to eat.
Come and say Hello! 




Lynne

I've been working for Mind since the new well being centre opened in May 2008. I'm thoroughly enjoying my work in the kitchen assisting our chef in the creation of delicious, healthy food for our customers. When I'm not in the kitchen at work, I'm usually in the kitchen at home...or growing my own vegetables or finding food for free and making it into wine!

Valerie

Hi, my name is Valerie and I am the Facilities Co-ordinator at Topaz.  I am based at reception working alongside a team of volunteers.

I act as the first point of contact for the general public either face to face or over the telephone. This is a role which I enjoy as it enables me to meet a wide range of interesting people.  Following on from this I also co-ordinate all appointments, meetings and room bookings to ensure that the centre runs smoothly.

Topaz is well equipped with a wide variety of multi-media equipment including projectors, sound systems and an internet café. I am responsible for co-ordinating the use of this equipment so that it is always in the correct location, at the right time, ready to use.

When you visit Topaz don't forget to call at reception and say hello.