Our Team.
Edward Bates,
Co-founder and Volunteer - Head of Events.
Having been responsible for sponsorship sales across a portfolio of events for the largest global business intelligence and events organisation Informa plc. (ftse100), CloserStill Media and Clarion Events, I head up the events team helping to raise the profile of Mental Health whilst collaborating with organisations to increase brand exposure. I am also treasurer for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association across the South West.
Damian McGuire,
Co-founder and Volunteer – Director Strategy, Process & Project Management.
Damian has led global organisations and is a phenomenally successful entrepreneur having been in a Management Role at Accenture a top four (4) global consulting house. Damian has nurtured teams and individuals through tough times by going through his own life experiences. His success came at a cost and he is a true believer now that money & material things cannot buy love and affection. Damian’s story is available, and he frequently shares his experience strength & hope through the delivery of workshops, presentations and motivational talks around burn out and stress.
Paul Cannoville, Ambassador.
Paul from the age of five, knew he was destined to be a football player. Being raised in a single parent household, struggling in school & brushes with the law did not deter him. What Paul did not know was when he embarked on his debut appearance as Chelsea Football Clubs first black player, was the racist abuse he would endure from fans from his own club that would continue throughout his signing there.
An incident that many believed was racially charged, led Paul to be transferred to Reading FC but his career was blighted by injury & he was forced to retire in his prime. The callous chain of events caused a down spiral into the dark path of drug abuse which led to rehab, only to be stricken with Cancer.
It was Paul’s desire to overcome his own battles and help young children that came from backgrounds similar to like his own that inspired him to start the Paul Canoville Foundation - ‘Being the change’ youngsters needed to see and rising up resiliently. Paul also is an avid campaigner & spokesperson against racism & is also the Ambassador of ‘Music Against Racism’ campaign; an organisation set up in 2020 in response to rising levels of racism. He is also a qualified mental health talking therapy practitioner.
Julia White,
Yoga Teacher, Aromatherapist & Wellbeing Expert.
Julia White is a Yoga Teacher and Aromatherapist who takes a completely holistic and unique approach to life; integrating Yoga to energise, motivate and balance mind and body, Ayurvedic principles, and produce a physical, spiritual, emotional and mental sense of wellbeing leading to a happier and healthier life. To this end she has studied and practised in the holistic field for nearly two decades.
She first became interested in a holistic approach to life as a way to treat her Rheumatoid Arthritis and so began her life long journey to learn more about leading a holistic life. She works with Asthma UK as a Research and Policy adviser and uses Yoga and Pranayama to help with her own Asthma and breathing conditions.
She is a regular contributor to Yoga Magazine and write a monthly article on Yoga & Aromatherapy for OM Yoga magazine. For the past several years she has been teaching classes at the Yoga Show in London and Manchester and in 2013 was chosen to be an ambassador for the Spring into Summer Event at Westfield London with Adidas. She has featured in Vogue magazine and been named as one of the top 10 Yoga Bloggers by Yoga Queen.
Jacqui,
Lead Counsellor.
Our counsellors cover key areas including depression, anxiety, marriage breakdown, life coaching, re-thinking relationships, substance misuse, addiction and dependency, recovery, grief and loss, gambling dependency, past trauma, abuse and more. Our experienced counsellors cover these targeted areas but are able to adapt to identify with any life challenges so they can best support your needs. Evidence based programmes such as cognitive behavioural therapies are implemented to take a personal approach to therapy for the individual to promote achievable, measurable results.
Ollie,
Counsellor.
Ollie specialises in counselling and therapy with the younger generation. Areas of expertise include addiction therapy, substance misuse anxiety and depression. Ollie has 15 years’ experience in his field.
Mark Rupert Ashworth,
Trustee.
Motivational speaker and Sponsor of people in recovery Mark has changed his life around and has recently celebrated 23years Sober and recovered from a mental obsession that drugs and drink had over him.
(Life story Mark Ashworth)