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I was first taught to meditate at school in 1980, although at the time I didn’t actually know it was meditation! One of the teachers would sometimes ask us to focus on our breath or physical sensations. I found it calming and used the technique from time to time when feeling stressed. I went off to university and nobody else seemed to do it – certainly no one talked about it. So for the next thirty years I was an occasional secretive meditator. I qualified with a degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Leeds in 1987.
When I returned to Newcastle in 1987 I began volunteering with the probation service and occasional sessional work at a probation hostel. I the worked as a support worker for Haven Tyneside before moving to Carr Gomm Tyneside, now Tyne Housing. I progressed to a senior management position and developed a number of new projects including the North East’s first purpose built ‘wet’ hostel. I was also instrumental in developing the citywide drugs management protocol with Northumbria Police and the City Council. In 2003 I joined Tyneside Cyrenians (now Changing Lives. As Director of Operations. During that time I led the modernisation of the organisation and established it as a leading regional homelessness provider. During that time I secured funding for numerous projects and initiatives. I was chair of Homeless Links National Advisory Council and chaired SITRA’s national homelessness conference. I took voluntary redundancy in 2010 and gained an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Performance Coaching from Northumbria University. I then took on the role of registered manager at a drug and alcohol residential project for Phoenix Futures. After redundancy in 2012, I changed career and established a video production company making marketing videos for company websites. During this time I was asked to help Home Group tender for homelessness provision in Newcastle and I also set up a charity called Space for Peace. The tender was successful and I was asked to manage the new partnership consortium which included Haven Tyneside.
In 2015 I suffered a period of illness and was diagnosed with a Crohn’s Disease. I decided at this time to again change direction and focus on mindfulness.
In 2016 I trained as a mindfulness teacher to bring the benefits I have received from practicing mindfulness, to others.
Along with my business partner, Rachel Jones-Wild I now run a not for profit Social Enterprise, Mindfulness Based Therapies. We published our first book, Mindfulness with Attitude in November 2022. Our mission is to bring the benefits of mindfulness to as many people as possible, particularly to those that face financial barriers. We also deliver mindfulness into workplaces to support staff wellbeing and business performance. I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2020.
I am, and have been happily married to a local artist, Alison, since 1993 and we are parents to two wonderful children, Lydia and Isaac. We live near the coast in the North East of England. I have been a season ticket holder at Newcastle United since 1989. I also make probably the best salted caramel chocolate brownies in the world.