Iron Mill College Online Conference - Thursday 29th October 2020

Boys2Men: How can we support the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men?

Simon Weston, CBE, Author and Professional Motivational Speaker

When the RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed in the Bluff Cove Air Attack during the Falklands War, in 1982, on board was Simon Weston, Welsh Guardsman. Simon was severely injured, sustaining serious burns to 46% of his body. He has become well-known across the United Kingdom and abroad for his struggle to overcome his injuries and redefine his role in life, and his message is one of achievement, of triumph in the face of adversity, and of seizing the moment and succeeding. Simon's story has been well publicised, and he has been the subject of five major BBC Television documentaries: Simon's War, Simon's Peace, Simon's Triumph, Simon's Return and in April 1999, Simon's Journey. In 2003, he published, Moving On, a moving story where he lays his Falklands ghosts to rest. Simon presented reports for ITN covering the 90th Anniversary of the end of the First World War and in late 2011 he returned to the Falklands Islands to film a documentary to help mark the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War in 2012.

Following his injuries, Simon's road to physical, spiritual and mental recovery saw him active in a number of highly successful ventures including 'The Weston Spirit', a Liverpool-based young people's charity. His charitable work earned him an OBE in the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours. He was also awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in 2002 in recognition of his bravery and his charity work in the region. He was honoured as one of the top 100 Welsh Heroes in 2004, and in 2014, in a survey conducted by Freud Communications, Simon was voted top of the UK's Heroes Index, naming him the Nations Favourite Hero. In early November 2015 Variety Children’s charity awarded Simon a Legend Award for his services to Motivational speaking and in December he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London. In 2014 he was nominated by viewers on the BBC One Show to have his Portrait painted and hung in the National Portrait Gallery, and BBC documentary followed Simon and the process behind creating the portrait.

His irrepressible humour, infectious enthusiasm and immediately engaging personality, have made him the number one choice of many companies who invite him back to speak time and again. An inspiring and moving keynote speaker, Simon is also a wonderful and humorous after dinner speaker.

His autobiography, Walking Tall, was No1 in the best-selling list. Going Back was also a best seller being in the top 10 for eight weeks. He is also a successful author of fiction and children’s books. 

In the 2016 New Year's Honours Simon was awarded the CBE for his charitable work which he continues. He has also recently been appointed in the honorary role of President of the charity DEBRA is the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a painful genetic skin blistering condition which, in the worst cases, can be fatal.
“For people whose skin doesn’t work – we do.”
 
Simon is married to Lucy and has three children and is a proud Grandfather to Zachary.

Benjamin Nuss, School Counsellor

Ben is a registered member of the BACP and holds a MA in Therapeutic Counselling, focusing on men’s reluctant attitudes towards seeking psychological help.  He has spent the past ten years working as a counsellor with young people in secondary schools across North Wales.

Ben is currently a doctoral candidate for PhD at University of Chester.  His research focuses on capturing a male-focused narrative of mental health and its implications on the counselling/psychotherapy profession.

Gary Bloom, Sports Psychotherapist, and presenter of On the Sporting Couch, TALKsport radio

Gary Bloom is a clinical sports psychotherapist embedded in a football club - probably the only one working at first-team level. He presents a national radio show on talkSPORT called “on the sporting couch“ where he runs a 50 minute therapy session with a well-known sports man or woman  about the importance of mental health in their careers.

He also works in a Harley Street clinic treating elite sports and women.  Gary is trained as an integrative psychotherapist and works with elite athletes, private clients, and specialises in adolescent boys who are struggling to find their way in the world.

Vince Parkes, Creative Director of RMD Adventure Learning which aims to transform the lives of young people affected by adverse childhood experiences.

Siobhan Down, CEO of Yellow Brick Road Charity

Siobhan, born in Shropshire, is CEO of Yellow Brick Road Charity, a charity that works with young people and families who are at risk of homelessness. Their mission is to Engage, Educate and Evolve life for young people, reducing the impact of poverty and the risk of experiencing homelessness.

Siobhan writes, “In my life, as in many lives, a series of unfortunate events have turned out to be incredible opportunities and have shaped who I have become. Leaving school with no exams, working to survive, homelessness, redundancy, divorce and being constantly on the move all affecting my mental health.  Aged 26 I needed to change and returned to education which became my saviour. My new life allowed me to work alongside young parents and this led me to establishing Yellow Brick Road Projects in 2014. My motto is Carpe Diem!”

Sean Flynn, Therapist and Lecturer at Iron Mill College

Sean studied Fine Art at Bristol polytechnic (now the University of the West of England), he then went on to study dance and drama at the Bristol Dance Centre. Sean formed a performance-dance group with five other people called P6. P6 went on to win a choreographic award gaining the opportunity to work with international dance and theatre performer and choreographer Ian Spink. Sean became fascinated with how emotions and thoughts are embodied.

After training to be a relationship counsellor with Bristol Relate, Sean chose to continue his studies in Integrative Therapy at the Iron Mill College. Sean now teaches on the Certificate in Counselling course, the Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling course, the Children and Young Peoples course and the Creative Arts Therapies course at the Iron Mill College in Exeter. Sean has a private practice in Totnes and Tavistock working with children and young people, adults, couples and families.

Delena Ritter, Therapist and Lecturer at Iron Mill College

Delena is one of Iron Mill’s most versatile tutors, working across a full range of counselling programmes. She has taught in both Britain and South Africa. Delena also worked on the Welsh Assembly’s initiative to provide statutory school counselling and currently counsels children who have experienced severe trauma.

She has previously also worked for a variety of agencies including domestic abuse, substance misuse and working with families with a substance user.

Her professional interests are varied and include an interest in early learning environments and the opportunity for therapeutic play, and working creatively in counselling.