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In my day job I work with vulnerable people who may be struggling with autism, learning disabilities, self-harm or mental health. This work also includes supporting those bereaved by suicide by signposting to support services, I have also been involved in creating a South Yorkshire wide Autism Alert Card as well as promoting an understanding of vulnerability in public services. I became a trustee with Rush House as I wanted to do my part in ensuring all young people, no matter how disadvantaged, are given the opportunity for a brighter future.
Although proud of my roots and school education in multicultural Birmingham I moved North - first to Nottingham College of Education, then to North Notts / Derbyshire and finally to Rotherham in 1984. My working life was mainly in teaching across the age and ability ranges in a number of subjects - mainly Humanities. Youth Work, Teacher Training and Special Education Needs were my vocation along with a continuous enthusiasm for the Performing Arts.
I’m a practical person who enjoys Cycle Renovation and gardening.
I’m appreciating an active and interesting retirement with travel and a bucket list being fulfilled. Recently becoming grandparents we find life is good for The Homers.
When I was told five years ago by an ex- student who works at RUSH that I might be able to help the Directors I was honoured. I knew about the fantastic work that they have continued to do. Another ex- student had told me how RUSH had turned his life around from homeless rejection to happiness and a rewarding career path.
We have managed challenging times recently at RUSH and I am keen to be a part of the RUSH family as we make more positive contributions to young people’s lives right across Yorkshire.
During my professional career I have spent many years as an Accountant in the Private sector and the last 12 years working in the Public Sector managing public funded projects aimed at helping those most in need in South Yorkshire and The Humber. In 2010 I was helping an employee of Rush House set up a Social Enterprise to help youngsters involved in knife crime. John suggested I meet with his employers at Rush House to see if I could do anything to help the other employees there as morale was quite low.
I met with Jo Smith (Ex CEO) and Rachael Wilson (Current CEO) who absolutely sold the ethos of Rush House to me. A team building day was set up and paid for by The BeingBetter Project which I managed at the time. The aim was to give the staff something back for their hard work.
They also happened to mention that they were looking for Board Members and as my Mum had been involved with Rush House when it very first opened, I was honoured and privileged to put myself forward for consideration. The staff at Rush House and service users could not have promoted the fantastic support, benefit and difference when changing the lives of those desperately in need. No one is discriminated and every case/referral is considered. There are many colours in RUSH’s rainbow.
I became a Trustee and have remained as one ever since, seeing lots of changes in Trustees and certainly operations within Rush House – now known simply as RUSH. Throughout the last 10 years I have seen nothing short of astounding commitment, passion, drive, diligence and more importantly, stories of success from the team at RUSH. It gives me nothing but pride to say that I am part of the team (as a Trustee) at RUSH and hope to remain so for many years.
I am proud to work with an amazing team at RUSH, pulling together to help guide our young people as they take on some very real challenges. No one said ‘doing life’ would be easy, but I had no idea as a young man growing up in Rotherham that it would have been so hard either. Like many, there were several years that I didn’t have anyone to encourage; support or to simply tell me that I everything would be ok; always feeling that I should be at the end of the queue along with all the other ‘not quite rights. This drives me and my close friends to try and be the people we needed when we were young. I'm involved with RUSH because I believe that getting the balance of stable housing, life guidance and emotional encouragement right, will help and encourage those young people who are trying to change how their story ends.
Over the last ten years, I have worked across a range of different mental health services, aiming to improve people’s well-being, tackle traumatic experiences and increase connection to community. What drew me to RUSH was their obvious commitment to genuinely caring for every young person they work with – whether this is through a project like Brighter Futures, or as a resident, the RUSH team always come from a place of warmth, compassion and wanting the very best for the future. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
As a new member of the board, I’m excited to play a small part in supporting young people and RUSH to continue exceeding expectations and expanding their horizons.
Coal brought me here from my home town of Burnley in Lancashire, a northern lad at heart, lured by a position teaching my favourite school subjects, geology and geography in Grimethorpe and Barnsley. I enjoyed over 20 years teaching secondary school students before working with schools and children’s homes across Rotherham, supporting children and young people experiencing behavioural difficulties.
I enjoy watching and playing all kinds of sports and have a wide range of interests, but spend most of my leisure time outdoors with my wife, often visiting friends and family across the UK and abroad.
I am a family person at heart and know that I am very fortunate to have wonderful family and friends around me, people I can trust and love. I want to share that trust and hope in the work I can do for Rush. Everyone matters and I so believe in the Rush House strap-line, ‘Empowering all to be happy, safe and healthy’.
In the short time that I have been a part of Rush, I have felt very welcomed, part of a family who clearly want the best for the young people we serve. There is a real desire to provide a high quality of service, care and support. Being welcomed as a Trustee fills me with pride. It is very humbling to be part of an organisation that puts its trust in young people and seeks only to help them find the best they can be.
Helping others is at the heart of everything I do. I get immense personal satisfaction from this and I am looking forward to working to support and grow the wonderful organisation that Rush is.