Meet The Team

Keeley
Trustee

Hi, I’m Keeley Bell and I’m delighted that you are taking the time to read about BIG and our Board members.

Jordan
Chief Officer

I was recommended by my then psychologist to go along to BIG as I was struggling with anxiety and depression. When I eventually came along to BIG I found a friendly and supportive environment where people openly talked with each other about their own experiences. I joined as a volunteer not long after as I had come to understand just how vital BIG is for people in the local community and how important it was for myself. I was enthusiastic to join the team of volunteers to help keep BIG going, so people who are looking to connect with others, and improve their mental health and quality of life, still have a place to turn.

I ended up being appointed as BIG’s first paid employee as the Chief Officer of the charity in 2018. I coordinate the operational management of the charity, provide leadership and work to develop and implement BIG’s strategic and business plans, whilst focusing on building up partnerships in the community, and being an effective advocate for the organisation.

When I’m not doing that I enjoy reading and playing with my cat.

Maggie
Peer Group Coordinator

I joined BIG in April 2022 as the Peer Group Coordinator; my role involves overseeing our lovely Volunteers and our Groups.

I am very passionate about equality and valuing people.

I spent a lot of my adult life under mental health services, and then substance misuse
services until I successfully underwent treatment for alcohol addiction.

Since then, I have maintained my recovery, volunteered and worked in substance misuse services, community mental health teams, and criminal justice settings whilst competing a degree in health and social care.

When I am not at work, I love to spend time with my family and my little dog.

Rhys
Crisis Supporter for the Bury Peer-Led Crisis Service

I joined BIG in July 2022, fresh out of university. I am a massive nerd, especially when it comes to video games and movies, one of my favourite past times is to take a trip to the cinema. I also enjoy going on adventures from camping to gorge walking, I love making new adventurous memories.

I struggle with my own mental health and have suffered from social anxiety for years and still to this day get times where my anxiety becomes extremely challenging, and this is something that I will continue to monitor and work on. However, I accept this and allow it to be a part of me.

At my core, I believe that any form of therapy should be collaborative, open and honest. During my studies, I noticed how I work naturally in a person-centred way, and tended to shy away from CBT. During my teenage years I always struggled with my own mental health, and often felt very isolated and as if no one was available to help, BIG has given me that opportunity to provide somewhere for people to come and talk about their challenges, this is something I wish was available to me when I was a teenager.

Nicola

Crisis Supporter for the Bury Peer-Led Crisis Service

I became a service user many years ago suffering from severe anxiety and depression i was under mental health services for many years 

I retrained and became a teaching assistant which i did for 9 years but sadly the anxiety returned and i had to give up my job 

I became a student again and studied counselling skills mainly to help my own wellbeing

I returned to Big and became a volunteer which gave me a sense of purpose and helped my confidence to grow  

and in May 2022 i became a paid member of staff i facilitate Monday nights stronger together group and work face to face on a Thursday at the crisis centre 

I very much enjoy my role.

Brett
Volunteer Coordinator

I was looking for community based Mental Health support groups. During lockdown BIG was a lifeline to me and offered a connection to others on a level which I had not experienced before when accessing traditional Mental Health services. When face to face meetings were allowed to resume I started to attend all the sessions I could. I learnt more about others conditions as well as my own. The support, understanding and education was a breath of fresh air. I found friendship with some of the other service users and once I was ready, I began to volunteer my time as I wanted to give something back.

I am now the Volunteer Co-ordinator for BIG which I find very rewarding as it’s given me a new sense of purpose and I truly enjoy supporting our Volunteers to continue to help our service users across the borough of Bury.

I still attend a lot of the groups whether that’s as a member of BIG or as a service user to continue learning, talking and interacting with all who access the service.

In my spare time I enjoy playing video games, long walks with the dog, watching football, films and the odd coffee.

Jon

Volunteer

I have suffered with anxiety since I was a child. I never fully understood it, hid it well and it controlled my life.

After a house move in 2009 my anxiety worsened and I became depressed. I first attended BIG in 2011 and became a volunteer and then a committee member the following year.

The volunteers and service users at BIG helped me to understand how my thoughts and my mental health were linked and how it affected my body and through listening to others talk about their experiences of their own mental health and how they lived with it, I found I had a better understanding of how to live with mine.

Volunteering at BIG has helped immensely in my mental health recovery as it gave me a huge boost in confidence and self esteem. I have made friends and done things I never thought I could like attending the royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, taking a flight in a hot air balloon and learning to play guitar.

Good mental health is an important part of
everyones lives and BIG is about bringing people together to help each other achieve that and I am honoured and proud to be part of the BIG volunteer team.

Paul
Volunteer

I started volunteering at big in April 2019 , I’d been a service user previously for a few years mainly attending the Monday and Tuesday groups , I’d been suffering from anxiety and depression for a while and attending the BIG groups was instrumental in my recovery . I decided to become a volunteer to ‘give something back ‘ to the charity and also to hopefully help and give hope to service user’s who were experiencing similar issues to myself , I get a lot of satisfaction from volunteering at BIG as I feel that helping others helps me in my recovery .

Since volunteering I’ve changed careers and studied and now work in the outdoor adventure industry as a mental fitness coach , expedition mental health first aider and support team leader around the world , so from being in a dark place and then volunteering I feel BIG has been the catalyst in my recovery and career now helping others with their mental wellbeing.