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FundraisingFounder and CEO
Helen has over thirty years experience of working therapeutically with people of all ages. She has trained in many modalities including; counselling, play therapy, havening, integrative nutritional health coaching, massage therapy and as a baby massage instructor. Helen uses an integrative gentle approach to support people back to feelings of wellness.
Throughout her career Helen has worked in a wide variety of settings including Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, hospices for children and adults, GP surgeries, schools, care homes, shelters for the homeless and in the corporate world.
Over this time Helen has worked with and observed in children and adults alike the power that gentleness, listening, touch and connection has on people's wellbeing.
Helen is a lover of life and people.
Secretary
Jerry has worked in the community and in the church as a priest for almost 25 years. Sitting at the bedside of countless people who are ill in hospital or at home, he has known the power of listening and holding the hand of the sick. Jerry has witnessed how it can help ease the pain of loneliness and illness. He understands the importance of providing community and support to those in crises and has a particular interest in working with the old and the dying. The epidemic of loneliness amongst the retired community is ever growing and he helped set up a local charity to help overcome this in his home town.
Director and Accountant
I worked in the private sector in finance and accountancy until aged 31. I then went on to form my own accountancy practise in 1981. Latterly moving towards part retirement, which involves getting others to do the hard work!
Since childhood I have been associated with choral music and the Anglican church. I have had some marvellous experiences singing in many of our English cathedrals. I have become aware of how much music plays a part in the enjoyment of good mental health and a great sense of camaraderie.
To me music is the sound of gentleness in all its forms.
Creative Director
Jo was brought up and spent thirty years in Greece which gave her a love of travel all over the world. She has seen how the power of gentleness has been transformative amongst the very poorest people of India when she was running a project in the shanty towns there.
They would be the first in line to promote this amazing etiquette of caring and gentleness that ATOG brings to the world “one hand at a time”.
Living in the UK for the last 21 years while raising her son has allowed Jo to focus more on her art including; drawing, bead embroidery and upcycling Asian textiles. She learnt her love of form, beads and colour from traveling extensively in the Mediterranean, Asia and Australia. She remains on a quest to find ways to create a better, inclusive and more equal world for every living thing.
She currently makes and sells upcycled and new handmade items in her ETSY SHOP.
Also, organic t-shirts from my ‘Leaf people’ shop on Teemill.
Director
I have had so many different interests and my journey of personal discovery started in 1987 when I went to university as a mature student and studied Anthropology. Following this I developed my skills in counselling and trained as an Occupational Therapist.
I have worked with adults with mental health concerns for over twenty years. Along side this in 2003 I started focusing on mind/body and spiritual health and I became a Reiki Master teaching and offering 1: treatment session.
Currently I combine my Reiki practice with making soap. I am also a keen cyclist and the co-ordinator for Unique who offer cycling to an all-ability group of people, which I am very proud to be part of.
I am delighted to be part of A Touch of Gentleness and look forward to using my skills and interests in supporting Helen and the organisation.
Director
Having worked in the corporate world for large multinationals for a number of years, Mitch moved into development and training in 2019. First, working independently, then forming Dolphinblue as a partnership in 2017.
Dolphinblue now has 6 partners and a team of associates providing learning & organisational development for individuals and companies around the world.
Mitch lives near Brighton with his partner and their two dogs and when not travelling and working they enjoy long walks on the Downs, playing tennis and spending time with friends and their grown up sons.
Regional Coordinator and Trainer
Mathilde is a wellbeing practitioner and coach with over 25 years of experience facilitating workshops across community, private, education and healthcare sectors.
Passionate about body awareness, resilience, interpersonal skills and mindful technology use, she is committed to creating meaningful connections and fostering a nurturing, dynamic, learning environment.
As a volunteer and certified trainer for A Touch of Gentleness, Mathilde empowers participants to confidently embrace massage and listening skills, believing deeply in the transformative power of gentleness to enhance physical, mental, emotional and social health.
Outside of her professional activity, she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, pottering in the garden, spending time with her family and friends and writing short stories.
Mathilde brings warmth, curiosity, honesty and a touch of humor to everything she does.
All our team understand not only the inter-relationship between our physical and emotional health but also the interplay between our personal wellbeing, our environments and communities.
You can read more about their vision here
NB. A Touch of Gentleness does not visit individual homes and always works in visiblity of others.
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