Meet our chief Executive

 Hi I am Kathryn and I am a family coach. When I talked to Tammi and heard her vision for the CUBE I was filled with excitement around the potential the project could have.  It is so encouraging to see many people and groups come together to support this work.  As someone who has been working in and around the  Vale of Glamorgan for a few years now, I can see the demand and know of the positive impact this will have on those who make use of the facilities and what is on offer. I work with families and children to support their emotional wellbeing. My focus is on nurturing the relationships and helping improve communication between children/young people and their primary care giver, with the confidence to talk about what they maybe struggling with.  I support families, parents, carers, and adults working with children and young people by equipping them with the tools and skills necessary to have open, honest and empathic conversations, to support mental health.  What I provide for the people I work with is the confidence in themselves and how to approach situations, skills to support any challenges they face and the knowledge to make empowering, conscientious decisions and equipping them with tools and skills that best support them.  The centre being set up is inspiring and there is so much I want to bring to the community of the Vale. I will also be looking to support children and young people with courses around emotional awareness, anxiety and mental health, as well as supporting parents and care givers to understand what is happening and meet their emotional needs.   As well as being a coach trained in NLP, TLT and Hypnosis, I am also trained in trauma and mental health, wellbeing programmes such as children’s yoga, Relax Kid's, Drawing and Talking and am a trained holistic therapist and I have worked with children all my life. I am a mum to 2 boys and a wife. I volunteer for crisis helpline, and I run parent support groups.   I have lived in the Vale of Glamorgan all my life. I love the community, the spirit and support people provide every day in our area and to be part of this innovative project is magical.  

  CUBE – Community United Barry 4 Everyone Cube is an idea and a dream that is slowly taking shape into something more tangible. So I feel it’s a good time to explain and consider my part in the journey and evolution of Cube. Tammi and I, in many ways, formed the seed of what became CUBE, when we started running the Heroes men’s group in 2011. As well as Heroes, there was Pattern Changing for women living with abuse and the Early Intervention Program (EIP) couples work, for couples experiencing domestic violence and abuse. We realised then that what was needed was a whole family approach, not just the separate programs and interventions. Without a joined up approach, you could work with say a female who was displaying abusive behaviour, but unless her partner was aware of what work and changes she was undergoing, the issues of trust and safety were not really being addressed. So the CUBE now offers a whole family approach and all family members with interconnecting issues such as substance misuse and mental illness. As well as my knowledge, experience and skill set as qualified Life Coach and trainer, I look forward to building a portfolio of products – interventions and programs - that will enable Cube to provide early intervention in domestic abuse as well as support with mental health and additions. These programs and interventions will also help with financial income for the Cube, which is important as the aim is to ultimately have Cube as a self-sufficient entity, run for local people, by local people.  It’s also exciting to be able to work with people directly, which is what I’m passionate about. This can take the form of organising inhouse training, for example upskilling staff, as well as playing a part in enabling volunteers to gain confidence in being a part of the support structure at Cube. Other aspects include working directly with Cube attendees where needed, building a coaching and/or therapeutic relationship - providing early intervention and support. There is always something to learn, and with the wealth of knowledge and experience within Cube, I look forward to collaborations and idea sharing with other members of the team. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to be part of something that allows creativity and caring to be front and centre in the work place. I have worked as a freelancer for most of my working life, and although that does allow more individuality than most jobs, it can also feel quite isolated. Having a team that shares a vision, as well as different but complimentary skill sets, while having creative freedom, seems to me to be a perfect mix. Exciting times.Max Chadwick  

  I am excited about the Cube, it is a carefully planned network, that will support individuals who are going through a hard time and help them to turn their lives around. I have been working in Community Arts for over 20 years ago I have worked with vulnerable individuals and groups of different ages and backgrounds. Through the arts we create a safe and trauma sensitive environment and provide opportunities for individuals to express themselves, improve their self-esteem and well-being. I am looking forward to being a part of this amazing project and to working with people like Tammi who are experienced and passionate and are making a real difference to so many.