about

Kelly

Kelly is passionate about raising awareness of mental health and giving people a space to share their lived experience and build confidence talking about mental health with others. Kelly deeply understands the pressures of working in a corporate commercial environment and in the hospitality sector. Growing up in a pub, Kelly and her siblings felt first-hand the challenges of working in a competitive and demanding customer facing environment. Work and home were the same, literally. Long hours, late nights, tough competition and easy access to flowing alcohol had a negative impact on Kelly’s and her families mental health. Kelly left the hospitality sector in her twenties, attended counselling for almost a year and then built a career as a lawyer in global tech and telco businesses. Kelly didn’t tell anyone about her mental health issues or counselling due to her own fear of being judged. Some years later Kelly expanded her career by moving into an EMEA wide management role. In 2017 Kelly’s brother who struggled with serious mental health issues attempted to end his life. Kelly supported him with his mental health until he ended his life in 2020. During these years Kelly started conversations with her team and colleagues about her own and her brothers mental health and was humbled and shocked at how many people shared their mental health issues, many of whom had never spoken about their mental health at work previously. After her brother died by suicide, Kelly retrained as a MHFA Instructor and a Professional Coach and is committed to giving people the skills, tools and language to start conversations about mental health and build their own resilience.

Today Kelly brings Mental Health First Aid to a number of hospitality clients including restaurants and bar groups including Wagamama and Escapism Bar Group and global corporate clients including CBRE. In her spare time Kelly is a volunteer listener with the Samaritans and enjoys mindful hiking, running, yoga and gardening.

Accreditation

Accredited by Mental Health First Aid England and the Royal Society for Public Health to deliver:

Adult Two Day Mental Health First Aid (Face to Face & Online)
Adult One Day Mental Health First Aid (Champion 1 day course for Line Managers)
Adult Half-Day Mental Health Aware
Adult Refresher Course

Plus

Professional Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation
Volunteer Trained Listener with the Samaritans
Level 2 Counselling Skills (CPCAB)

Other Qualifications