Meet the Team
Lisa Digby
Participation Worker
I cannot imagine a better organisation to work for than v i s y o n as it embraces my core belief in ‘activating the potential of young people.’ It is and always has been – my vision to use creativity to enhance children and young people’s wellbeing. My role as Participation worker enables me to fullfil this vision.
In my role, I co-ordinate and manage the Creative Space Project, empowering the staff, facilitators and volunteers to fullfil the ambitious, creative aims of the Creative Space Project.
My background skills in, project management, teaching and coaching give me the skills to lead this project to great heights!
Working at v i s y o n on the Creative Space Project is inventive and absolute. I look forward to further embracing the strategic overview, as well as empowering the project to inspire the young people to reach their full potential.
Gary Monaghan
Youth Worker
I am a youth worker with Visyon and a member of the creative space team.
For the past 20 years I have been running workshops for all ages and abilities in dance, drama, percussive movement and sand sculpture.
I believe everyone has the opportunity and ability to shine from where they are and with what they have by shifting their perception of how things should be to how things could be.
I learn through personal experience and an inquisitive mind and devote my time to sharing that notion working with Visyon, with my own workshops and in my daily life.
I am a great believer in self and that true change comes from within. (Clarity begins at home!)
See you at the next Creative Space Workshop!!
Rachel Roberts
Youth Worker
I am a part-time Youth Worker with the Creative Space Team in Visyon. I joined Visyon in February 2010 after 4 years working as a Learning Mentor supporting young people in a variety of settings such as one to one and group workshops. I support the young people I engage with using a person centred approach allowing them to be empowered in making their own decisions reinforcing their autonomy and independence; this is a role that I still hold and one that I feel will enrich the work I do at Visyon.
I have a degree in Creative Arts and I always work with a friendly, non-judgmental approach to life. I feel that I am energetic, passionate and totally committed to projects. I have ‘bags’ of enthusiasm for the arts [and life] and strive to develop workshops that are motivating and solution orientated with an element of fun, fun, fun!
Melodie Forrester
Outreach Worker
Melodie is a skilled and experienced professional vocalist who has a real passion for music, creativity and the arts. She loves to motivate and inspire others and takes a sensitive, nurturing and holistic approach to her work. Melodie hopes to provide young people with the opportunties, skills and tools to recognise and embrace emotional wellbeing whilst raising confidence and aspirations, and to truly bring out the best in those she engages with.
Chris Godber
Admin / IT
I am the admin assistant for creative space, and I am also responsible for keeping the website up to date with the latest pictures, videos and news from the Creative Space project.
My background is in IT having studied it at university and college, but I am also passionate about the arts, and am a painter/ fine artist myself. I think the creative space project demonstrates that harnessing creativity can aid in dealing with the issues young people face, and can prove to be therapeutic as well as fun.
My job is rather mixed, one day I might be editing videos or updating the website, the next I might be supporting one of the youth workers or facilitators in workshops. Not long ago I supported Jacki Clark who is one of our facilitators in art workshops dealing with safe ways to express anger, which was really fun and good experience , and it also gave me more confidence in running workshops.
Daniel Rossin
Facilitator
My name is Dan and I’m a facilitator with creative space. I have taught young people ICT and Media Production for many years. I hope to use my knowledge to create fun and interactive workshops for the young people at Visyon. Digital video production is an area that I love to be really creative in. I enjoy making short films and teaching young people to express themselves creatively in this way.
My favourite sport is windsurfing. I have been windsurfing since my teens. I really enjoy being in control of a craft that is powered by the wind and I find the sport exhilarating and fun. I also enjoy the great outdoors and love being out in the countryside. Walking and doing activities on lakes and rivers such as rowing and canoeing are activities that I find enjoyable and memorable.
John Lindley
Facilitator
John Lindley is a freelance poet and creative writing tutor. An experienced performer,he has read at Ledbury Poetry Festival and at the Buxton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.
He runs poetry and songwriting workshops for writers’ groups, festivals and in prisons, schools, universities, youth clubs and day care centres, as well as for those with learning difficulties. Widely published and a prizewinner in a number of national competitions, his poetry has also been broadcast on radio. His latest collection is The Casting Boat (Headland).
He was appointed 'Cheshire Poet Laureate' in 2004 and 'Manchester Cathedral Poet of the Year' in 2010.
John Skilling
Volunteer Faciliator
I am an inspiring and creative individual taking pride in bringing joy to the people I meet.
I am passionate about many artistic things, ranging from t-shirt making to composing music inmy spare time. I believe that exploring creative mediums through art, drama, movement andvoice has huge potential in bringing out the best assets in any individual.
Being a keen pianist with a background in theatre, multi-media and a degree in Performing Arts I have devoted my life to showbiz and 'razzle dazzle' and now enjoy nothing more than helping develop these skills in others.
Elizabeth Clarke
Facilitator
Liz is a counsellor, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist with a background in purchasing, training and organisational change. In addition to her private practice she runs workshops, facilitated groups, team days, labyrinth walks and psychological programmes.
Mark Robinson
Facilitator
I'm new to the creative space team at v i s y o n but very much looking forward to helping develop the project and reaching out to young people in order for them to fulfil their potential. With a passion for music I have been lucky - within my many roles as a profesionally qualified Youth Worker I am fortunate enough to have had over 20 years experience of work with young people in a variety of community settings including coordinating different media projects such as film making, music projects and DJ/Mc Workshops.
I embrace the Creative Space projects aim of promoting the emotional well being for "all" young people through its variety of creative methods and enjoy witnessing young peoples progress through their participation. Much of my work has been with young people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves at the margins of society. Seeing them excel and develop their own potential and confidence and self esteem through creative innovative projects is not only rewarding, but quite often inspiring.
Leah Teasdale
Volunteer
Hi I’m Leah Teasdale, volunteer admin of Creative Space. I joined the group last September to boost my self confidence, and to meet people and share my skills.
Being a full time mum of a young child and stepmother of a 13 year old is not easy; I felt the needs of adult interactions and doing something for myself without letting anyone down.
Volunteering suits me at this time while my young child is not yet in full time education.
I’m quite lucky to be part of Creative Space where the people are so friendly, busy and have a good sense of humour. Seeing them every week puts a different smile on my face….
Michael R. Beddard
Part – Time Volunteer Mentor
Following a recent break in employment on health grounds, I joined VISYON as a part time volunteer, to assist Creative Space with their Mentoring Services.
My previous experience over my working career, has involved, working in various roles within the Libraries and Museums Service, Education, Civil Protection, Facilities Management, Health and Safety and TNG / DWP Outreach Schemes. All of these roles helped me acquire the frontline skills needed to assist young people, to obtain information and guidance to firstly overcome their social barriers, and then in most cases help them towards education and employment. Some young people simply need someone to talk to about their concerns and aspirations. Others need that extra helping hand towards improving their current situation and signposting.
I am truly inspired by the wonderful young people we are working with, and hope, through their time and experience spent with the Creative Space team, that they glean something of a spark which leads to better opportunities in their lives, and goes some way towards achieving their dreams.
Michelle Murray
Volunteer
I became a volunteer on the Creative Space Team last year, as I wanted to work with young people in a creative and safe environment, whilst at the same time give something back to my local community.
I love outdoor activities such walking, running and mountain biking. Anything really that gets me outside and amongst nature. I have a passion for sculpture and art having studied both a long time ago. I would like to explore how items collected in nature could be used in creating sculptures.
My highlight so far has been going on weekend residential to an outdoor centre in the Peak District with a group of young people. The experience was fantastic in terms of seeing people develop and grow in confidence.
Jane Burton
Volunteer
I became a volunteer with Creative Space in 2010 after learning about their work at a Barclays Bank fun day. I have always enjoyed creative activities myself and think it is the perfect medium for young people to express themselves when they feel unable to do so in other ways.
My background is in 20 years of NHS clinical work and I am now a trainee counsellor and have my own events organising company. I enjoy meeting and mentoring the children and helping them increase their self awareness and self esteem to enhance their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Fiona Mallinson
Facilitator
Fiona originally trained as a teacher. She has over 20 years experience supporting the development of community groups and projects. She is a qualified counsellor, experienced group work facilitator and is currently studying for a Diploma in Life Coaching. Fiona has very much enjoyed working as part of Visyon’s Creative Space Project over the last year. Her approach emphasises building positive, empowering relationships with children and young people which support and enable them to realise their full potential.
Andrew Small, Assistant Website Administrator
Hey guys, my names Andrew , or Andy if you prefer and my role ,as a volunteer, within the creative space team is assistant website administrator. This involves surfing the digital waves that make up the web help to spread the word that is visyon. The remainder of my time is spent helping Chris , the head website administrator, maintaining the visyon website to make it’s as good as it can be and ,more importantly, uploading the amazing stuff that you guys get to create through the creative space workshops!!!