Ali Sparkes
Organisation(s)
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Overview
During her ten-year teaching career, Ali taught on a diverse range of Art and Design courses from Level 2 to Level 4, with an age range of 16 up to adult learners. Additionally, Ali provided pastoral support to students and staff as required, which led to her working with a Mental Health Charity as Education Services Manager. In this role Ali managed a number of projects including an evening Drop-In Service for children and young people offering early interventions, counselling and creative activities. Ali also developed and ran a project, supporting education settings to develop a Whole School Approach to emotional health and wellbeing. Based around established best practice, this work involved Primary and Secondary Schools, Special Schools and FE Colleges. The settings were supported through an asset-based assessment to identify strengths and areas for development in their wellbeing provision. This was followed up with action planning and implementation through a programme of bespoke training to meet each setting’s need.
Ali has broad and wide-ranging experience of developing and delivering training in all areas mental health and wellbeing relating to children and young people. Working with Service Providers, CCGs, Mental Health and Education Authority Leads, has supported the establishment of the Tameside Mental Health in Education Steering Group, and worked to improve the mental health and wellbeing provision of education settings in a number of regions across Greater Manchester.