Catherine McHugh: Founder and Director of Community First Coaching Personal beliefs and values: My name is Catherine Mc Hugh and I am the Founder of Community First Coaching (formally The Belfast Coach Academy) BSc Hons Social Welfare, Dip Social policy, Dip, LBCAI. I have always been conscious of the many social enequalities (barriers) that exist within society which may pre-dispose people to poor mental health, under-achievement, apathy, addiction -and to have lower expectations as to what they 'believe' they can and can not achieve. This has led me to create a unique, community led and solution focused approach to challange these barriers and effectively support all people in raising their expectations, goals and achievments in life.      I have handpicked a team of specialist coaches who each bring their own expertise, career/life experiences to bring the beneifts of professional coaching to the heart of peoples lives and the community where we believe it is most needed. Contact Catherine at: communityfirst@live.co.uk Mob: 07725 582 158

Solution Focused Coaching

Jean McBride: Community Development Coach & OCN Co-ordinator Persomal beliefs and values: Jean is one of our founder coach trainers, specialising in the field of family welfare and care. Jean has co-written several courses aimed at empowering some of the most socially disadvantaged people including those whose lives are affected by poverty, homelessness,  addiction and recovery. Jean attended Queens university to gain a certificate in therapeutic hypnotherapy, she is an accredited drug/alcohol practitioner, and is presently working towards a degree in community development at Jordanstown. Jean works with clients on a one to one basis to help them improve and stabilise their lives, as well as delivering our diverse range of courses.  Contact Jean at communityfirst2@live.co.uk

Solution Focused Coaching

Davina Hawkins: Lead Coach Tutor Community Empowerment Personal beliefs and values: Davina Hawkins is one of our drug/alcohol recovery coaches and founder trainer with Community First Coaching having over six years experience in delivering our wide range of community and youth group courses. Davinas passion is supporting people who for whatever reason feel they have underachieved in life, helping individuals to identify the barriers that hold them back in their life and supporting each person to recoginse and value who they are, what they want - and how to take the first steps in creating meaningful and powerful life change. Davina has a natural skill of putting people at ease and is very passionate about the benefits of coaching.

Solution Focused Coaching

Ruth Heaney: Associate Coach Personal beliefs and values: Ruth Heaney is our youth life coach BA Hons in English and Drama, MA in Theatre Education. Ruth employs the use of drama as a means of exploration for change, life balance and fulfilment. However Ruth states that ‘youth’ also means helping you to recover that feeling of vitality, animation and light in your life. In conjunction with this Ruth works with groups, organisations and individuals of all ages, providing them with the tools to achieve that much wished for motivation to change their life for the better, not tomorrow, next week or next month, but today by offering participants dynamic tools and fresh perspectives. “we don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are”.

Solution Focused Coaching

Pat Scott: Associate Coach Personal beliefs and values: Pat has worked for over 30years as a health professional and has a 1st class Honours degree from QUB. Pat is currently involved in personal and relationship development training providing pre-marriage and marriage courses in the local community. Pat is also a trained mediator and uses these skills in both relationship and work mediation. "I could best be described as a people person and I am passionate about working alongside individuals to empower them to move forward and achieve their goals whilst maintaining motivation and integrity."

Solution Focused Coaching

Cindy Mackey Associate Coach Personal Beliefs and Values: Cindy is experienced in the management, design and delivery of training and personal development in both the Public and Private sector. She also has experience as a Further Education College lecturer in the delivery of Management related subjects. Cindy's specialist areas of consultancy and expertise within Community First Coaching are Diversity and Leadership. As a qualified Coach she has mentored individuals seeking to develop their leadership skills towards promotion in their workplace and clients seeking to address and develop their ‘people based skills’. Cindy has a special interest in Youth issues having served on various statutory committees such as Children’s Services Planning, aligned to this she is involved in a voluntary role as a Mentor for the Prince’s Trust and a member of a city centre management committee in a project addressing the needs of Homeless and vulnerable young people.