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History

Potential Mentoring was founded by Kelly Oyebola, Social Worker and Ex-Probation Officer. With over 15 years experience and having worked with some of the most serious offenders in the UK, Kelly knew he would have a greater impact if he was able to work with young people who were on the verge of offending as well as those who had already offended. He believes that 'if we are to stem the flow of young people on a path of self destruction we must start on them before they reach the point of no return'. During his last position with a Youth Offending Team (YOT), Kelly decided it was time to take the step - he knew he would have a greater impact by working alongside the established agencies to provide some of the services he had identified as missing.
He founded Potential Mentoring, a community interest company in November 2006 to work with 5-19 year olds at risk of social exclusion, offending, re-offending, gang membership, being expelled or excluded from primary school, secondary school or college. All Potential's services are delivered by qualified paid professionals and centre on 'behaviour and risk'. Although Potential works primarily with those young people who have already offended it is anticipated that this will change as it becomes more widely accepted that it is unwise to wait for the horse to bolt before an attempt is made to close the gate!
As a service provider Potential works on self esteem, life skills, anger management, drug and alcohol awareness, sexual health awareness and knife/gun awareness and all aspects of communication. Referring agencies include schools, social services, local authorities etc. Programmes are tailored to meet the needs of each individual and include 1:1 mentoring sessions and group work when appropriate.

All staff undergo an enhanced CRB security check and receive regular individual and group supervision.

The Team

Our team consists of qualified and highly experienced professionals with over 50 years combined social work and probation officer experience along with a further 30 years coaching, mentoring and training experience
Kelly Oyebola, Founder ...
Norma Hosten-McDavid is a Social Worker and Ex-Probation Officer. She has a Masters Degree in Criminology, Youth Justice and Community Safety and 15 years experience as a practitioner in several fieldwork settings, working with high risk offenders, group work, child protection and young offenders ...
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Paula Brown is a CIPD qualified training professional, she is a facilitator and project manager. She is a certified coach, mentor and NLP practitioner. Paula has over 15 years people development, course design and delivery experience...
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Teresa Pecco has had an interest in working in a community setting since her early twenties. She has been an active member of community and voluntary organisations since the mid eighties working with young and old Afro Caribbean members of the community and helping them to be proactive to build services needed to enrich their community and everyday lives...
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Melanie English is a qualified Life Coach and NLP Practitioner. Melanie works with individuals to give them greater clarity and understanding of their current situation and to create realistic plans for their future...
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Samuel Campbell is employed as a Project Support Manager for an IT Consultancy. He has a degree in Software Engineering and has spent many years encouraging and working within various teams to ensure that goals are achieved...
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Emmanuelle Namiech is Director of Acquisitions and Co-productions at Granada International, an ITV subsidiary. She is responsible for the overall management and growth of Granada International's programming portfolio...
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Greg Powell has degrees in Law and Psychology and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1973. The senior partner of Powell Spencer and Partners since 1977, a leading community legal aid practice in London...
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John Bird, Founder and Editor-In-Chief, The Big Issue John Bird, was a poor boy, orphan, thief, inmate, artist and poet before going on to found the ground-breaking social initiative that is The Big Issue. He was born shortly after the Second World War to a London-Irish family into slum-ridden Notting Hill. Homelessness, orphanages, crime and prison characterised much of his early life until his metamorphosis into a successful small businessman occurred in the 1980s...
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Nigel Kershaw, CEO/Chairman, Big Issue Invest/Big Issue Nigel is CEO of Big Issue Invest and Chairman of The Big Issue and advocate of social enterprises that offer business and financial solutions to social problems...
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