Hayley Stanton
Welcome back, Michele!
We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of Team Quiet, Michele Cheesman. Michele has been involved in Quiet Connections from the very beginning, working alongside Hayley to bring this little acorn of an idea to life! She’s been on quite the adventure since then, and we are delighted that she has chosen to return to Quiet Connections in 2022!
Michele will be the Quiet Community Coordinator and a Coach. She takes over from Ellie, who is dedicating more time to university studies this year, and she will be focused on running social gatherings and… setting up our in-person community groups, just like you have asked for! Woohoo!
So, if you have requests or suggestions regarding social gatherings, or you’re keen to get involved by volunteering or attending, Michele is your go-to lady and you can reach her here. In the meantime, you can get to know a little of Michele’s story…
Hi! I’m Michele,
Throughout my life, my friends told me that I’m a good listener. People I would have just met would say that they had said more to me in that brief time than they had ever said to anyone! This may be the reason I had always wanted to become a counsellor.
But from an early age I’d experienced social anxiety. I would skip school (which of course got me into trouble). I rebelled, going down a path of using alcohol as an extravert mask.
I often found myself feeling like I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. This was me from the age of 15 to 18 years old.
A turning point was when I met my now husband. He had just joined the military, and something sparked in me to want to grow into the person I knew I could be. We moved away from where I had grown up, and I was able to reimagine myself!
Four children later, and with the confidence and inspiration nurtured alongside them, I began educational courses to gain the qualifications needed to apply for university. I started university as a mature student at the age of 33; gaining a BA Honors Degree in Counselling Studies and studied for 2 years as an Occupational Therapist.
Since then, I have found my passions and am adding to them regularly. They all include metaphorically walking alongside individuals offering emotional and practical mental health and wellbeing support; as a group facilitator, one to one support, volunteer coordinator, fundraising organiser, workshop facilitator, and 24-hour crisis service worker, and as a ‘train the trainer’ to enable others to teach the Five Ways of Wellbeing… just to name a few. I also have a diploma in NLP and certifications in Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Intervention Skills.
I have just returned from spending an amazing 3 years in America, with my husband who was deployed over there.
I am delighted to be reacquainted with the lovely Hayley who I worked alongside as a volunteer at the very beginning of Quiet Connections. I am overjoyed to become a part of QC again as it is blossoming into the much-needed support system for quieter and socially anxious people like myself and I am looking forward to quietly connecting with you!
Interested in attending a Quiet Meet Up in Cornwall?
Sign up to receive notifications about events in your area below…
