Meet Bradley Jones, our Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer in Student Services!
Introducing Bradley, our dedicated Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer! Bradley plays an invaluable role at the College, offering essential advice and guidance to students as they navigate their mental health and wellbeing.
Bradley has a genuine passion for supporting others, which saw him join the Additional Learning Support team at the college over two years ago. Now, as the Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer, Bradley ensures a supportive culture of wellbeing among staff and students alike.
As part of his role, Bradley offers well-being sessions to students, which he describes as a less formal version of a counselling session. He also shares the College’s tools and resources to help students manage their wellbeing before they hit crisis point.
However, Bradley’s role at the College is also very personal to him, as he was inspired to pursue this career path after losing his older brother, who took his own life 5 years ago.
Bradley said: “My brother was my hero, someone I always looked up to. After losing him, I wanted to give back to the community.
“Years ago, I always wanted to come into the college to do talks, and now I do it. It doesn’t feel like work. It’s rewarding, a part of who I am.
“Working alongside heightened emotions can be tough at times, but the reward from the job is unbelievable. My story has turned into a career.”
When asked about working at the College, Bradley said: “The best part is the staff. They are so friendly, genuine, and authentic. Everyone is really themselves, and so supportive.
“It’s different to anywhere I’ve ever worked before – and you are constantly learning from different areas. It’s a brilliant working environment, and you are massively supported by your team. There are also lots of different progression routes and qualifications you can pick up along the way!”
Alongside his role at the College, Bradley is currently studying to become a Counsellor with Teesside University and is now just one year away from being fully qualified. He has also founded ‘Man Club’ at the College, encouraging men to speak up about Mental Health in areas where they don’t usually speak up.
In his spare time, Bradley loves football, hiking, the lakes, festivals, and kayaking!