Meet the team

Mark Ash (Employment Job Coach & Sessional Lecturer )

I joined MINT in 2017, bringing with me a background in Young People’s Services, Drug and Alcohol Support, and the Probation Service. Over the years, I’ve supported young people in various capacities - from helping them move into employment to supporting them to find emergency accommodation.

A big part of my role at MINT involves engaging with local employers, promoting the valuable work we do, and building strong partnerships to create opportunities for the young people we support.

Outside of work, I enjoy collecting vinyl records and spending quality time with my wife and our two daughters.

Sarah Bird (Employment Job Coach & Sessional Lecturer)

I joined MINT in March 2013 as an Employment Job Coach and during this time I have enjoyed supporting young people into employment through tailored 1:1’s, creating and delivering employability-based workshops, arranging work experience opportunities, job coaching, in work support, creating and delivering sessions for pre-employment projects and Work Skills.

I have completed various qualifications since joining City College Norwich including the L5 Teaching Diploma in July 2020 and most recently TSI training (Teaching Systematic Instruction). In addition to my Employment Job Coach role, I am a Sessional Lecturer and the English Functional Skills tutor at MINT.

In my spare time I enjoy running which I started in January 2020. Since this time, I have completed 4 Half Marathons and countless 10k events. I enjoy cooking and creating new, healthy meals for family in friends. I am married and have a son who has recently completed a Music Business and Entrepreneurship degree and now runs a visual production company in London. I am a huge dog lover, and I have a West Highland Terrier called Maggie who often features in my English Functional Skills content.

Vanessa Ecclestone (Employment Job Coach & Sessional Lecturer)

I joined Mint in 2023 and have previously worked as a primary school teacher and learning support assistant at City College Norwich. I have a PGCE in Primary Teaching and Award in Education and Training for Further Education.  I like the variety of the Employment Job Coach role, especially seeing the progress of our young people, gaining confidence and experiencing different workplaces.  I deliver the Hospitality Pre-Employment project working with young people interested in hospitality.

In my spare time I enjoy walking my dog in the countryside and spending time with my family. I also enjoy dance and music.

Kerry Green (Employment Job Coach & Sessional Lecturer)

I’ve been part of the MINT team for three years, and I genuinely enjoy the work I do. Supporting young people as they build confidence and take steps toward employment is incredibly rewarding. Each year, I work on the 12-week Customer Service Project, which offers fantastic opportunities for our MINT participants to develop key skills, gain confidence, and take part in valuable work experience placements.

I also run the Supported Internships programme, where I work closely with employers to create meaningful placement opportunities for our young people. These internships help participants build valuable work skills, boost their confidence, and increase their chances of securing paid employment. It’s a fantastic way to open doors and support their journey into the world of work.

Once every half term, I take a group to Sheringham Park for conservation work. It’s a brilliant way to combine practical experience with the benefits of being outdoors in the fresh air.

I’m a people person and like meeting new faces. Outside of work, I’m part of a drama group and perform in pantomimes every year - they’re great fun! I also enjoy going to the theatre to watch musicals, spending time at the beach, and travelling whenever I can. I love hiking and will take any excuse to get outdoors, whether for work or pleasure.

Jan Maddix (Employment Job Coach Coordinator & Sessional Lecturer)

I joined MINT in 2017 after many years of experience in coaching employability skills across a range of settings. I hold a degree in Sociology and, during my time at MINT, achieved a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training.

Over the years, my role at MINT has evolved. Alongside job coaching our young people, I now also teach Maths Functional Skills and coordinate the provision - managing referrals and providing line management support to our Employment Job Coaches.

Outside of work, I am a keen music fan and enjoy going to gigs and festivals as well as collecting vinyl. I also follow sports such as football, snooker, and boxing, and love spending time with my family.

Gloria Termini (Employment Job Coach & Sessional Lecturer)

I joined City College Norwich in 2016 and since then I have developed my skills in coaching and mentoring, teaching and training, gaining qualifications and experience that enable me to support young people to discover their potential and to build their career paths.

I am passionate about empowering young people and broadening horizons, creating opportunities for them to reflect on their own strengths and to step out of their comfort zones.

I bring valuable experience from the retail, creative arts and wellbeing fields, and enjoy teaching students the essential skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

I have a particular interest in supporting individuals facing mental health challenges or low self-esteem, helping them to develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills, and to overcome personal barriers and gain the confidence needed to step into the world of work. I am committed to supporting students with learning difficulties, helping them find strategies and alternative solutions to facilitate their learning process and to achieve their job goals.

Outside work, I enjoy working on sustainable fashion projects, creating fine art, live music events, wellbeing activities, travelling and spending time with family and friends.