Founded in 2014 by Mental Health Nurse Sue Altass and Social Worker Hannah Cheshire. Inspire Ignite was set up with the aim of making a real difference to mental health by working with young people to encourage personal development, confidence, and self-esteem.
Sue and Hannah recognised through their years of working in statutory and voluntary sector mental health and addiction services that a lot of mental well-being issues encountered in later life are preventable if self-esteem and confidence are developed earlier.
They have created programmes that schools and colleges can use for all their children and young people, to help them understand what makes them tick, and learn how to make choices that have a positive impact on their well-being and the student’s future.
Sue has an extensive background of working in mental health, counseling and coaching, both adults and children. Sue’s gift is in helping children who find school challenging, to succeed.
The Inspiration for Inspire Ignite came from 20 years working in the NHS developing Mental Health services. The motivation to translate her experience and knowledge into workshops for students/ teachers and parents came from a desire to reach out to help more people than she could do in person.
Sue was raised in a small farming community, which she left to travel the world she soon realized her passion for meeting and supporting people and projects was where her skills lay. On returning to the UK after several years she started her Mental Health Nurse Training, she went on to train for the next 10years in various techniques and models of working in the health sector. Her last post was as Head of Custodial Health Care Services which covered a variety of health initiatives and new services. Inspire-Ignite brings together her knowledge and the well-being tools developed by a team of experts, whilst the blog explores resources and information that she shares in the workshops.
Sue holds a Bsc (hons) in Specialist Community Mental Health, is near completion of her Masters in Strategic Health, a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. She has a foundation degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy, NLP, Family Therapy and Dealing with Drug and Alcohol abuse. Sue is registered with the ENB (English National Board) for nursing and a member of BACP (British Counseling and Psychotherapy)
Fascinated and passionate by how a combination of psychological and learning techniques can influence the next generation in being confident, self-aware, motivated leaders of change she works with schools both Primary and Secondary in helping students believe in their abilities.
Sue and Hannah joined forces and developed Inspire-Ignite. Sue is also the co-owner of a mental health practice that supports people who require Mental Health Capacity Assessments and provides specialist training and One-to-One support and supervision/mentoring for professionals working with vulnerable adults; Altass-Cheshire.co.uk
“I am motivated to ensure inclusion is at the heart of all we do when working with everyone we work with. Supporting people to realise their potential, and find their inner strength is a core role within Inspire-Ignite”
Hannah qualified as a social worker in 2000 from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. She has worked within the field of Social Inclusion since 2000. Initial working as a Specialist Drugs Worker for Commercial Sex Workers and progressing in her career into management over the next 5 years when she became the Head of Service – Hull Social Inclusion for City HealthCare Partnership in 2005.
In 2011 she became the senior manager for the Hull Addictions Recovery Service and began the journey of understanding the Recovery Agenda and the potential it holds for adults and their families. In 2013 Hannah successful attained a Master’s Degree in Health and Social Care Management and Leadership from Hull University, and joined Sue Altass in co-founding Inspire-Ignite; an organisation that supports and encourages a transition to enable progression and learning.
Hannah’s’ drive and passion for social inclusion come from a core belief that people are equal, (irrelevant of differences) and should have equality and quality in service provision and education. Acknowledging that services and education needs to be provided by motivated, knowledgeable and professional staff. Hannah’s commitment to InspireIgnite’s mission comes from her desire to support young people in transitions.
Hannah states that: ‘to be a part of a young person’s transition is rewarding; supporting them to grow is inspiring. Given the skills to change and the knowledge about themselves, young people can make incredible changes that will support transitional phases throughout their lives.’
Hannah is also the co-owner of a mental health practice that supports people who require Mental Health Capacity Assessments and provides specialist training and One-to-One support and supervision/mentoring for professionals working with vulnerable adults; Altass-Cheshire.co.uk
