Steve Tindall

CEO of Bee-lieve Foundation

Bee-lieve Foundation was established in 2020 to celebrate my 30th year as a teacher. The charity is my way of trying to give a little extra back to support young people and their families.

When I hatched the plan to set up the charity in the summer of 2019, little did I know that the forthcoming academic year would turn out to be the strangest and most difficult of my entire teaching career. The coronavirus pandemic that swept across the world saw schools closed and the country in lock down. Suddenly the need to focus on the mental health & wellbeing of young people magnified exponentially. At Bee-lieve Foundation we want to make a positive difference to the lives and life chances of young people.

As a teacher, my greatest passion has always been turning negatives into positives, turning perceived problems into successes. I have always been a strong advocate of a positive ‘can do’ mind set, of challenging children to bravely step out of their comfort zone then supporting and praising them every step of the way. There is nothing more special in teaching than witnessing that moment when a child transfers from ‘I can’t do it’ to the smile and excitement which shows they now believe they can.
High levels of self-esteem, being valued, a feeling of connection & belonging are essential elements of good mental health and these ultimately lead to happiness and success. These values will underpin all the work we do at Bee-lieve Foundation.

As a very proud Northerner, my life-long passions outside of my professional life are rugby league, cricket, hiking in any mountain range I can visit and rock music. When I get a spare minute I also love painting and spending time in my garden.

Mike Meredith

Chair & Trustee

What: I am the Chair of Bee-lieve Foundation and was delighted when Steve asked me to join him on this mission. The work is linked to my day job too – I work within the NHS to improve clinical services for those who need to use them.

Why: three reasons –

1. have first hand experience of the huge and growing need for children’s mental health and well-being;

2. When an inspirational public servant asks for help, I like to say yes (then figure it out!);

3. Reading feedback of those who have benefited for our help so far makes it all worthwhile.

Niamh Hunter

Trustee

Surrey born and bred, with a passion for education and continuous learning. My journey began at Salesian School in Chertsey, followed by a dedicated pursuit of primary education studies at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, a university lauded by Ofsted as a top institution for teaching excellence.

As an advocate for holistic education, I embrace diverse experiences. Five years ago, I embarked on a thrilling journey by obtaining my motorbike license, alongside achieving Level 3 certification in British Sign Language.

I was delighted to be invited as a trustee for the Bee-lieve Foundation. I champion the belief that happiness precedes education. My guiding principle emphasises that children’s laughter lays the foundation for fruitful learning experiences.

Beyond the confines of the classroom, I champion the importance of alternative avenues for child development. With a specialisation in physical education and music, I recognise the transformative power of creative learning and physical activity on children’s mental well-being. Highlights of my academic calendar include Sports Day and the annual school production, where students flourish outside traditional academic settings.

Chris Fields

Trustee & Treasurer

I am a Chartered Management Accountant and have held a number of financial controller roles in industry during my career. I currently work for Gatwick Airport Limited as Head of Sales & Operations Planning.

I was a school governor for twelve years and get tremendous satisfaction from making a positive difference in young people’s lives. The work of the Bee-lieve Foundation is critical to help young people deal with the mental pressures that they face.

I am married with three children, an active runner and tennis player and in my youth played rugby for Hong Kong.

Lise Price

Trustee

It’s a privilege to be a Trustee of The Bee-lieve Foundation. I believe early support can make a huge difference in a young person’s life. Mental wellbeing in schools is something I care deeply about, and I’m driven by personal experiences within my own family and as a parent. I understand the importance of creating safe, supportive environments where young people feel seen, heard, and valued. We can make a difference.

I live in Horsell with my husband, Clive, and our daughters Amy & Sophie, plus two dogs, and two cats! Outside of my work with Bee-lieve, I love watching pretty much all sports, with rugby, tennis, and netball topping the list. I’m a regular at my local boot camp, which keeps me healthy and smiling, and I love my garden (when it’s not raining!) I’m an ex ITU nurse, and I previously coached netball with Cardinals Netball Club.

Colin Williams

Trustee

I’ve been a pharma exec for over 30 years now, and an active Board Member of The Pharmaceutical Marketing Society, as well as helping to run a local junior football club and a men’s mental health community group.

Having often battled alone with anxiety in my formative years, I have a true passion for the impact of positive emotional wellbeing. Wonderful organisations such as Bee-lieve can provide the support I never had, and I’m honoured to have the chance to contribute where I can.

Mandy Woodley

Trustee

Mandy Woodley, a former NHS professional and founder of Forget Me Not Travel, is a dedicated Trustee of the Bee-lieve Foundation. She shares a passion for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing, she combines her healthcare background with her commitment to helping others create positive change.
Mandy is proud to help the foundation inspire resilience and hope in young people.

Dr Alison D’Amario

Mental Health Consultant

I am an Educational Psychologist, working for the Xavier Catholic Education Trust.  Within my role I lead a team of Mental Health Champions, train and supervise Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, deliver training and parent workshops, as well as working with children at a group and individual level.   I am proud to be on the editorial advisory board for the NurtureUK publication, The International Journal of Nurture in Education (IJNE), and co-authored ‘Philosophy for Children- The Man In the Moon’ with Dr Tina Rae in 2014.

Whilst I love all of the variety within my role, my passion lies within the area of mental health, so I was beyond delighted when Steve approached me to be involved with the Bee-Lieve Foundation.

Hannah Clark

Mental Health Consultant

As Senior Mental Health Lead for Xavier CET, I have a genuine passion for ensuring emotional wellbeing is at the heart of the culture within every school. Every child has a right to be mentally well; the proactive work championed by Bee-lieve Foundation allows schools to target effective early intervention support for all young people, particularly the most vulnerable.

I am very proud to be part of the Bee-lieve consultancy team

Hannah Russell OBE

Wellbeing Ambassador