Sean Harper, co-founder of Swindon-based Just for Fun Holiday Club, has taken on a new and rewarding challenge. This one as a therapeutic mentor with The Platform Project.
Sean has spent the last 15 years working in education. That’s included leadership positions in secondary schools. He’s now been helping young people navigate emotional challenges by offering tailored support and mentorship.
His work focuses on creating a safe space where young people can express themselves and explore their feelings. That includes issues such as anxiety, self-harm and emotional dysregulation.
Sean Harper Therapeutic Mentor
Wanted to do more
‘After years of working in education, I felt there was more I could do to make a difference in young people’s lives,’ said Sean. ‘The Platform Project allows me to help in a more personal way. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to support young people through their struggles.’
Sean is part of the organisation’s Connect Therapeutic Mentoring programme. It provides one-to-one support for young people aged 11–18. Youngsters who are struggling with emotional and mental health challenges, including Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
Using trauma-informed and attachment-based approaches, the mentoring helps young people to:
better understand their own needs
manage their emotions and build healthier coping strategies.
The Platform Project
The Platform Project is well known for its innovative work in:
enterprise
employability
and personal development. All supporting young people to build confidence, explore career pathways, and take positive next steps in education or work.
‘I work at close quarters with each mentee to find activities that feel right for them,’ Sean said. ‘Some prefer spending time talking, others enjoy getting out and doing something practical. The aim is always the same: to create a space where they feel comfortable, listened to, and able to explore what’s on their mind.’
An education background
Having spent years in various roles within secondary education, including as a welfare manager, Sean brings a wealth of experience to his mentoring. His background in working with children aged 11-18 has equipped him with the tools to navigate a variety of situations. They range from behavioural issues to emotional challenges, enabling him to connect with young people from all walks of life.
Having spent years in various roles within secondary education, including as a welfare manager, Sean brings a wealth of experience to his mentoring. His background in working with children aged 11-18 has equipped him with the tools to navigate a variety of situations. They range from behavioural issues to emotional challenges, enabling him to connect with young people from all walks of life.
‘No two children are the same, so I adapt my approach to suit each individual,’ Sean shared. ‘Sometimes that means drawing from my own life to build connection, other times it’s about helping them see their own progress and strengths. Everyone deserves the chance to grow and feel good about who they are.’
Tony Niester, DSL and Welfare Manager at The Platform Project, commented on Sean’s mentorship with the organisation.
‘Sean joined the Platform last year and became an invaluable team member showing commitment and compassion to the young people he’s working with. He’s always willing to share his knowledge and skills and views all young people through a therapeutic lens. He is a fantastic asset to our team.’
Sean’s involvement with The Platform Project sits well alongside his work with Just for Fun Holiday Club. He co-founded that in 2018. The club was set up to give children a place to feel safe, included, and able to enjoy themselves during the school holidays. In particular those who might not always find that kind of space elsewhere. Whether through holiday activities or mentoring sessions, Sean focuses on making children feel listened to, respected and encouraged to be themselves.
Paralympian Supports Coeliac Awareness. Paralympic champion, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, joins Coeliac UK in their 2025 campaign to raise awareness about coeliac disease.
May is Coeliac Awareness Month. And charity Coeliac UK is running a UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of coeliac disease—an autoimmune condition affecting thousands of people. When someone with coeliac disease ingests gluten, their immune system attacks the small intestine. That damages the gut lining and prevents proper nutrient absorption. Symptoms can be recurrent, persistent or unexplained. They may include fatigue, stomach pain, nausea, anaemia and neurological issues.
Judoka and Paralympic Champion, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, who lives in Wiltshire, received a diagnosis of coeliac disease two years ago.
Paralympian Supports Coeliac Awareness – Chris Hunt-Skelley
Long and winding road
‘It was such a long journey to get to a diagnosis. I was having terrible problems with my gut, using the loo all the time and experiencing pain. Not knowing what was going on was terrifying. To find out I had coeliac disease was, in a sense, a big relief. It felt less scary than other things I was being tested for and it also meant I had an answer,’ said Chris.
This month Chris is joining Coeliac UK in their campaigning for awareness and understanding of coeliac disease. Chris is among many who manage their condition through a strict gluten free diet. He’s sharing his story with Coeliac UK.
‘I hadn’t heard of coeliac disease before my diagnosis. A strict diet isn’t unfamiliar to me because of my athletic career. When it came to training and competitions, I had to take a lot of my own food with me. And that presented some practical challenges. My life has now become completely gluten free.
‘Managing coeliac disease can be challenging, everything I consume must be gluten free. Free-from products are a lot more expensive than the usual products even though you are often paying more for less! I do have access to gluten free prescriptions which helps a lot.
‘As anyone with coeliac disease will know, you have to ask questions consistently when you eat out. And some people don’t go out at all because of the risks of cross -contamination. But you can’t live under a rock.’
‘1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, yet only 36% have a medical diagnosis. This means an estimated 500,000 people are living with symptoms without knowing they have the condition. Our mission this awareness month is to reach the undiagnosed 64%. And encourage them to get tested, helping them take the first steps toward recovery,’ says Derek Roberts, Social Media Officer at Coeliac UK.
Coeliac UK is also highlighting a free online self-assessment, which follows NICE guidelines. To take this online assessment, visit here: https://isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk/
Marlborough Festival Stage Set. Music, comedy, food, drink and entertainment for all ages will take centre stage at this year’s Marlborough Festival.
Running from Friday June 20 to Sunday June 22, the festival takes place around three main venues:
Priory Gardens
The Castle & Ball Hotel and
Marlborough Town Hall.
The Parade Cinema and other local pubs and restaurants are also taking part.
This is the second year of Marlborough Festival. Once again it’s town residents Luke Jackson and Sandra Bhatia behind it. They wanted to bring music back to the town which, in the past,enjoyed regular jazz festivals.
Event organisers
A CIC
Run as a community interest company, Marlborough Festival will build on the success of last year. There’ll be a continuing focus on music, entertainment for all and local food and drink producers.
‘We wanted to continue the theme from last year, of showcasing the best of Marlborough, Wiltshire and the South West. All while offering something that will accommodate everyone in the community’ said Sandra. ‘We want people to come along and join in, because then we can make next year’s even better.
The festival kicks off on Friday June 20, with Hungerford Comedy Club at the Castle & Ball Hotel, who went down a storm at last year’s event.
Events
On Saturday, June 21, there’ll be music at the Priory Gardens in a marquee, headlined by Jay Rayner’s Sextet. Often better known as a food critic, Jay will bring his six-piece band to jazz up the 80s!
Marlborough Festival Stage Set – Poster for Marlborough festival showing Jay Rayner.
There’ll be local food and drink. And, appearing on stage before Jay, will be Gavin Osborn and the Comment Section. They’re followed by The Red Stripe Band and then comes local Sing Space Musical Theatre Choir.
Also during Saturday evening, Castle & Ball Stage supported by BBC Introducing in the West, will showcase new local talent and up and coming performers.
As part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of VE Day, and to honour WWII veterans in Marlborough, a lone RAF Supermarine Spitfire will fly up the length of the high street, on both Saturday and Sunday. Flight times will be confirmed shortly, so keep an eye on the skies!
On Sunday June 22, the Town Hall will run a pop-up cinema, funded by the British Film Institute and Wiltshire Council.
In the morning, there’ll be a screening for families of Kenzuke’s Kingdom, based on Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book.
In the afternoon, there’s a free Big Day Out for older and vulnerable people from the area. There’ll be a screening of Singin’in the Rain, along with fun activities run by Wiltshire & Swindon Sport, and a high tea provided by the Polly Tea Rooms.
Sandra said: ‘This free event is for older and vulnerable adults in the Marlborough area, living alone and in care homes. We particularly hope to reach adults who wouldn’t tend to consider attending festivals through lack of mobility, or through social isolation.’
Afterwards, The Parade Cinema will be hosting ‘Chill in the Courtyard’ to wrap the festival up.
Also on the Sunday will be a repeat of the popular Big Dog Walk. That’s taking in a circular route from Marlborough Golf Club, beginning at 10am and takes around two hours.
Sandra added: ‘There are several other festivals in Marlborough throughout June. And, even though we are all independent, we’re collectively marketing ourselves as Marlborough Music Month. Marlborough will be the place to be this June!’
Some Marlborough Festival events are ticketed. But some have subsidies and others, like the Big Dog Walk, are free.
RPA Staging Youth Talent. Young people who are part of Revolution Performing Arts (RPA) are presenting their latest show – An Ode to Empowerment in May.
Marking Children’s Day UK, celebrated on May 14, is a unique performance highlighting the creativity, confidence and voices of children and young people in the Swindon and Wiltshire area. It aligns with RPA’s mission to empower every child to thrive in a safe, inclusive and encouraging environment.
‘The audience can expect a joyful and uplifting experience. Young performers will showcase the work they’ve developed in weekly RPA classes. It’s all centred on the theme of empowerment. And building a sustainable, hopeful future together’ says Fi Da Silva Adams, founder and CEO of RPA.
Young performers will be part of the audience as well as the show. They’ll enter the stage from the auditorium to cheer each other on in a moving display of mutual support and shared celebration. This inclusive approach is a hallmark of RPA’s ethos, where every child gets seen, heard and celebrated.
Fi said: ‘This performance is a beautiful tribute to the power of young voices. We believe in nurturing not only talent but confidence, individuality, and community spirit. ‘An Ode to Empowerment’ is exactly that. It’s a joyful, moving celebration of what happens when we listen to young people.’
RPA Staging Youth Talent – children performing in a previous RPA show
Parents
Sara Witham, whose son Ziggy will be performing, added: ‘Ziggy has been going to RPA since the start of the year. He very much needed a space to be himself and do all the things he loves like acting, singing, dancing and meeting new friends. He’s come into his own at the sessions. He feels that he can express himself in a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental environment.
‘I noticed a confidence in him that I wanted to make sure he kept. So I looked for a performing arts group that would help him build on that in a relaxed way. And we got it with RPA. He’s so looking forward to the group performance at the Wyvern which they are now working towards. We can’t wait to see him and his friends on stage!’
RPA classes run across Swindon, North Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The organisation supports young people to grow in confidence, creativity and self-expression through the performing arts.
There’s a well-established received wisdom that moving house ranks highon a list of difficult life events – it’s seen as very much a negative than a positive experience. A brief trawl of the World Wide Web will bring up numerous versions of these lists. This one from Benenden Health positions moving house at number seven. On their list it comes after studying/taking exams and before watching/reading news – almost guaranteed to make the blood pressure soar sky high, that one. But number seven on a list of ten isn’t the top-of-the-list of stressful life events that popular folklore would have us believe. What does come top in several places I looked at, is the death of a spouse or close relative. And that’s as you’d expect isn’t it?
Often in second place is divorce and/or financial challenges – and of course those two things often translate into reasons to move house. Yet, no matter where you might look, relocating never features in the number one spot on these lists. So that’s that myth busted then.
None of this means of course that moving home is without anxiety. It’s all about change – and all change brings stress. But you can take steps towards a positive property relocation experience. Returning to the WWW and Benenden Health again, they’ve put a together a helpful check-list of seven ways to reduce the stress of moving home. Something worth your time perusing methinks.
If you’re using a removals company then it makes sense to ask around and to research so you’ll feel confident in the company you select. And should you be moving house in Swindon you’re in luck. For you can have a positive property relocation with Blue Sky Removals Swindon.
With all that experience under their belt they have a complete grasp of the emotional and logistical challenges involved in moving house. Further, the BlueSky team has full appreciation that no two house moves are the same. Thus, they tailor their services to meet your particular needs and make the process as little of an ordeal for you as they can. Doesn’t that sound like peace of mind? In particular when you consider that the firm offers a full packing service – including packing materials; furniture disassembly and reassembly and handling of white goods. All things considered – a hassle-free move.
BlueSky’s offerings aren’t restricted to domestic removals. The team also undertake office moves and some specialised services such as:
Specialised removals for such items as pianos and antiques
Secure storage solutions. Whether it’s short or long-term storage the company offers secure and climate-controlled facilities.
BlueSky’s experienced team combined with their commitment to customer satisfaction means your house or office move won’t be under a cloud – rather it’ll be sunshine all the way.
