Our Team

Prior to Valleyssteps, Rowena worked for a Government Department for over 26 years. Rowena has a passion for being involved in community work and talking to people. She volunteers for a local food bank and has a keen interest in crafting and walking

While completing BSc (Hons) Psychology and MSc Health Psychology, Hayley developed an interest in health, wellbeing and quality of life, which she took into her role as a support worker in the community and as a research assistant. Since then, she has held various roles in the third sector and became a volunteer on a mental health phone support line. While working for the NHS, she successfully piloted a project which led to the improvement of therapies services for brain tumour patients. Alongside this, she was a long-term presenter of the ACTivate Your Life ? Affected by Cancer course, which helped those affected by cancer manage the impact the illness had on their mental health and wellbeing. Hayley attended Valleys Steps courses as a service user in 2016 and completed the eight-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course. This inspired her to become a volunteer for the charity before later joining as a Student Wellbeing Practitioner.

Thomas has had a passion for wellbeing and helping people since graduating from university in 2014 studying BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies from the University of Central Lancashire from this he went on to work in private mental health support services, supporting individuals with dual diagnosis and complex needs.

Thomas then enrolled to study PGdip/MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of South Wales, whilst studying, he continued to further his career working as a Family Mediator, offering interventions at an earlier age as a new prevention strategy, whilst volunteering for several counselling services. Thomas then joined Valleys Steps as a Wellbeing course practitioner, for both the community team and the student team in November 2022. Thomas is a big believer in looking after the mind-body connection & their impact on each other. Through this he has developed a keen interest in breathwork, fitness and being in nature.

Sara has a background in Education having previously worked as a qualified teacher and Curriculum manager for over 25 years. Over the course of her teaching career, Sara developed a specific interest in supporting wellbeing for young people and qualified as a Relax Kids coach in 2010. After completing an eight week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course in 2018, Sara was inspired to go on to train to be able to deliver the Mindfulness in Schools Programme in 2019.  She is now passionate about the benefits of Mindfulness for both adults and young people. Outside of work, Sara regularly practises Mindfulness and Yoga.