Our Story

Safe New Futures was started 25 years ago to address unemployment issues in and around the most deprived areas of Southampton.

When it became clear that low self-esteem and confidence was holding individuals back from moving forward in life, a self-development training programme was written with the help of experts at the University of Southampton.

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Since then our programmes of support have gone on to help thousands from Southampton and the surrounding areas transform their lives and achieve great things.

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We are a small yet professional team, supported by a passionate group of volunteers - many of whom are ex-candidates keen to pass on the benefits of our incredible programmes of support. We focus on using our limited resources to the best of our ability – reaching out to those most vulnerable and in need of our services.

"SAFE is an effective and trustworthy organisation which has provided employment support services to the hardest to reach communities for years. Their approach in the Choices course has been academically and externally validated and they have run the service for Southampton and other local areas. I would strongly support this charity with its motivational and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based) approach. SAFE’s Choices programmes give something different and provides immense support to people furthest from the labour market.”

Kathryn Rankin, Commissioner and City Deal Programme Manager with Southampton City Council

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“The strengths quiz helped, realising how many skills that I had. It helped me to consider my changes. The session on long-term goals and short-term goals helped me to be more secure with what I want to do in the future. I want to get a part-time job and start an English course - and afterwards find a full-time job in retail.” 

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Mihaiela. October 2019

 

Mihaiela - a SAFE candidate

“The course was lovely and a great experience for me. I think that I improved my communication skills. My wall was a language barrier and now I feel more confident. I have made friends. I am ready to fulfil my goals and to find a job. I am going to apply for a retail job with the Work Agency. I applied also for an English course and passed the assessment and I’m starting in January.

I had surgery following surgery for two tumours behind the thyroid. They cut off two glands but then I had no feeling in my arm. That’s why I had to stop work.

I used to work at The Grand Harbour Hotel as a housekeeper but now I’m not able to do that. I’m going to do retail as I like to work with people and communicate and help. I have a law degree and in Romania I worked for 24 years in the city hall. I left Romania ten years ago and came to the UK three years ago. My husband had lost his job as the employer was declared bankrupt and we just had my earnings. We had two children, a boy, and a girl.

My husband works as a welder full-time now, but one salary is hard to pay all the bills and rent. I decided to make something of my life – to rediscover myself again. The past is a place I have learnt not to live. I live in the present now and this is all that counts. I learnt this on this course.

When I came to this country three years ago it was hard for me. I changed country, house, job, and I had a bad depression. I tried to commit suicide twice. I was at my GP with a translator asking for help. Now I’m here and I don’t have to live with worry anymore. Here I have found great people who have even bigger problems than mine. I have enjoyed this course.”

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“The barriers I had were to do with interviews and thinking - what if I don’t have what they want. Now all those barriers have pretty much gone away.” 

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Paul. October 2019

Paul - a SAFE candidate

“I don’t know what I’d have done without the course. It’s been brilliant in so many ways. The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has helped me to see how powerfully we can influence someone. It was fascinating to discover that someone saying when you’re a young kid that you will never make it can stay with you forever, and you can end up growing up in that mindset. Coming here I’m now thinking I can do this – it’s about being brave enough to step out.

My favourite session was the strengths session as it helped me overcome the worry about my age. I learnt that we all have something to offer and that we’re more than we can imagine. Now I hope and pray that when I go for an interview I will shine. I want to reach out to the community.

When I was younger, I was in several foster homes but eventually I ended up back with my mum and stepdad. It’s so helpful to learn that you can do things and that I have skills. I’m hoping to go for a job on groundwork because I have a B-Tec in countryside management and like to be creative and practical with my hands. I now realise that I’ve got a lot of strengths, which makes me feel more confident

I’m going to be asking for help with maths because my maths is very poor. I struggle with emotions. I’ve been brought up purely in the family unit, never really going anywhere or doing anything, and that has impacted on my life quite badly.

It’s been a very interesting course and I think our trainer has been brilliant - he was very patient. It was a blessing to work with Kim as well.”

We see every person as a valuable human being with incredible worth and an ability to contribute to the community in which they live. We work by the values set out below.

Relational – We aim to be genuine, open and honest, really listening and seeking to understand

Value and worth – We strive to empower and believe in people, spot their strengths and see what they can do

Best interests – We work to put others before ourselves, and give genuine care

Justice – We want to bring fairness, and show our concern for the disadvantaged

Generosity – We aim to go the extra mile, serve others unconditionally, give people a second chance, and co-operate with partner organisations

Truth and honesty – We build on integrity and trust and show the evidence for our work

Quality – We strive to be the best we can and give the best to the people we serve.

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The Trustees

Anthony

Anthony Scammell

Chair. Board of Trustees

Anthony is Strategic Service Development Director for Old Mutual Wealth Management. He brings a wealth of experience in managing budget and staffing responsibilities.
Anthony has a passion for community involvement and has been head of corporate social responsibility for OM Wealth and a governor of Solent University.
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Steve Nicholls

 Secretary. Board of Trustees

Steve has over 30 years’ experience as a business analyst working within the insurance industry.

He has given nearly 10 years’ service to local Street Pastor initiatives, and clearly sees the positive impacts that we can make by listening, caring and helping.

 

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Philip Nash

Board of Trustees  

Philip has many years of project, legal and business experience worldwide in both the public and private sectors. As Newcastle Hospital’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Director, he was responsible for a large expansion and amalgamation scheme for the country’s second largest NHS Trust. A varied career also included leading oil and gas developments, infrastructure projects including airports, power plants and climate change.

Prior to volunteering at Safe Futures, he had been a Director and Trustee of a mid sized charity for almost 8 years and an elected public governor for the North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Nick Strong

Nick Strong

Board of Trustees  

Nick Strong has worked in the business format franchise sector since the mid 90's. He specialises in solving commercial problems through the development and provision of Software as a Service technology. Nick is an adviser to directorships that grow and scale operations and revenue through the franchise route

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Sarah Duggan

Board of Trustees  

In addition to being a trustee at Safe New Futures, Sarah Duggan also works as a people and organisational development consultant. With a strong background in psychology and business development, Sarah brings a great deal of interpersonal skills and great knowledge to help the growth of Safe New Futures.
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Anita Smith

Board of Trustees  

Anita comes to Safe New Futures with over 25 years’ experience in finances, among a multitude of industries. Anita has expertise in working with start-up companies as well as previous experience working for not-for-profit organisations.

The Team

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NINA KELLY

Director

As CEO with Safe New Futures, Nina is proficient in financial control, and organisational and product development. Her natural leadership style is both marketing-led and people centred.  An engaging and passionate communicator, Nina has worked in both the international and UK charity sector for more than 20 years. 

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Oana Warren

Youth Choices Facilitator 

Oana has extensive experience of working with young people from deprived backgrounds. She has worked as a teacher and as an education manager and adviser within various mainstream educational facilities and has most recently held the position of Assistant Principal at South Quay College in the Tower Hamlets. She also has plenty of experience working with young people within voluntary youth groups and has organised and run a number of alternative vocational training courses.
Michael Johnston

Michael Johnston

Adult Choices Facilitator

Originally joining as a candidate Michael went on to become a facilitator at the recovery college, using his vital experience to share with others how to transform their lives.

Michael is also the SAFE safeguarding officer, ensuring the SAFE team is competent and confident in carrying out their safeguarding duties

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Lenyra Guimaraes

Communications and Marketing Administrator 

Lenyra comes from a sociological background. She started at safe as a marketing assistant volunteer to help build her career prospects. Now she works closely with all members of the team to help build our client base and promote the charity.
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Shirley Smith

Head of Fundraising

Shirley has a background in marketing management and more than 12 years’ experience working within the charity sector. She is a proficient Trust Fundraiser, with experience of community and corporate fundraising, and uses her previous marketing qualifications to effectively promote the charity and successfully raise funds.
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Maz

 Head Volunteer 

Maz was formerly a candidate on one of our adult courses. She has been volunteering with us since her course ended and has worked her way up to head volunteer. Outside of Safe New Futures, Maz is studying and working hard to be a counsellor.
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Lorraine Holdaway

Bookkeeper

Lorraine works alongside staff, trustees and accountants to ensure SAFE meets its charitable and legal commitments.

She holds firm to Safe New Futures' values of giving people second chances and providing opportunities, support and mentoring to help them re-engage with working life.

Volunteers

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Hannah Ranger

Choices Course Volunteer 

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Donna Reeves

Volunteer

Norman Jones

Norman Jones

Freelance facilitator and volunteer 

Norman has been involved with SAFE as a volunteer for more than 15 years. He now works as a Facilitator helping unemployed adults move forward with their lives.
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Jacqui Hollick

Freelance facilitator and volunteer 

Jacqui has been involved, both as a staff member and a volunteer, since the very first SAFE courses started in 1994.

She now runs SAFE courses for unemployed adults at James Street Church in Southampton City Centre.

Jo Gibson

Jo Gibson

Freelance facilitator and volunteer

Jo, who is a qualified teacher, has been volunteering with SAFE since November 2016. She also has pastoral and counselling training.

She has a passion for people, and always enjoys getting to know the candidates and working with them, to help them achieve their life goals

Zac Keu

Zac Keu

Youth volunteer 

Zac is currently studying a Masters Degree at the University of Sussex. He is great at building strong relationships with our younger candidates, always asking good questions with genuine interest so candidates gain new insights about themselves. He loves learning new things and sharing his experiences, motivating the group and encouraging deep discussions.

Freelance Trainers

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Tracey Hemmerdinger

Schools Choices Facilitator  

Starting out as a detached youth worker in East London, Tracey has spent the last 30 years working with and for young people. A qualified youth worker, trainer and assessor, she recently studied Child and Adolescent Mental Health at postgraduate level, and is a total evangelist for prevention and early intervention work. As well as a practitioner Tracey is a freelance trainer and consultant, bringing skills in governance, management and fundraising. She loves delivering the Schools Choices Course and is working hard to make them attract long term funding!
Christie Breen

Christie Breen

Freelance Facilitator 

Christie has twenty years’ experience working as a trainer, community project manager and teacher in higher education and the corporate world. She delivers bespoke training in leadership, service and sales, stress management, team building and communications. She is a student psychotherapist and a qualified Mental Health First Aid trainer.
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Alice Card

Freelance Facilitator