Dawn Jotham
The Calming Space
I feel very lucky to have spent my working life so far supporting children, young people and families, both professionally and through volunteering. My journey began with teaching swimming, and over time developed into roles including Head of Year, Safeguarding and Pastoral Lead in a secondary school. I have also supported the Duke of Edinburgh Award and been part of many wonderful school trips. These experiences have given me a real understanding of the pressures children, young people and families can face, both at home and in school. They have also shown me how important it is for a child and young person to feel safe, listened to and understood. I believe every child, young person and adult has the strengths within them, even when things feel difficult or overwhelming. Sometimes they simply need a calm space, a trusted adult and gentle support to help them make sense of their feelings. That belief is at the heart of what I do today. I listen, support and walk alongside children, young people and families as they begin to understand themselves and move forward with greater confidence.
While working in education, I completed a Master’s degree in Childhood and Youth Studies and qualified as a Level 3 counsellor. More recently, I have worked with charities to develop training in areas that affect children and families, including bereavement and loss, safeguarding, online safety and much more.
A little about me: I still love swimming and in recent years I have discovered the joy and calm of open-water dips. Being in the water has always felt like a soothing place for me — although I must admit, I still have a soft spot for the smell of chlorine!
Travelling to new places, whether abroad or here in the UK, is another place where I feel happy and refreshed, especially when I can be outdoors and close to nature. I find real joy in the small details, from the beauty of a bee to the incredible patterns made by snails. I love gardening. I may not always be the best gardener, but I enjoy trying, learning and seeing what grows.
In my spare time, I volunteer with a leading listening charity and support the local authority with youth justice work, both of which continue to remind me how important compassion, patience and being heard can be.
I understand that, as a parent or carer, it can feel worrying when your child is struggling and you are not sure how best to help. My role is to offer a safe, welcoming space where your child can feel heard, understood and gently supported. Drawing on my experience in education and child-focused roles, I use creative coaching techniques inspired by the Ollie Model and NPL techniques to help children, young people and families explore what may be happening beneath the surface, understand their feelings and build confidence in themselves. Support is always shaped around the individual with kindness, patience and trust at the centre. My aim is to help children, young people and families feel calmer, more confident and more able to take their next steps together.