Pain Pals GY Staff
All Pain Pals GY staff are given a DBS check, ensuring that they are safe to work with vulnerable adults.
Pain Pals GY is run and managed by unpaid volunteers. All the people that work for us are doing so, because they believe in the services we are providing and they are passionate about helping others who suffer with physical and mental health difficulties.
Everyone who works for Pain Pals GY have personal experience of pain, disability and mental health problems. Many of us having personally struggled with getting a clear diagnosis, losing our jobs, financial hardship, relationship breakdowns, isolation, negative and harmful thoughts. Now we are doing much better physically and mentally, we want to give back by helping others like us.
Helen Hartley
Pain Pals GYs Director and Service Manager
Who has a BA degree in care and a Registered Managers Award, along with over two decades of health and social care knowledge.
Helen has worked in many health and social care departments which has provided her with a comprehensive knowledge.
Some of Helen's previous jobs include.
Ambulance service as a emergency medical technician.
Nursing with Cardiac care, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and other departments.
Care manager for people with sever learning disabilities and mental health needs, including challenging behaviour requiring safe holding.
Care manager for the elderly in care home and personal home settings.
Helen became disabled in 2012 after several years of continually suffering with chronic pain.
If you would like to know more please see Helen's personal pain story.
Wayne Beresford
Wayne is our Treasurer and a support worker
Wayne is a father of 4 and a grandfather of 2 who has experience supporting children and adults with learning disabilities and special needs.
He personally struggles with mental health and physical health difficulties, like arthritis which is causing chronic pain in several parts of his body. In particular he has mobility problems due to the severe pain in his knees.
These difficulties are hard to manage but they don’t stop him from using his good days to help others.
Wayne has experience in health and safety, retail, company organisation and management. Which has helped some of our service users with concerns about their disability in their work environment.
He is also skilled with property maintenance, complaints and tenancy disputes which he negotiates with the local council.
Wayne also has qualifications in IT and provides support and training for those who are new to computers, tablets and phones.
Direct quote “I have received help from others during my times of need. I really want to give back some of that to others” “everyone needs a shoulder now and then and we should look after each other”
Our volunteers
Anyone can become a volunteer, they need to have first or second hand experience of physical and or mental health difficulties, the dedication to learn the necessary knowledge and skills and the passion to help others.
Pain Pals GY volunteer staff can have training in:
First aid, safeguarding, moving and handling, fire safety, Health and safety, risk assessing, infection control, food hygiene, suicide awareness and supporting those with dementia, Staff receive 6 weeks Pain Pals GY induction training and 6 months close supervision and probation. Pain Pals GY will also provide any training required to support service users individual needs, if current training is inadequate.
Our Board Members
The trustee's are a group of people who have experience of disabilities and different skills and knowledge that benefit the company. Such as: ex registered nurses and citizens advice advocates.
The board oversee all the services Pain Pals GY offer and ensure that the company provides a companionate, quality service for people in need.
They meet twice a year to discuss current issues that people with disabilities and mental health problems are facing, a review of all services that Pain Pals GY have provide over that period and plan new strategies for the company's continued future.
Friends of Pain Pals
Pain Pals is luck to have many people who wish to support us in creative ways.
There are the people in the background who are doing research on the latest news and content for our Facebook page.
Someone who cleans and fixes the mobility equipment that people donate to us.
We know local work men and women who have met our high standards of dedication and care, who Pain Pals would be happy to recommend to our services uses. Gardeners, Decorators, Handy people, Dog groomers/Walkers and others.
Do you run a business or have a skill that would be helpful to people with disabilities?, please contact us to discuss your services and how you can help.
Great Yarmouth Community Projects.
15 Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR301HP
GYCP support our local area of Great Yarmouth by providing a community hub, food bank, disability and mental health services, youth drop in services, hobby groups and so much more.
Pain Pals GY operates a drop in office at GYCP on Mondays and Fridays 10am - 2pm