The Clarion Academy
Board of Directors
Linda is currently a Senior Housing Officer for a local organisation. She brings a wealth of experience to The Clarion Academy having delivered front line services on Social Housing and Welfare benefits for over 10 years. Linda is well placed in helping to create cohesive and sustainable communities through working in partnership and is keen to use her knowledge in support of mentoring young people.
Her experience in this area is enhanced by being a parent of a pupil who received a bursary and now attends Rugby school. She explains ' The role of mentoring cannot be underestimated where role models can play such an important part in a young persons life in reinforcing the importance of education'.
DIRECTOR
Linda Brown
Mentoring Programmes
DIRECTOR
Ian Grayling
CEO Educational projects
Ian has 30 years’ experience of teaching and training teachers in Further, Higher and Community Education. He is currently the Executive Director of the East Midlands Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training, working with vocational education and training providers, regionally and nationally, to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning.
Ian is highly regarded for his work with national agencies and sector providers, and for his expertise in training teachers to empower and inspire learners with low aspiration and self-esteem. He is recognised locally for his efforts to improve educational opportunities for young people of African Heritage, and he is seeking to increase the representation in mainstream education of mentors, coaches and teachers from within the African Caribbean community.
DIRECTOR
Terence Harrison MBE, JP
Founder of “Choosing to Change” Project
After a distinguished Military career in the Royal Marines, “Terry” entered public service heading a range of innovative projects for those with special needs, for which he was awarded the MBE in 1990[SR1] . He is a former magistrate and has also served on Independent Monitoring Boards for prisons. Founder of the "Four Sure" and "Choosing to Change" initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable young people.
His concern with the under-representation of African Heritage people in higher echelons of public life and their over-representation within the youth offending system reinforced a belief that young people of African Heritage must be given the benefits of a sound education. Ensuring that more teachers have a proper understanding of the cultural heritage of black pupils and are more aware of the challenges faced by black children, especially boys, will help remove many barriers to our children’s success. Another desirable outcome that would help to reflect this change would be an increase in the number of highly motivated black teachers recruited to serve in our schools.
DIRECTOR
Albey Law-Smith
Chairperson of “The Clarion Voice”
Nurse & Social Worker (Retired)
Albey is the Chairperson and a founder member of 'The Clarion Voice' with a strong commitment to addressing the long-standing issue of the under-representation of African Heritage people within the British Political establishments.
A campaigner for improved community services, she offers additional individual support in her local community. She had a long career in Psychiatric and General Nursing before becoming a generic Social Worker and, post-retirement, worked primarily with young offenders within the Criminal Justice System on the Restorative Justice Panel.
Her commitment is to leave a strong and positive legacy for the African Heritage community.