Hi, I’m Tamara!

I’m very excited to be working here with Mind Jam, and I can’t wait to get to know our students here! I am an experienced Teaching Assistant with a background supporting children of primary, secondary and further education ages with SEN. I’ve worked with students  in mainstream education with a wide range of needs, including ASD, ADHD, PDA, SPD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, visual impairments and hearing impairments. During this time, I have witnessed first hand how difficult life can be for these young people. I’ve also worked closely with mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety and trauma, following the completion of a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Skills and Theory. Based on my own experiences and that of those around me, I am inspired to make a difference and advocate for mental health support in our ever changing society. I am a warm and empathic person who is always willing to listen to the experiences of others.

As a foster child growing up in the care system, I never felt that I fitted in with many of my peers. Maturing into adulthood, this feeling stayed with me to an extent, but I gained an awareness of my own sensory needs and how to cope with them. It was about finding a way to communicate my experience to others, and finding the right people to support and understand the way that my brain works without judgment. It was about finding acceptance and a safe space to express myself, which is what I aim to create for each person I work with. It was my experience which nurtured an interest in neurodivergency in children and young people, which I’ve explored through my time working and volunteering in the Education, Health and Social Care sectors. In the past, I have worked with primary, secondary and further education age groups, and have received comprehensive, up to date training in Safeguarding, ASD, ADHD and PDA.

From a young age, I turned to fantasy and video games to express myself and escape from the struggles I faced in everyday life. It provided me with a safe space in which I had the autonomy to be creative, expand upon problem solving skills and develop a much needed self esteem. 

I hold a 1st Class degree from the University of Portsmouth, where I studied Illustration with a focus on expressing and raising awareness of mental health in young people. I’m interested in anything creative, from drawing and photography to crafts and miniature painting. When I’m not gaming, I love reading fantasy novels, super heroes, Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer and Live-Action RolePlay – where I spend my weekends dressed up as fantasy characters on epic quests to save the world!