Mentores
Vernon retired to the Costa Blanca in Spain with his wife Celia 9 years ago. He has 2 grown-up sons, one of whom was from his first marriage but he and Celia had custody of him from 4 years old. Vernon has been a Guardian Angels mentor for 3 years and enjoys supporting single-parent families. “I believe that the children of broken relationships are often traumatised as well and so the whole family needs support.”
Celia has been married to Vernon for 40 years and has been a mentor with Guardian Angels for 4 years. “In that time I have supported and helped members using my personal experience of having had divorced parents. I also have two sons, both married and living in the UK and I was a step parent from the start of my marriage. I hope I can help members get through their tough times and build new futures for themselves.”
Tracey has been living in Spain for 11 years with her husband Tony and 2 children. “For many single parents their lives can be in complete turmoil with many mixed emotions and being in a foreign country, finding the right support can be somewhat difficult. Guardian Angels and mentoring gives the support that many parents need at crucial times. Having had similar family issues, I know only too well that having someone by your side to listen is such a great help.”
Two years ago Ann was visiting friends in Jalon whilst spending two years travelling around Europe. She and her husband, Andy, liked the area and the lifestyle so much they have decided to live here for the foreseeable future. Ann has 35 years experience in education, supporting children and families and advising various groups concerned with improving life chances for young people. She has designed and run workshops for parents who would like to improve their relationship with their children. Ann has three grown up children and seven grandchildren. She wants to support Guardian Angels as much as possible.
Carma moved to Dénia last year with her husband and baby daughter. She is a Life Coach and combines this experience with that of having divorced parents to provide support to our members. The mentoring that Guardian Angels provides can give vital emotional support to parents when they need it most.
I have lived in Spain for just over a year now in the Costa Blanca North. I have two grown up daughters and now my first grandchild and have spent quite a considerable amount of my time as a single parent myself. Although now trained in hypnotherapy which is my passion in life to help make a difference, I have had a wonderful opportunity to work with vulnerable women in the UK and, after having hypnotherapy to regain and build my own confidence back, it’s a wonderful opportunity to help empower and reinstall that confidence again in people going through very difficult times when often there seems to be no other solution..
As a single parent in the UK it can be scary enough and so to be in another country can be equally if not more daunting and isolating so all the help and support is understandably needed.
I have lived in Javea for 5 years and got married to my long term boyfriend 2 years ago. Between us we have 5 children ranging from 13 to 29.
I was a single parent for 8 years so I can relate my experiences with a lot of the issues our members have out here.
Back in the UK I trained to be a Counselor and I worked for 10 years with substance misuse clients who were on probation.
Although qualified in Person Centred Counseling I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and in motivational techniques to help encourage healthy habits and also addressing life issues.
I mentor the mentors if they wish to have support and can offer counseling to our members.
I settled in Calpe, after traveling through the UK, France and Spain just last year. For the last twenty years, I have been a committed employee of a local authority in Argyll Scotland, working with vulnerable adults, people with Physical Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health issues.
I was a volunteer with a project in Argyll that supports children carers for over five years, this was a very fulfilling opportunity.
I have two adult sons and one daughter, which for the most part I brought up as a single parent. By doing so, it offered me a knowledge base as other mentors have, to understand some of the issues we are here to support. We know life can be filled with trials, and having an ear, some support can make all the difference.