Leadership team

  • Dave Simpson - Director of Operations

    MINT saved Daves life. A bold statement, but true. “My life was going nowhere, and my anxiety and depression were out of control. I could not let people love me, nor could I offer anything back.”

    Now following a total life transformation, Dave is Director of Operations. We focus on changing mindsets and Dave MINT creates a brotherhood that helps ensure men don't fight their battles alone. He builds relationships with men inside MINT and leads on opening new groups. “Mint is a family,” Dave says.

  • Josh Sturgeon - Founder and CEO

    Josh founded MINT in 2018, following the death of his close friend. He oversees the entire MINT operation focusing particularly on partnerships, fundraising and raising awareness of the support groups.

    Josh struggled with his mental health for a number of years from being a teenager into his early 20’s. These struggles went unsupported as he didn’t reach out for help which ultimately ended in a suicide attempt which was thankfully unsuccessful

    Having also lost 4 close friends to suicide, Josh is passionate about making sure no man faces their struggles alone anymore.

  • Jordann Robson - Senior Operations Manager

    Jordann is Josh’s Fianceé and is a massive advocate of MINT and Mens Mental Health however with a young family it has been hard to get involved however now, with 2 young but amazing children, we are in a place where she can join the team and get involved now.

    Jordann has already jumped on some MINT training so has a strong background in mental health and is also a magician in terms of organisation and giving Josh a kick up the bum

  • Sheree Sims - Operations Manager

    Sheree joined MINT during our first volunteer recruitment drive. Sheree has plenty of experience dealing with mental health after losing her brother and also Jack who as you know is why MINT is where it is today.

    Sheree jumped at he opportunity to join the team and we are so glad she did because she has been amazing to have working with us. So much so that Sheree now heads up the our sister support group WISH - Women Inspiring Strength and Hope whereby we provide supports groups for women struggling with their mental health.

    Sheree and WISH are going from strength to strength and we’re so blessed to have her on the team

  • Becky Williams - Operations Manager

    Becky is also new to the team but you would have never known, the way she jumped straight into the thick of it was as though she had been here years!

    From kicking Josh’s butt into gear during the grotto to organising the book event for World Book Day pretty much on her own!

    Beckie is an asset to the team and really goes above and beyond to support others!

    There’s a lot coming up that Becky is supporting so keep your eyes peeled

  • Eric Kendall - Area Manager

    I started attending mint a couple of years ago because I thought I had no where to turn for support, but I was wrong. MINT showed me how strong I am and how fantastic peer to peer support is and how important talking about our problems are.

    ‘A PROBLEM SHEARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED’

    So now my life is on a better track. I want to work with mint to help other men like MINT did for me. To show people that talking through their problems, listening and sharing helps feel less alone.

    Eric is now our Area Manager and floats between our groups to ensure everything is running as it should be and that each group has everything they need to provide the best support.

Group Facilitators

  • Jodie Allen - Lead Facilitator

    First off all I would like to thank Josh for giving me this opportunity to be part of the team.

    As a Morley lad , I've lived, i went to school, played football and worked in and around the Morley area most of my life and What Josh and his team are doing for mental health in the area is incredible

    For me There's still a big stigma surrounding mental health and especially in men ,

    I think its so important that these groups not only exist but that they can get the exposure they need to let men know that they are not alone and that there is always someone there to talk to..... to listen to you or just to sit and have a brew with while others talk in a safe non judging environment and I want to help .. and with over 20 years experience in the fire service if nothing else ...I can make a decent cuppa

  • Dan Ambler - Group Facilitator

    I moved to Morley after marrying and it’s been home to me for over 20 years now. After the Covid lockdown I began to struggle with what became known as ‘re-opening anxiety’. It not only took me by surprise but also to the point where I felt I didn’t want to be here anymore. If I hadn’t opened-up and told my wife how I felt I’m not sure where it would have taken me.

    After working through that I had my fair share of life challenges to deal with, not least losing my sister Amanda to suicide in late 2021. As well as exercise (climbing and running for me), the

    benefits of opening-up and talking about what’s on your mind were already clear to me and that’s what led me through the door at MINT.

    There is still so much stigma surrounding mental health in general and MINT is playing a massive part in helping break down those barriers that people can find in taking the first step to talking to somebody.

    What Josh and the team has built isn’t just a group – to me it’s a community of brothers within my own community and its actively contributing to saving lives - and that’s exactly why I said yes to

    contributing as a facilitator. (Although unlike Jodie, I’m constantly told I can’t make a decent cuppa – unless you like hot, light brown milk)

  • Dean Stead - Group Facilitator

    Dean much like those we have heard about previously today, only joined us recently and has hit the ground running!

    Dean attended mint but it soon turned into him joining the team because of his need to help others which has made him a great asset to south Leeds!

    The guys have nothing but great things to say and I’m excited to see him develop moving forward!

    #DontManUpSpeakUp

Events team

  • Tom Baxter - Events Manager

    In Dec 2018 I succumbed to all the negativity, shame and pain in my life. Despite the loss of my lower legs, somehow I survived and thanks to some outstanding mental healthcare, I have, for the last 3 years, been in the best spot for over 20 years.

    In the new found freedom I vowed to tell my story as often as possible in the hope that it may help someone who is experiencing difficulties in these challenging times. Primarily it’s why I joined MINT but I have actually gained as much from the meetings, new friends!

    To take the next step outside of the Tuesday meetings I’m helping with the events team to run and organize and promote MINT.

  • Mark McCarthy - Events Specialist

    After going along to MINT for the first time thinking I would just listen, it came to my turn and they couldn't shut me up. This demonstrated to me how at ease they made me feel and how non-judgemental the whole group was.

    From that day I continued to attend knowing that not only the facilitators would have my back but every member of the group would too.

    I am now in a much better place so I believe it is now my time to give back and get the word out far and wide that it's good to talk and my friend you are not alone🤙

  • Kirstie Hartlebury - Events Specialist

    I first became aware of MINT when I was helping my husband Richard look for somewhere he could go for mental health support. It took some persuading to get him to that first group a few years ago, but they've been phenomenal since then through a few extremely tricky patches.

    The work MINT do and the impact they have inspired me to become a Mental Health First Aider at work and I'm excited to get more involved with such a fantastic organisation.

  • Richard Hartlebury - Events Specialist

    I'm a Leeds lad through and through with an unusual sense of humour.

    I've been attending MINT for roughly three years and the group has helped me through some very dark times. I'm now in a much better place with my own mental health and am looking forward to giving something back to the cause and helping MINT move forwards as an organisation.

Social Media team

  • Caroline Cook - Social Media Manager

    Caroline first joined us 5 years ago when we were in the early stages of growth. She completely changed the dynamic of ho our groups run due to her vast knowledge and training as a counsellor.

    After supporting us for many years, Caroline stepped back and thought about herself and her wellbeing for once but instead of stepping away completely, Caroline now runs our social media pages, keeping everyone informed and engaged and we cant thank her enough