Donna Clayton – Chair of Governors
Born and brought up in Wigan, I left school at 16 with good GCE/CSE Grades and started work as a trainee accounts clerk on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS). I had a family very young and when my youngest was 3 years old I started part time work as a Credit Control Clerk. I continued to progress in employment to a Senior Finance Officer for the Chamber of Commerce. In 2004 after suffering a stroke I began working for Wigan Adult and Community Learning as a finance/administration clerk. I was promoted internally to Head of Service and was involved in a number of inspections, both ALI and OFSTED (the last two as nominee). After a short period of unemployment due to redundancy I went to Blackpool Council, firstly as Assistant Head and then Head of Blackpool Learning Rooms, where I have been nominee in the last two OFSTED inspections. I heard that TMP was looking for a chair and felt that I had a lot of overall experience including quality and funding/datasets that I could offer the College, built on my work experiences and my passion for Wigan and its residents.
Joanne Dockerty
I attended Manchester University where I obtained my BA Hons to become a social worker. I am currently Senior Social Worker for West Lancashire Hospital Discharge Team, I am responsible for a team of social workers and supporting officers. I have worked with Children and Adults for nearly 10 years now I have also covered prison work and schools. I have worked in different parts of Lancashire, Liverpool, Wigan and St Helens. I am a member of the governing body for TMP College.
Andy Sampson
Originally from Somerset, I moved around quite a lot before settling in Wigan at the age of 20.
I became interested in music in my late teens – mainly through the club scene but I have been involved in various projects through the years. Having been recruited as a dancer for an electronic dance act, we gained a record deal in the United States, although this was short lived career following the buy-out of our label by EMI (having never actually even making the trip across the pond!). Following being recruited as a DJ for Café Nirvana, I moved on to booking bands, running the website and managing promotions for the club.
A project that I was involved in during that time was called Just About Musicians (JAM) and aimed to give young musicians the experience of setting up equipment, playing a gig and recording some tracks – much like a very small version of what TMP is now doing today!
My life took on a new direction around the age of 30 following the birth of our first child who was diagnosed with autism just after his 2nd birthday. I began learning all I could, doing voluntary work and started contemplating changing my career path (having worked in telecommunications for the previous 10 years). This new direction would lead me to various roles, support worker , Outreach worker (Barnardo’s Autism Team), Disability and Inclusion Manager (Wigan Youth Zone), Centre Manager (Liverpool Hop Skip and Jump) before eventually arriving at Embrace Wigan and Leigh where for the past 5 years I have managed the Behaviour Support Service.
Now with 3 children aged 16, 15 and 10 – all of whom have SEND needs, I have experienced services across Wigan from the point of view of a parent and as a professional, which I believe gives me a somewhat unique perspective when considered alongside my own ADHD diagnosis, Sensory Processing Disorder, and short-term memory impairment and I look forward to supporting TMP College where I am able.
Anne-Marie Yates
I am Anne-Marie Yates and I am a parent governor for TMP college. My son attends TMP college and is in his 3rd Year. I am passionate about person centred education and the right for young people to thrive in what they enjoy doing - TMP offers this and this is why I am delighted to be part of the governing body, to support the college in continuing to grow and develop.
I work as a counsellor and clinical supervisor for children and young people in the care system. I have been working with children and young people for over 20 years and was a youth worker prior to qualifying as a counsellor 14 years ago. I am also a qualified safeguarding lead and often support with serious case reviews as a commissioned independent author. I am also a qualified therapist for children and young people on the ASD spectrum. I love dog walks and reading in my spare time, plus any form of live music!
Claire Bolt - Parent Governor
I have been a Parent Governor at TMP College since 2021. TMP's ethos, encouragement and tools are outstanding and I am proud to be part of the team. I had no previous experience as a Governor prior to joining the team but I am enjoying the challenge and opportunity of sharing my ideas and expertise to make a real contribution.
Over the years, I have obtained a variety of qualifications and system knowledge such as : BCS ECDL, IRCA QMA Internal Auditor, Data Analysis, Key Improvement Team, and Sage Accounts System.
I am a great believer that a college should be more than an academic environment, but should act as a strong community to support and teach life skills. Being a Parent Governor I feel I can cast an independent eye over the workings of the college.
My Son, who is autistic, joined TMP when he was 16 years old after having a negative experience in mainstream and home-school education. TMP College has massively supported my son who can now express himself and communicate with other people. He will now be entering his 3rd year at TMP.
I am familiar with government organisations who have supported myself and my son over the years. Some of these are : Cahms, Social Services, Psychotherapy and safeguarding.
Damian Liptrot
Born, raised and educated in Wigan, I then obtained a degree in Psychology and a PGCE (specialising in post-16 education) before working for 20 years as a lecturer at local Colleges and Universities. I was responsible for developing and delivering courses at all levels, from pre-GCSE to Master’s Degree and teacher education, and co-wrote and edited a number of textbooks related to these courses. Additional projects included serving as a Principal Examiner for several modules of the Psychology A Level and work on the original development of modular A levels and the introduction of A/S levels.
I am also a trained counsellor and drama therapist. Following this, I joined the family firm of Lost Art Limited – a multi-award winning heritage restoration company, where, over a 20 year period, I have integrated a number of roles and responsibilities, including Marketing, Web Development, Social Media, Health and Safety, Technical Bid Authoring and administrative supervision.
Running concurrently with the above has been my interest and involvement in a variety of music related projects. This has included band management, including all aspects of marketing, gig and festival booking, tour management, promotional activities and the development and maintenance of web presence and social media platforms. In addition to working with individual bands, I have also been involved with music cooperative projects across the North West and have provided tuition and
consultancy services to both groups and individuals. I also help organise the annual Wigan Diggers Festival.
