Student Wellbeing & Disability

Ali Ball

Head of Student Wellbeing and Disability

Ali Ball is the Head of Student Wellbeing and Disability at LIPA and oversees the service. With over a decade of experience in the education sector, Alison has supported students of all abilities and across all age groups, including children, young people, and adults.

Ali holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and is a qualified teacher. Ali has also worked as a Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability Adviser and as a manager within the charity sector, working for a widening participation charity.

Ali has significant safeguarding experience and has worked in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students and developing policies and procedures to protect vulnerable individuals and promote a secure learning environment.

In her current role at LIPA, Ali works strategically to enhance student wellbeing and disability services. She works closely with teaching departments, staff, and external organisations to create a cohesive support network for students, ensuring that they have access to the resources and adjustments they need to thrive at LIPA and achieve their potential. Ali also ensures that high-risk students are monitored and supported throughout their studies.

Ali works Tuesday – Friday, 9am - 5pm

Lauren Smith

Mental Health Adviser

Lauren Smith is the Mental Health Adviser within the Student Wellbeing and Disability team. Her role involves supporting students with varying degrees of mental health and wellbeing issues. Working alongside the counselling team, Lauren ensures that students access the right support to reduce barriers to learning and promote overall good mental health. She is responsible for assessing students, delivering one-on-one support, conducting group workshops, promoting mental health awareness, and responding to crises.

Lauren's educational background includes a BSc(Hons) in Psychology, and she has further trained as a Master Practitioner of Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Time Line Therapy®. Her professional experience spans working with offenders within the community and in prisons, NHS mental health teams, and both further and higher education settings.

Passionate about mental health advocacy, Lauren is committed to fostering a university environment where every student feels heard, valued, and empowered. Whether students need a listening ear, practical advice, or strategies to enhance their mental well-being, Lauren is here to help them thrive both academically and personally.

Lauren works Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.

Terri Roberts

Student Disability Officer

Terri is the Student Disability Officer at LIPA. She meets with students with disabilities (including neurodiversity, specific learning difficulties, and physical disabilities) to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for them on their courses so that they can reach their potential without being disadvantaged by their disability.

Terri has worked at LIPA since 2018 and prior to this she has worked in education and with people with disabilities for over 20 years. During that time, she completed the City and Guilds Award in Learning Support, the City and Guilds Award in Education and Training, the CPT3A qualification in educational testing, and the Post Graduate Certificate in SpLD (Dyslexia) with AMBDA/ATS.

She is a firm believer in inclusive and accessible learning for people from all backgrounds, and she is keen to ensure that all disabled students at LIPA are given the opportunity to achieve their goals and thrive in an environment in which their needs are met, and their talents are recognised.

Terri works Tuesday – Thursday, 9am – 5pm

Pete Bold

1-1 Tutor for Specific Learning Differences

Pete has 20 years qualified experience teaching literacy in a variety of settings. Since 2011 his practice has focussed on 1-1 support within HE in both Russell Group and specialist institutions.

Pete's specialism is linked to the area of Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) delivering structured and cumulative support to students who have a diagnosis of Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD.

As a DfE registered Specialist Tutor, Pete's expertise extends to supporting neurodiverse learners and those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pete has British Dyslexia Association (BDA) Approved Teacher Status, is a professional member of the Dyslexia Guild and is an Associate Member of the National Association of Disability Practitioners.

Equity, inclusion and access to opportunity play a key role in Pete's professional practice.

Pete works Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Danielle Clark

Senior Wellbeing Officer

Danielle is the Senior Wellbeing Officer in the Wellbeing and Disability Team. Danielle ensures students access appropriate mental health support such as counselling. Danielle values kindness, integrity, confidentiality and professionalism and provides a safe and non-judgemental space for students to share their challenges. You can count on her to really listen and hear what you are saying.

Danielle also enjoys supporting teaching staff in their pastoral roles and delivers training to Personal Tutors on how to support students with their wellbeing. Danielle leads on implementing the wellbeing policy across the University.

Danielle is an ILM Senior and Executive level Coach and Mentor. Where appropriate, she incorporates a coaching style as part of her work with students. Danielle believes coaching enables people to get the clarity, belief and motivation they need to get to where they want to be. She has seen firsthand the powerful, positive and transformational impact it can have.

Danielle loves being surrounded by the creativity of the students and staff at LIPA, particularly because she studied music at university and has worked in the arts sector for most of her career.

Danielle works Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays, 9am – 5pm.

Rebecca McCallum

Student Journey Officer

Rebecca provides administrative support to the Head of Student Wellbeing and to the wider team on a day-to-day basis operationally, as well as on many aspects of service development. She also provides direct support to the Director of Students with strategy, projects and all aspects of student experience and to the Student Voice Team including the Student Voice President, Student Officers and Student Reps.

Rebecca works Monday – Friday, 9am-1pm

Eve O’Riordan

Student Officer for Wellbeing and Disability

Hello! My name is Eve, I study Music Performance and Production, and I am the Student Officer for Wellbeing and Disability at LIPA. My role mainly entails being the liaison between the student body and the Wellbeing and Disability team, and working with them to improve the service, as well as being on various committees working on student voice, diversity, and accessibility at the Institute. If you have any questions, or require assistance in any of these areas, please feel free to reach out.