• Graham
• Steve
• Gill
• Ben

• Elaine
• Tom
• Carlo
• Lauren

Hey, I'm Graham and I'm the Programme director, which is a fancy name for Programme Director! I've been with hu since day one and love my job! I make sure everybody knows what they are doing on the day we come to your school.

It's a pretty cool job knowing that what you do has so much impact on the lives of young people – so with a lot of help I try to make the Heroes Journey days as fun, interesting and useful as possible! So watch out at your school because you might be lucky enough to see me strut my stuff!!

I've always had a lot of dreams and I'm proud to say that I've made most of them happen. But I've still got loads left; I want to write books for teenagers and teachers; I want to open my own school here in the UK and I'd like to help build a school in Africa. Finally, one day I'd really like to climb Mount Everest!

By the way Im 45, I live with my wonderful wife Gill, my four amazing kids, Ellie, Rosie, Harrison and Billy, the dog Alfie and the rabbit, Stamp. Im a huge Everton fan, Im a keen runner and I love skiing!

Hi I'm Steve!!!!

Firstly I am a dad and a husband. I have a wife called Jane and two wonderful children Lauren, who is 14 and Liam who is 10.

I'm a big sports fan, both watching and playing. I love supporting my team the mighty Liverpool FC, I also love running. I have run a few half marathons & at the moment I'm training for a full marathon on October 9th!!!!! It's a big challenge, but I'm GOING to do it.

So what's my life been like? It's had its ups and downs like us all, but I've loved every minute of my forty five years. I wasn't a great fan of school, but wish I could do it all again! In a way, I am doing it all again because I spend most days in School! It hasn't always been that way though, I spent up until April 2009 working in the building industry where I got to meet and train many young people and through a series of events I came to work with Humanutopia and that's were I'm at now.

This job is something I love. Everyday I meet amazing young people from every age group. I've seen so many young people grow as a result of our work and it's the best feeling in the world, money just can't buy that!!!

So hopefully I will meet you in the future around school, if so come up and say hello, I would love to meet you!!!

Good luck Stevie B

Hi, I'm Gill. I am 44, wife of Graham, mum to Ellie, Rosie, Harrison and Billy. I run HU Store, which provides an exciting range of products for schools and young people. Through my own journey I am hoping to have an amazing time getting to meet some of the wonderful individual and special people that my husband is always telling me about.

In November 08, I lost a very special friend....my Mum. Throughout my life she was there for me, she didn't always agree with me, who my friends where, how I looked, where I went, but do you know what.....? I knew she was caring and loving and always wanted me to be safe and happy. She had taught me what was right and what was wrong, what's good and what's bad and that you always have a choice.

Most of all she taught me how to laugh and we did lots of that! She encouraged me to follow my own path because with this knowing inside of me, no path was the wrong one because every path is an experience and with every experience we all grow. If we are kind to people then people and the world are kind to us. I have followed an amazing path so far on my journey and as I turn this new corner I look forward to all that I meet on the way. I just want one, well maybe a few things on the way,...... lots of laughs and lots of good coffee.

Wishing anyone who reads this a great, exciting path, journey, bus ride, roller blade, skate, surf, walk, run, fly, whatever blows your hair back ride and experience of your own.

Take it easy.......gill x

Hey there, my name is Ben Hooson-Jones, I am twenty years old and an ex-hero! I joined the heroes journey 6 years ago at The Harefield Acdemy, and what a journey its been so far. I'm so lucky to be working for humanutopia, I have worked with over 25,000 young people and travelled the country all at the same time. I also had the honor of becoming the first hero to be sent out to Camp America to have the experience of a lifetime.

So a little bit about me, in school I was always a cheeky chappy and got along with everyone. Luckily enough I had a good time at school and was always quite popular in my year group. I have always had a great bunch of friends around me to support me through the highs and the lows! I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life, I have dreamed of becoming a load of things, from a professional wrestler, to a criminal psychologist! But now I finally found what I wanted to do in life.

I love working with young people, no matter where you go, everywhere is a different experience when on the road with humanutopia. As a person I feel I have grown immeasurably from being a hero and now working for hu, but I have learnt most from all the young people I work with everyday. I am never surprised by what a young person can achieve anymore. From someone who is an angel in school, to someone who is about to be permanently excluded.

There are so many things I want to do in life, traveling, extreme sports, have a family and grow old with no regrets. But right now all I want to do is work with young people all around the world and help someone realize their dreams and ambitions.

Thank you for taking the time for reading my bio, I hope you are well and even more importantly, I hope I see you soon!

Benjii

hi to one and all 18 months ago I thought I had had an amazing life but since joining hu, I've seen life through different eyes. I have met some incredible individuals and I know there are a lot more people out there who I would love to smile with. Joining hu has made me more determined to reach my goals and dreams, no matter how big or small they are. I also have every intention of living my life to the full no matter what or whom may try to stop me along the way.

Many of you may not know but hu has expanded to include new support team members. These guys are amazing, they are young, vibrant and bring added essence to our office and offer 100% support, of which I am proud to be part of.

My family is very important to me, Steve my husband is my rock and best friend rolled into one. He totally believes in me and in everything I stand for. We have a gorgeous daughter called Dominique who is not in the least bit shy... like her mum!

In the not too distant future I hope to endure some new challenges such as becoming an accomplished saxophone player, completing a triathlon and would love to give a little bit of something back by doing some volunteer work in a poverty-stricken country.

lol Elaine xx

Hi I'm Tom and I started with humanutopia back in Summer 2007 when it was just Graham and Carlo, which feels like only yesterday. It has been simply amazing to see the company grow into such a vibrant group of people. I came out of University and was looking for a job in media production. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but knew I wanted to use my skills, do something that had purpose and made a difference.

April 2009 I had the chance to setup and run HU Media, a company that helped young people make their own films. I now produce videos, animations, and design work to make sure humanutopia and the heroes journey look visually as best as they can. I love my job and helping this company have a massive impact.

My name is Carlo, I am the partnership development director for HU, my role is to speak with principals and decision makers who wish to embark on the heroes journey and partnerships within their organisations.

I have spent the majority of my life working within schools, with hugely fond memories of the time spent in Cardinal Newman and Dorothy Stringer High school. I am especially proud of the experiences and journey that Graham and I have created over the last seven years through humanutopia and the heroes journey.

Although the best part of my job is working with an amazing team and making so many friends in all the great schools we visit, I absolutely love the difference we make as a company and the passion that young people bring to our days. The heroes never cease to amaze me with their ability to inspire younger people and adults, whilst trying to make a real difference in their schools and communities.

I have a wonderful wife called Tamasine who supports me in so many ways, she is my soulmate and greatest friend, and together we are very proud of our beautiful kids, Max, Aithne and George. My kids give me so much strength and happiness, I love them deeply and am very proud of them all.

I also like to thank all my friends, family, sporting team mates and work colleagues who over the years have helped me to live such an extraordinary life, thank you for all the wonderful memories and experiences...

looking forward to many more... c

Hi my name is Lauren and I am part of the hu delivery team.

Five years ago I was in year 10 at the newly named Harefield Academy and had a day that was to influence the course of my life completely.

Humanutopia gave me an opportunity to become a hero in year 10 and it has lead to me being able to give those same experiences to young people across the country. During my A levels I worked as a dance teacher for Futunity UK and competed in their senior squad at various competitions. My passion for dance and teaching was just leading to a bigger passion that was just being around and inspiring young people.

I am so privileged to have a career that I love and to be able to help provide for my mum and myself where we live in West London. I have been a keen horse rider since I was 6 years old and horses will always be a massive part of my life. My boyfriend Shae is my best friend and someone I couldn't live without, as are my small, but gorgeous, group of family and friends: all are completely irreplaceable in my heart.