A veteran preschool teacher’s passion to help people succeed shifted focus this week when she took the helm of a residential programme to help mothers and their children.

Marion Dyer said she expected no two days to be the same at the Transformational Living Centre for Families, where she became the executive director.

She told The Royal Gazette: “I’ve always loved working with people.

“In my previous profession, I had to work with parents, teachers and children on a day-to-day basis.

“Here, although it’s not a school, the skills that I learnt as far as being able to communicate, build relationships with the guests who are in the house — I felt that I would be able to be effective doing that.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people and wanting to make sure that they have the skill set they need to be able to be successful in life, from preschool right on through.”

Ms Dyer, a mother of three and grandmother of two, moved on from a preschool teaching career of 38 years, including 26 as a principal or administrator.

As an internationally certified facilitator in parenting workshops, she first attended the TLC to deliver a session before she learnt about the executive director opportunity.

She said her new role meant a “different focus”.

Ms Dyer added: “It’s still going to be very intense, I don’t expect any two days to be the same.

“You have to be able to think on your feet, you have to problem-solve in a heartbeat, and I’ve been doing that all my career.

“I’m also not afraid to make decisions; if something needs to be said or done, if something needs to be changed, I’m not afraid to do that.

“I will communicate with all partners first and come up with, hopefully, what is a win-win for everybody.”

Her first few days as executive director included getting to know some of the eight mothers living at the centre, where the full complement of staff also includes a case manager, resident co-ordinator and two resident assistants.

Ms Dyer said her role would involve work related to fundraising and developing ways to support mothers as they prepared to move into homes of their own.

She explained: “This is a programme, it’s not a long-term residential care centre.

“Our intent is to help the women become successful, so that they can fledge and go out in the community, have their own place to live, be able to sustain their home, pay the bills, look after their kids — that’s our focus, that’s what we want.

“We’ll be working on that over the next year.”

Ms Dyer said the TLC welcomed speakers or facilitators at least once a week to deliver the Transformational Support Services Programme, which covers subjects such as understanding money, building self-esteem, assertiveness and parenting skills.

Guests learn CPR and take part in training provided by child sexual abuse prevention charity Scars while coaching in interpersonal skills and healthy relationships is also on the schedule.

The TLC’s goal is to take families through the programme to prepare them for a move towards self-sufficiency.

Ms Dyer, who is also certified in trauma support, said: “All residents are actively participating in the Transformational Support Services Programme.

“The capstone experience — phase two, the creation of individualised life plans — is now in progress to prepare families for graduation to independent life after the TLC over the next six to 12 months.”

Ms Dyer said that after she took up the post this month, she was struck by the empathy and care among the mothers at the TLC.

“It’s a very happy place, it’s peaceful,” she said. “You come in and it’s calm, the energy is calm.”

She added: “It’s really good to come into that kind of environment.”

Ms Dyer said: “I feel very supported. The staff have been very receptive, the guests have been very receptive and it’s nice to feel valued.”

The centre, in Pembroke, opened in February 2022 and families in the present cohort include 12 children ranging in age from infancy to teenager.

Elaine Butterfield, the TLC advisory board chairwoman, said: “We are very grateful to have Ms Dyer on board.

“We feel that her diverse and very well-rounded skill set and perspective, along with her passion for families, will be exactly what the Transformational Living Centre needs to deliver on its mission and vision.

“She has demonstrated that from day one.”