Celebrating Fay Dellimore: Qualified Coach and Changemaker

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Fay Dellimore’s achievement in qualifying as a professional coach through the Coaching with Confidence – Coaching Skills Programme 2025, achieving her EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) Level 5.

As Fay’s colleague, it was a real privilege to attend her graduation in December at the beautiful Shoreditch Treehouse. Sharing the day with Fay was an honour. We were joined by Liz Bowyer, Learning, Skills and Employment Manager at HMP/YOI Sudbury, who works closely with Fay on a day to day basis to support the men at HMP Sudbury. Celebrating this milestone together felt especially meaningful, recognising both the qualification itself and the real world impact of Fay’s work.

Fay has spoken openly about the fact that while the content of the course sat within her comfort zone, the true achievement for her was gaining the qualification. Having left school with one O Level, standing on that stage and receiving an EMCC Level 5 professional coaching qualification represented far more than a certificate. It marked perseverance, belief and a willingness to challenge long held assumptions about what is possible. Fay shared that at 40 she felt too old to pursue a degree, but now, at 62, she is looking to study criminology and psychology; a testament to her lifelong commitment to growth and learning.

Fay uses coaching every day in her work at 3Pillars Project, supporting men in custody and on release to rebuild their lives. Her coaching philosophy is rooted in respect for each person’s capacity to self direct and self connect, fostering trust, curiosity and accountability. She helps individuals look inward, reflect honestly and translate that awareness into purposeful action, always holding a deep belief that people already possess the inner resources needed for growth.

The Coaching with Confidence programme is a rigorous, 18 week EMCC accredited qualification, combining solution focused coaching, positive psychology and neuroscience with extensive reflective practice. To qualify, Fay completed five full training modules, over 50 hours of one to one coaching, supervision, structured reflection and formal assessment of her coaching skills.

At graduation, Hilary Farrington, Director of Professional Qualifications and Supervision and ICF Professional Certified Coach, spoke powerfully about Fay’s values, passion and drive, highlighting her courage in putting herself forward, embracing challenges and continuing to grow through a demanding year.

We see Fay thrive in spaces where she can truly make a difference, and this qualification strengthens her impact even further. Her journey is a powerful reminder that qualifications do not define potential, and that growth is always possible at any stage.

Congratulations, Fay. We are incredibly proud of you and grateful to have you as part of the 3Pillars Project team.