Head of Accounting for two Oxford colleges, Shazmin has been teaching for 15 years. Originally from Trinidad, Shazmin studied in Oxford in the 1980s before completing her studies at Universities in Oxford and London. In 2004 Shazmin set up Oxford Accounting and Business College. She has co-written three books.

Courses taught

Contact: shazminali@yahoo.co.uk

Charity supported: Diabetes Society www.diabetes.org.uk

Reason: It is estimated that more than 85% of diabetics in the Caribbean are improperly monitored and managed. Diabetes affects about 20% of the Trinidadian population. Close family relations of mine have died from diabetes.

Nick Bensted is an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher with a broad knowledge of the A level syllabus. This has been focused on AS revision courses, teaching in Oxfordshire schools, and on writing an A level RS textbook.

He holds a senior status degree in Theology from Oxford University, and a second in Psychology from Leicester University. A committed Christian, Nick makes regular mission trips to visit the Karen people of Thailand and Burma.

Courses taught

Contact: nick_bensted@hotmail.com

Charity supported: Karen Action Group www.karenactiongroup.org.uk

Reason: Nick says, "I used to work for this charity and still support them."

Janie Butler is a former Headteacher of a Primary and Middle School. She has taught across all Key Stages in both the state and private sector, and overseas. She has supervised Undergraduate and Graduate Teaching Practice, delivered INSET courses for experienced teachers, and worked as an Educational Researcher. Janie is also a published author of an Educational Handbook. Janie currently divides her time between teaching, running creative workshops, and working as a freelance Designer. Janie’s courses are always original, full of excellent ideas, thought provoking and practical.

Courses taught

Contact: janie_butler@hotmail.com

Charity supported: Orinoco - The Oxfordshire Scrapstore www.oxorinoco.org

Reason: Janie says, "I have chosen 'Orinoco -The Oxfordshire Scrapstore' not only because I’m a former Co-ordinator and a current Trustee, but more so, because Orinoco is a great recycling idea. Orinoco collects interesting, colourful, clean, safe materials from businesses, and sells them on to its member groups ,at low cost, as creative and artistic resources. How cool is that! Orinoco benefits thousands of children, young people and adults each year through resourcing schools, playgroups, youth groups and community projects."

Rob Plevin is the author of 'Magic Classroom Management, How to Get The Most from the Worst Kids in School', a highly practical and down-to-earth guide for all teachers, lecturers and youth workers. He also owns and runs the website www.classroom-management.org

He has extensive experience working with challenging children, having worked in residential settings and special education for the last 15 years, most recently as Deputy Head of a Pupil Referral Unit in the UK catering for teenagers with behaviour problems including ADHD and EBD. He was also identified as a key player in the team which turned round a Pupil Referral Unit in 'Special Measures'.

An inspection by the UK's Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) described his lessons of an 'exemplary' standard and he was praised by an LEA advisor as being 'an extremely gifted and talented teacher'.

Prior to his teaching career he worked as an outdoor activity instructor and youth worker for young offenders and young people in crisis.

Courses taught

Contact: rob@classroom-management.org

Charity supported: Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org.uk

Reason: Rob says, "Without a planet to live on we're finished!"

John Mannion has been teaching English for over twenty five years and was head of department in two different schools. He is currently teaching English and Philosophy in an inner London comprehensive school. He is the author of numerous textbooks and articles on English teaching and has worked as a consultant with the BBC, the Guardian and several publishers.

Courses taught

Contact: john.johnmannion@gmail.com

Charity supported: The Dystonia Society www.dystonia.org.uk/

Reason: John says, "One our relatives was diagnosed with dystonia at the age of eight. By the time she was ten her spine had curved backwards so severely that she couldn't even sit in a wheelchair. Fortunately she was able to receive ground breaking treatment in France which involved the implanting of electrodes into her brain. She has now made an almost complete recovery in terms of mobility." See: BBC News Feature

After teaching Religious Studies in London as Head of Department for many years Jon has been involved in public examinations as an examiner since 1984. He has held Chief Examiner posts for one of the major awarding bodies at ELC, GCSE and A level and is a consultant for QCA. He has extensive experience as an INSET leader and speaker at conferences. Jon has written more than fifty Religious Studies texts for various publishers as well as articles and ICT materials.

Courses taught

Contact: jm@jonmayled.co.uk

Charity supported: AVERT http://www.avert.org/aidssouthafrica.htm/

Reason: South Africa is currently experiencing one of the most severe AIDS epidemics in the world. By the end of 2005, there were five and a half million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day.

During the last eighteen years David Pope has divided his time between teaching modern and ancient languages at secondary schools, studying for a Master’s degree in European literature, writing for various journals and magazines and maintaining a professional career in solo and choral singing in the UK, Europe and South America. For ten years he ran his school’s Careers department and concurrently became Head of Spanish, after teaching himself this language at evening classes and universities in Spain and the UK and introducing the subject to the students. He also occasionally enjoys giving language lessons at his children’s primary school.

Courses taught

Contact: davidpope@mac.com

Charity supported: Action For Kids (www.actionforkids.org)

Reason: David says "I began supporting Action for Kids when I became Head of Careers and joined the local Rotary Club. They seemed to be the only charity which offered Work Experience and Skills Training for disabled kids, and they fund and maintain wheelchairs and mobility aids as well - which nobody else seems to. They also offer a biennial raffle, for which I was more than willing to hawk the tickets among the kids at school. We always managed to sell the entire booklet, and I felt that I was doing some good for the kids I taught as well as those looked after by the charity. Once word got out that I was a member of Rotary, lots of charities were eager for my custom as a contributor, and a number of them got it, but as its name hints, Action for Kids seems the most effective of all, and holds the pre-eminent place for me."

Chris has been teaching full-time since 1984. before that he was a part-time tutor in Oxford. In addition to teaching (including two stints as a Head of Business Studies) Chris has been an Examiner for five boards (‘O’, GCSE and AS/A2 level) He has also authored over 100 books for four different publishers.

Courses taught

Contact: chris@osl-ltd.co.uk

Charity supported: The Multiple Sclerosis Society www.mssociety.org.uk

Reason: My Mother, brother and sister all have/had MS.

Duncan Williamson has been a classroom based teacher since 1980 and has won many accolades from his pupils, students and colleagues in that time. Duncan has also spent a considerable amount of his time working abroad, in Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Middle East and the Far East. Duncan is an author, web master and spreadsheet modeller. In addition Duncan not only teaches and trains but he still works as a business consultant and advisor.

Courses taught

Contact: duncanwil@gmail.com

Charity supported: Scope www.scope.org.uk

Reason: Duncan says, "My daughter was born with cerebral palsy and is hemiplegic athetoid. In spite of such a terrible start in life she got herself out of her bed around the age of three to learn to walk when doctors told us she would probably be bed ridden for life. More than that she took to the water just a few years later and since then has become a Paralympian swimmer, representing Great Britain in Athens in 2004 and is currently working on a place in the GB swimming team for Beijing. "

Since gaining a degree in Psychology/Sociology in the 1980s Jeremy has been teaching at a variety of schools in Oxford. Though much of his experience has been in teaching English as a Foreign Language, Jeremy has also taught law, business, medicine and psychology. Aside from his teaching work, Jeremy was also a Liberal Democrat City Councillor for West Ward Oxford.

Courses taught

Contact: jeremy.wynne@some.ox.ac.uk

Charity supported: British Dyslexia Association www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Reason: Jeremy has dyslexia.