MEET THE TEAM
All of our founders, volunteers and staff are DBS checked and have completed safeguarding and leadership training.
Michael Maisey
Founder
Michael has been sober for fifteen years. Since his release from prison in 2001, he has been on a journey of self-development to improve his life and heal the wounds from his childhood.
He went from being a child from an underprivileged background, with zero qualifications, to setting up an award-winning business in London.
Following this, he founded the CIP Project in Devon, where he shares the tools he has found to be most beneficial to help others reach their full potential. His core belief is about 100% accountability, giving back, and transforming the lives of others from all walks of life.​
Michael is also the best-selling author of Young Offender and a TEDx speaker.
Luke Szachnowski
Co-Founder
Luke moved to the UK from Poland in 2005, where he embarked on a journey of self-development.
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In 2015, Luke decided to get sober and has been so ever since. During the past eight years, he has developed various techniques to help him become a better version of himself.
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In 2017 he enrolled on a counselling course with Clearmind International. In 2018 he completed breathwork training with Wim Hof and brings these methods to our workshops.
Luke has facilitated at many workshops to help others reach their full potential. He attended the very first CIP Project weekend and has been a valued member from the beginning. He now leads our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Kingston Upon Thames.
FACILITATORS
Dave Vaughan-Griffiths
Also known as "Big Dave" amongst his peers at CIP.
Dave has been on his own recovery journey since 2014 after battling addiction in his earlier years. Dave is now clean and sober from alcohol and drugs and in recovery from complex PTSD.
Dave started his journey with CIP in 2021, which saw him complete the four initiation workshops and graduate from the King Within in 2021. He has since gone on to facilitate other workshops and helped the Class of 2022 graduate.
Dave runs our weekly online men's group, called Man Clan, and helps facilitate our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Devon.
Outside of CIP, Dave runs his own business and is a loving father and husband to his four children and wife, Sarah.
Frank Pullen
Frank has been on his healing and self-development journey since 2001. He attended his first workshop with CIP in September 2021.
He completed his leadership training with CIP in 2022 and now helps facilitate workshops and lead our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Kingston.
Outside of CIP, Frank runs his own business.
Liam Mclay
Liam attended his first workshop with CIP in London in 2019 after finding recovery but feeling like something was still missing from his life.
He felt so passionately about the project and the work that we do that he decided he would go on to complete our leadership training and help others coming to the project. He is the leader of our catering team and provides us with nourishing and tasty food at our workshops. Liam also helps facilitate our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Kingston Upon Thames.
Outside of CIP, Liam is a Michelin-star chef in London and is a loving father to two children. He has been sober for multiple years and mentors other men on their journeys to getting sober.
Haleem Clift
Haleem started his journey with CIP in 2019 after a workshop led by Michael Maisey was delivered at his local college. He is in recovery from addiction and has been sober for multiple years.
In 2021 Haleem completed the four initiation workshops with CIP and graduated from the King. He has since gone on to complete his leadership training with CIP and now facilitates the workshops, the weekly online Man Clan support group and The Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Devon.
Haleem's story has been featured on Channel 4, and he now gives talks in schools and colleges across the UK, raising awareness around addiction and mental health for the upcoming generations. Outside of CIP, he volunteers his time for the Charlie Waller Trust and runs his own podcast, Honesty Speaks. "
Rebecca Granshaw
Becca started her healing journey in 2015. She first attended a women's retreat with CIP in 2022 and later went on to complete her leadership training with us later that year.
Becca now leads our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Surrey and is qualifying to become a Somatic Trauma Therapist. Becca is a qualified Crystal Sound Activator and Tibetan Bowl Healer.
Outside of CIP, Becca is a loving aunty and co-founder of Evolve Circle, a small community offering support to women.
Sarah Vaughan-Griffiths
Sarah started her journey with The CIP Project in May 2021, when the first women's retreats began. After suffering childhood trauma and being in a domestic violence relationship from the age of 18, and then going into a relationship with an addict who also suffers with PTSD, she had lost herself and did not know where to turn.
She went on to gain her level 1 & 2 in Reiki Healing and completed her leadership training with CIP in 2022.
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Sarah now leads our online weekly support group for women and facilitates our Sacred Circle Emotional Support Group in Devon. Outside of CIP Sarah works in a local school in Devon and is Mum to two children and married to her husband Dave who also supports the project.
