Chair Of Trustees
Bio
Tricia is a highly experienced trustee previously serving as a local charity trustee. She possesses extensive expertise in the voluntary sector, social work, and management. Additionally, as a mother of a young adult with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), she brings a unique and valuable perspective to her role as our new Chair of Trustees.
Vice Chair
Interim Treasurer
Bio
Bob is a retired IT and telecommunications professional. He has worked his way up from trainee to engineering and project management, ultimately retiring as the head of engineering and service delivery for a global telecommunications organisation. With extensive experience managing projects and staff with budgets exceeding £1,000,000, Bob also possesses expertise in quality assurance and data security, adhering to ISO standards. He is excited to bring his skills to STRM and make a positive impact for our families.
Trustee
Bio
Vicki is a qualified British Sign Language Interpreter, professional trainer and parent of two neurodivergent children. As an ADHDer, she brings valuable lived experience to SEND the Right Message.
Trustee
Bio
Clare is the mother of two boys. She has spent many years in recruitment, supporting a wide range of organisations, including Charities. She believes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of building successful teams anywhere! As well as a flexible approach to continual learning and nurturing talent creates opportunities for individuals and their organisation. As an active participant in Pride and Parent support groups within her previous employer, she understands that mentoring and sharing experiences underpin truly inclusive cultures. Clare is keen to offer her skills in recruitment, training, sales and management to support our Charity.
Trustee
Bio
With more than 25 years of HR experience in the legal services sector, Alison offers a wide range of experience in systems implementation, project management, process enhancement, and communication.
As a mother of a young autistic adult, Alison knows how difficult it can be to navigate the diagnosis process and secure support while balancing work and family responsibilities. She is deeply committed to STRM’s mission of providing comprehensive and holistic support to families in need and is eager to use her personal experiences as both a parent and a professional to assist families in overcoming challenges. Alison has a particular area of interest in the support available for neurodivergent young people as they transition from education to the workplace.
Alison is thrilled to join STRM as a trustee, having witnessed firsthand the profound impact of their services and support.
Trustee
Bio
Brian is an IT Specialist Engineer who resolves issues for various companies. Brian previously served as a Councillor for his local area, where he made significant efforts to promote change, particularly advocating for SEND issues. He held roles such as Vice Chair of South Essex Homes and Vice Chair of the Appeals Committee and was involved in several committees, including Audit, People Scrutiny, and Development Control. Additionally, Brian is keenly interested in grassroots football and serves as the Club Coordinator for Corinthians Football Club. He is also the Chair of the St. Luke’s Resident’s Association. Brian also currently sits on the Southend Fostering Panel and is also strongly interested in the transformative power of the Arts for all. He is married and has two children. As the parent of a child with SEND—he has an autistic and ADHD daughter—he understands the challenges that families face. He recognises the difficulties that arise from gaps in services. He believes in acknowledging the many skills and talents of our neurodivergent children and advocates for them to be seen and heard.
Trustee
Bio
Simon brings extensive voluntary service experience to his role as a STRM Trustee, having worked in areas such as homelessness, food banks, stewarding charity events, collaborating with the Cities of Sanctuary, and various office functions. He holds certificates in counselling, neurodivergence, Mental Health First Aid, Peer Support, and Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention in Young People’s Advocacy, as well as safeguarding. With a diverse skill set honed over a 35-year career, Simon also has personal experience with c-PTSD and navigating mental health services. As a Lived Experience Ambassador with EPUT, he is passionate about co-production, peer support, and neurodivergence. In his leisure time, Simon enjoys reading, attending live music events and theatre, and has a passion for cooking.
Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Bio
Rebecca is a mother managing a busy neurodivergent household and has successfully operated her own businesses for much of her career. With a background in change management within the local authority, she is thrilled to bring her expertise to support the STRM team. Having lived experience with Autism and ADHD allows Rebecca to not only support her four children but also to offer support to friends and other parents. She will bring a diverse skill set she has developed throughout her career and a sense of fun to the STRM team.
CEO
Bio
Manager
Bio
Jo, a mum of three with a background in social and paediatric care and lived experience of SEND. She believes in empowering parent carers with the knowledge to advocate for their child/ren. She recognises in her own experience that it can be overwhelming and complicated.
Jo is currently undergoing the process of seeking an ADHD diagnosis to enhance her ability to manage the unique challenges that arise from her differences. She understands we don't all have to be a square peg in a round hole.
Volunteer
Bio
Michelle is a mother of two who has transitioned from a career as a nail technician to becoming a passionate advocate for change within her community. Her personal experiences with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and hip conditions with her own neurodivergent family have inspired her to raise awareness, share her journey, and support other families. Michelle has been featured in local newspapers and news outlets, and more recently, she participated in a parliamentary group focused on eating disorders.
Volunteer
Bio
Joan volunteers at STRM and brings years of experience in supporting neurodivergent children and families, both in family law and within her personal life.
She served as Chair of Governors at an inner-city school in Birmingham and has been an LEA adopted governor at a Southend School for the past six years.
With a deep understanding of family law, Joan has provided assistance to families in a Pilot Project, helping eight families navigate complex issues such as housing, family law, and challenging medical conditions, shedding light on the intense challenges parents encounter in the SEND system.
Volunteer
Bio
As a parent of a daughter with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), she has navigated the various challenges she has faced in education, health, support services, and the wider community. Kay has many years of experience working with children and families, helping them overcome obstacles to accessing health, education, and social care. Her background as a former councillor also provides Kay with valuable insight into local authorities' decision-making processes. Kay has volunteered on a parent helpline in the past and is excited to join STRM as a volunteer, inspired by their remarkable dedication to improving the lives of children and families.
Volunteer
Bio
Santanna joined the team as a volunteer to assist with administering the Online Parent Support Forum.
She enjoys helping parents access online support, especially since, as a parent of a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and understands the difficulties of accessing support due factors like not being able to leave the house or you work full-time. The Online Forum provides parents with an outlet to access support online rather than in person.
Santanna has four children; and one is diagnosed Autistic and ADHD, and her other child is on the pathway.
We are a ‘ by parents for parents’ registered charity.
Our mission is to improve the lives of families in Southend and Essex whose children have been identified or are suspected of having specific educational needs and/or disabilities.
SEND the Right Message Charity is registered in England.
Charity Number 1193572
