STRM is governed by an independent Board of Trustees responsible for strategy, safeguarding, financial oversight, and long-term sustainability, in line with Charity Commission guidance (CC3 and CC8).
The Board combines lived experience of disability and caring with professional expertise in finance, HR, safeguarding, IT, and governance. Trustees provide independent challenge and oversight to ensure the charity remains compliant, effective, and focused on its charitable purpose.
STRM is led by a Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for operational delivery, partnerships, safeguarding leadership, and financial management. Delivery is supported by a moderate team of paid staff and trained volunteers, with clear role boundaries, supervision, and escalation routes.
STRM maintains a Designated Safeguarding Lead at executive level, safer recruitment practices, and proportionate financial controls. Trustees oversee budgets, reporting, and risk to ensure public funds are used responsibly and transparently.
STRM is a lived-experience-led charity with strong governance. We are overseen by an independent Board of Trustees and led day-to-day by a Chief Executive Officer, supported by a small staff team and trained volunteers.
We create safe, welcoming spaces where families feel heard, respected, and supported, at their own pace.
Chair of Trustees
Bio
Bob is a retired IT and telecommunications professional with experience in engineering, project management, and service delivery. During his career, he led teams and managed complex projects, developing a strong understanding of quality, data security, and good operational practice.
As Chair of Trustees, Bob supports STRM by providing steady leadership, governance oversight, and challenge, helping ensure the charity remains well-run, accountable, and sustainable.
Trustee
Bio
Ann has worked as Road Services Director at Quattro Plant for many years and brings senior leadership experience to STRM.
Alongside her professional career, Ann co-founded the charity HAE UK and later became its Chair. Through this work, she has been involved in fundraising, awareness-raising, and improving understanding of a rare condition, including contributing to national media, broadcasting, and parliamentary discussions.
Ann brings experience in governance, communications, and charity leadership to STRM, alongside first-hand experience of supporting children with additional needs.
Trustee
Vice Chair
Bio
Brian is an IT Specialist Engineer and former local councillor with extensive experience in governance, scrutiny, and public accountability. His previous roles include Vice Chair of South Essex Homes and membership of audit, appeals, and development control committees.
Brian currently sits on the Southend Fostering Panel and holds leadership roles within community organisations. As the parent of an autistic and ADHD child, he brings strong advocacy skills and insight into service gaps affecting SEND families.
Trustee
Bio
Daniel was born in Rochford and raised in Southend. After studying at the University of Hull, he began a career in online advertising before being diagnosed as blind, which led him to step away from his role to focus on rehabilitation and adapting to sight loss.
He later moved into politics, working in Westminster before being elected to Southend City Council. Daniel now works as Director of Client Success for an adtech company.
In 2019, Daniel and his wife welcomed their first child, who was later diagnosed as autistic. Combined with his own lived experience of disability and the experiences of his brother, who also has learning disabilities, this deepened Daniel’s passion for improving support for disabled people and families.
Daniel joined STRM because he strongly believes the charity fills a vital gap within the current system. He is passionate about STRM’s focus on parent experience, peer support and early guidance for families, recognising that too many parents of SEND children receive a diagnosis and are then left to navigate complex systems alone. He believes STRM provides the understanding, community and practical support that families desperately need.
Trustee
Bio
Clare is the mother of two boys and has extensive experience in recruitment, training, sales, and management, including work with charitable organisations.
She is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion and understands how inclusive cultures strengthen organisations. Through her involvement in Pride and parent support groups, Clare has seen the value of mentoring, shared experience, and flexible approaches to learning and development.
Clare supports STRM with recruitment, workforce development, and organisational growth, helping ensure EDI principles are embedded across the charity.
Trustee
Bio
Chief Executive Officer
Bio
Maggie is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STRM. She established the charity following many years of navigating the SEND system as a parent and experiencing the barriers families face in accessing timely support.
She previously worked for 15 years in financial derivatives and later in healthcare administration. Maggie is a Level 5 Designated Safeguarding Lead, safer recruitment trained, trauma-informed trained, and trained in charity management and charity accounting.
Maggie combines lived experience with strong safeguarding, governance, and financial oversight to ensure STRM delivers safe, trusted, and compliant support.
Administrator & Business Support
Bio
Vicky has experience as an Early Years and Primary school teacher and is the parent of a late-diagnosed autistic teenager.
She brings over 10 years’ experience providing administration and business support to small businesses and charities, supporting STRM’s coordination, systems, and day-to-day operations.
Hr & Wellbeing Administrator
Bio
Family Pathways Coordinator
Bio
Rebecca has experience working in Early Years, where she developed a strong understanding of child development and a passion for supporting children and their families.
As a mum to two boys, she is currently navigating the SEND system herself, giving her first-hand insight into the challenges many families face.
Alongside this, Rebecca brings over six years of experience in administration, helping her provide organised and effective support in her role at STRM.
She is committed to making sure families feel heard and understood, and is looking forward to making a positive difference through her work.
Family Support Assistant
Bio
Kerry is a parent of two neurodivergent children and has 18 years’ experience working in primary education, supporting children with additional needs.
She also volunteers as a Therapy Dog handler, supporting children with anxiety and communication differences. Kerry brings a calm, practical, and compassionate presence to STRM’s family support work.
Bio
Joan volunteers at STRM and brings many years of experience supporting neurodivergent children and families, both professionally and personally. She has served as Chair of Governors at an inner-city school and as an LEA-appointed governor at a Southend school.
Joan also brings knowledge of family law and has supported families navigating complex issues such as housing, health, and education. She offers calm, practical support to families facing difficult SEND-related challenges.
Bio
Michelle is a parent advocate with lived experience of ARFID and disability within her family. Her personal journey has led her to raise awareness, share her experiences, and support other families facing similar challenges.
She has been involved in local and national awareness work, including contributing to media coverage and participating in parliamentary group discussions on eating disorders.
Bio
Vicki is a qualified British Sign Language Interpreter. She is also a parent of two neurodivergent children and has lived experience as an ADHDer.
Vicki supports STRM by helping ensure communication and support are accessible and inclusive. She also helps deliver and support training, sharing her skills and experience to strengthen understanding and good practice across the charity.
Bio
Bio
Charlotte is a parent of two children, one of whom is on the SEND journey, and understands the emotional ups and downs families can experience. She previously worked as a Family Support Worker and now supports STRM through peer-led volunteering.
Charlotte is currently studying autism and children’s mental health and is passionate about supporting families, building skills, and giving back to the community.
Bio
Caroline works as an Accounts Manager and supports STRM as an adhoc volunteer.
As a neurodivergent individual and parent of a neurodivergent child, Caroline brings lived experience that helps inform STRM’s values and decision-making. She uses both her professional skills and personal insight to support the charity’s work and families it serves.
Bio
Santanna volunteers with STRM’s online parent support forum. As a parent of neurodivergent children, she understands the barriers families can face in accessing in-person support, particularly when juggling work, caring responsibilities, or health needs.
She helps ensure families can access support online in a flexible and welcoming way.
Bio
Emma is a parent carer and brings both lived experience and a caring nature to her role within STRM. She also has a background supporting disabled and neurodivergent adults before stepping away from work to care for her son full-time.
Passionate about helping others and making sure families receive the right information and support, Emma has recently joined STRM to help support the charity’s Online SEND Parent & Carer Forum as one of our Facebook moderators.
Emma understands how important it is for families to feel listened to, connected and less alone. She is proud to be part of the STRM team and looks forward to helping create a welcoming and supportive online community for parent carers.
