Speak Out’s Governance Board is made up of 6 members with a broad range of skills and experience, including people with learning disabilities who use Speak Out services.
Speak Out also has a user Committee with 6-8 members that work closely with the Governance Board, providing feedback about the experience of services users and helping the develop advocacy and community services that people with learning disabilities want and need. Find out more
Jo Carden – Chair of Trustees
Jo has been a Speak Out trustee since 2014 and brings with her over 20 years of experience of working in the charity sector. Jo has worked with, and on behalf of, people with learning disabilities both here in the UK and in America and is passionate about the role that advocacy has to play in ensuring people with disabilities have a voice. Jo is currently the Director of Relate counselling services in Brighton and East Sussex.
Rohan Lowe
Rohan has been a service user at Speak Out for 4 years and has been involved in a number of Speak Out projects. He was a steering group member for the Lottery funded Hub project and is a members of a BHIG group. He also is active in the Young People’s council and is an advisor to Possibility People a local disabled people’s organisation.
Kate McLachlan
Kate McLachlan has been a Trustee since Dec 2015. Kate currently works at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as their Head of Workforce Resourcing. Kate has worked in Human Resources for over 25 years, mostly in NHS Trusts but also the Art Council, Sports Council and City University. Kate was previously a Trustee for Peter Bedford Housing Association in London.
Sarah Watson
Sarah became a member of Speak Out’s Link Group in 2007. Since then she has been involved in a variety of Speak Out’s projects and work including being a trainer, attending drop ins and more recently becoming a Board member. Sarah’s own experiences mean that she has a particular interest in making sure that people who have a mild learning disability have the right support. She feels that there is not enough support in place and they often slip through the net and do not get the services they need. Since being a child, Sarah has had a keen interest in art and particularly enjoys drawing portraits and abstract pictures.
Tor Goldfield
Tor joined the Speak Out board as a trustee in June 2023, with a focus on helping the organisation raise its profile in the local community and highlight the range of support services available to people with learning disabilities. Tor has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and communications and is currently a senior director of employee communications for a global travel company.
Nathaniel Lawford
Nathaniel became a trustee of Speak Out in June 2023. Nathaniel is the Inclusion and Projects Director at Grace Eyre. Nathaniel has been involved with Speak Out since 2022 and is currently a member of the Our Voices Matter group and the steering committee. Nathaniel is interested in public speaking and has spoken at international (In Iceland in the NNDR conference 2023) and national (LDE London and SHLD Milton Keynes conferences 2023) conferences. Nathaniel has an interest in the self-advocacy movement from having lived experience. Nathaniel has volunteered for a number of organizations and projects across the city of Brighton and Hove including as youth president of All Sorts, a local LGBTQ Plus youth group, and is an active member of the community, rallying to improve the rights and choices of people with learning disabilities.
Margaret Wood
Margaret became a trustee of Speak Out in June 2023. Margaret currently works as an Easy Read officer for Grace Eyre and is very passionate about accessibility and making things better for disabled people. Margaret completed a trustee training course with Grace Eyre and was looking for organisations to become a trustee and was recommended Speak Out by friends. Margaret is passionate about speaking up for people and equal opportunities, which is what drew Margaret to Speak Out. Margaret enjoys arts and crafts and likes watching wrestling matches in her spare time.