Our trustees

Our Management committee consists of 13 parents, who are also members of a variety of local parent support groups and thus provide vital links to the wider parent community.

Jayne Woodward is one of our co-chairs. She chairs meetings of our Management Committee and the subcommittee for Staffing, Governance and Finance. Jayne is mother to two boys aged 15 and 12; Sam, her eldest, attends Bents Green School. Sam is autistic and has Dyspraxia, ADD and oral Dyspraxia. Jayne works part time as a Disability Adviser at the University of Sheffield which involves supporting disabled students. She has been contact for the South Yorkshire Dyspraxia Support Group since 2007 until recently, and has been involved with the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum since its inception in October 2008.

David Roe is our other co-chair. David and Sue have 4 children: Gemma (23), Jonathan (21), George (19) and Joseph (15). George and Joseph have an autistic spectrum disorder and cystic fibrosis. David joined at the start of the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum. He is also a Parent Governor at Bents Green special school, a Beaver Scout leader, and a member of Friends of Bents Green, Carers and Young Carers Board, and Families Lobbying and Advising Sheffield. David has been a carer since 1999 and before that he was a joiner and packer from 1962 to 1999 for a Packing Case Manufacturer.

Deborah Woodhouse is co-founder and trustee of ACCT: Asperger's Children and Carers Together - a local charity providing services and support to children and their families with Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism. Deborah has experience in management, politics and journalism and worked as an aide to a politician in Sheffield and Westminster for 7 years. She worked for 13 years as an Assistant Registrar at the University of Sheffield specialising in politics and journalism. Deborah is mum to two children, one with Asperger's syndrome, asthma, serious allergy difficulties and sensory difficulties.

Jayne Raynor has two children aged 13 and 18. Jayne’s son has an autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties and was only diagnosed at 15, having had a different diagnosis for years. Through this, Jayne became involved in a support group called Ray of Hope for which she is now Project Co-ordinator. Jayne worked within social services for twenty years and has been involved with additional needs since her son was two.

Sue Roe is married to David, our co-chair. She originally trained in secretarial work, then as a nurse. After 25 years Sue went back to college and gained a diploma in childcare and education. Sue has worked in a variety of schools, mostly supporting children with special educational needs. Sue does voluntary work as secretary with Friends of Bents Green and also secretary to the Beighton Scout Group. She recently joined FLASH (MENCAP) for the adult section.

Clare Peck has two daughters aged 14 and 11 years; her younger daughter has Down syndrome and currently attends mainstream school. She and her husband Rob are active members of the Sheffield Down Syndrome Support group.

Joanne Ferguson has been on the Management Committee for two years. She is currently also on the Finance and Governance Sub-committee, the Education subgroup, the Transport group and the Inclusive Learning Strategy Steering group. In addition, Joanne co-ordinates our schools outreach project. Outside the Forum Joanne helps to run a local Riding for the Disabled riding group.

Kate Quail has a 13-year-old daughter who has moderate/severe learning disabilities, is on the autistic spectrum and has a range of complex medical and physical problems. She attends Bents Green Secondary Special School. Originally a nurse, Kate has 28 years’ experience working in the health service, the last 10 in children’s health. Kate has worked in the charitable and voluntary sector, the Department of Health nationally, PCTs, NHS Provider Trusts, and Local Authorities, holding them to account, helping them to clearly focus on priorities and maintain a firm focus on financial and business risks, accountability and performance. Kate is a Carer Governor of the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Geraldine Whittle trained as an Information Scientist but became a teacher when she had children. Her eldest had no problems with education, social life and just a year of ill health with tonsillitis. However, her son had epilepsy when he was 3 months old and was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. He has complex health needs and his care is currently at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool. He started in mainstream and transferred to special school and is now in residential as his needs have increased year on year. Geraldine has worked, mostly part time, throughout. She works for SHINE (Spina Bifida Information Networking Equality).

John Vear has been our Treasurer since 2010.

Michelle Cook, Amanda Wilcox and Laura Gillespie joined our Management Committee only recently - profiles will be posted shortly!