Our Trustees
Our Charity is governed by a board of Trustees.
We are looking to develop our board of Trustees so that we can support the charity through the next stages of our strategic plans. We are currently seeking new Trustees with experience in Finance, HR, Law and Strategic Planning.
Please see our Download document for experience and skills needed. All responses in writing please to Garry Ratcliffel, Chair of Trustees.
Garry Ratcliffe- Chair of Trustees
I am Garry Ratcliffe and I am very proud to be the Chair of Trustees at We Are Beams. I have only recently joined the Board, however, I have been involved with this inspiring charity for several years – both as a parent of disabled children who use the BEAMS payroll service and Direct Payments service – but also as a local Headteacher. Many of the children I serve in my schools also access Beams services.
I am a dad of four awesome children. Kyle and I, my much-better-half, adopted all four children. Three of our kids have special needs, including cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy. I hope I understand some of the struggles and challenges that some parents face on a daily basis – but I also hope I can appreciate the pure joy that having special children can bring.
Beams is a very special community that puts the needs of children and families at the heart of everything it does. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to promote the best outcomes possible for even the most vulnerable child.
Having been very fortunate in my own life, I wanted to give “something back” and joining the Board was one way. I hope to meet many parents at a Beams event in the near future.
Sanjit Bansal
Jason Jarvis
Neil Johnston
Neil joined as a Trustee in 2011. Neil was the Sales Manager for a worldwide optical company and previous to that a Recruitment Consultant. He has extensive sales and marketing experience. Three years ago Neil became a full-time carer, caring for his son for 8 years who has a rare diagnosis of Kabuki Syndrome.
Neil is a Parent Trustee, and his son Kai is a service user.
Rosemarie Neale
Rosie joined as a Trustee in 2013. She also works at another local charity called Homestart as a family Support Worker so brings with her extensive experience of working with families of disabled children. She also runs a Club for Down’s syndrome children on a monthly basis.
Rosie is a Parent Trustee and her daughter Emily is a service user.
Joanna Burton
Joanna joined as a Trustee in 2014. Joanna has a degree in Psychology working in mental health services within various community settings and later became the Deputy Project Manager of a large residential and outreach project. Following this she worked for Bexley Council, managing a children and young people’s short break service. During this time, she also returned to university to train as a counsellor and worked within Greenwich University’s student services and a London-based GP practice offering 1:1 and group counselling.
She qualified with a PGCE and is now working as a lecturer at a further education college.
