Sarah Clarke – Co-Chair & Director for the South East
Sarah was elected to the Board member role in January 2020 and was elected as Co-Chair in spring 2023. Sarah was previously the chair of her local Parent Carer Forum in Wokingham for many years and is the Joint CEO when the forum converted into CIO in 2023. Sarah is active in strategic work locally, regionally, and nationally.
Sarah has two neurodiverse teenagers, who have vastly different needs and diagnoses. Sarah’s personal family story and that of those she has met and meets along the way, has been the driving force behind becoming part of Parent Carer Forums. Being solution focused and working with stakeholders to improve outcomes for all our families, children and young people.
To contact Sarah, please email southeast@nnpcf.org.uk or cochairs@nnpcf.org.uk
Jo Harrison – Co-chair & Director for the East of England
Jo has been involved in forums since 2019, with her local forum being Essex Family Forum and has been national representative for NNPCF since 2020. Jo has been an active member of her region, previously been elected Vice Chair, and then Chair of Eastern Regional Parent Carer Forum (ERPCF) prior to her appointment as NNPCF Director for the East of England in 2023 and then Co-Chair in 2024.
Jo has two children, who are both neurodiverse and have sensory needs. She previously trained and worked in finance, but after her children were born, went back to university and obtained a BA Hons in Early Years and a PG Cert in Education.
To contact Jo, please email eastofengland@nnpcf.org.uk or cochairs@nnpcf.org.uk
Richard Jaramba – Director for the East Midlands
Richard has been an active member of the local and East Midlands Regional Forum. He brings a wealth of experience from the voluntary sector and over ten years in the health and social care sector. Richard has a passion for social integration and especially for SEN children and their families in the community.
To contact Richard, please email eastmidlands@nnpcf.org.uk
Elaine Lambe – Director for the West Midlands
Elaine is a member of the Warwickshire PCF and works within the West Midlands region. She is part her NCT regional team, doing national strategic work on their behalf.
To contact Elaine, please email westmidlands@nnpcf.org.uk
Jayne Fitzgerald – Director for Yorkshire & Humber
Jayne has previously been co-chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Forum and is currently the strategic manager of her local parent carer forum. She has been a national representative for NNPCF prior to joining the steering group and is passionate about the lived experience of SEN children and their families having direct impact on policy and process.
Jayne has 10 years active experience of working strategically, locally, regionally and nationally within SEN circles to ensure the voice of the child/young person and family is central to developments. She has 6 children, 4 of whom are diagnosed with a range of neurodiverse conditions, sensory processing disorder, autism, adhd, dyslexia. Jayne is also a long-term foster carer for a child with severe learning disabilities, autism, sensory processing disorder and trauma and attachment difficulties.
To contact Jayne, please email yorksandhumber@nnpcf.org.uk
Ros Luff – Director for London
Ros was heavily engaged within the pathfinder programme prior to the implementation of the SEND Reforms. Within her local forum Ros has worked on improving partnerships locally and the implementation of the Care Act and Children and Families Act.
To contact Ros, please email london@nnpcf.org.uk
Claire Richmond – Director for London
Claire joined the NNPCF Board in September 2022. Originally from Salford, Claire moved to London 20 years ago to attend the Royal Academy of Music and has been there ever since. In addition to being a musician and a Mum, Claire chairs her local Parent Carer Forum and is a passionate advocate of the value of co-production.
To contact Claire, please email london@nnpcf.org.uk
Martin McAndrew – Director for the North West
Martin joined Bury2gether Bury’s PCF in 2017 as a volunteer and has had the privilege of being deputy chair and now Director. He has 2 autistic children, and his youngest also has an ADHD diagnosis, both attend mainstream schools.
Martin was also a SEN pupil when at school, being diagnosed as Dyslexic at a young age. These experiences drive his passion to ensure all parents are heard and supported, and children access the support they need and feel included and accepted in every setting.
Outside of his work with his forum and the NNPCF you will usually find him walking his dog, Buddy.
To contact Martin, please email northwest@nnpcf.org.uk
Claire North – Director for the North East
Claire joined Northumberland Parent Carer Forum in 2022 as the Admin & Engagement Officer and is now Director of the Forum. Claire has two children with additional needs, one in specialist provision and one attending mainstream school.
Claire’s passion and commitment to this role, stems from a deep understanding of the challenges faced by parent carers and a desire to ensure their voices are heard at every level.
Kenton Mee – Director for the South West
Kenton joined NSPCWT, North Somerset’s PCF, in 2018 and is now CEO and Director of the Forum, he has three children, one with Autism.
Kenton is passionate about developing parent carer representation and coproduction both locally and nationally whilst working together with stakeholders to improve outcomes for all children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.
To contact Kenton, please email southwest@nnpcf.org.uk