The National Representatives Team provide vital support to the NNPCF by attending meetings and events on behalf of the NNPCF and its member forums, feeding back key information and actions required. The team has a collection of skills and experience that range from public sector services (including social service staff and teachers) to information technology specialists and nurses. All of them are, of course, parent carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.
Between them they represent the views of our member parent carer forums across many meetings and events that the NNPCF are invited to be part of. They are supported by our Participation Lead who offers them guidance on the meetings and events to help them prepare effectively and works closely with the Co-Chairs to manage the work streams we participate in.
The National Reps Team is made up of all the NNPCF Board Members and a selection of parent carer forum representatives from within each of the NNPCF membership regions.
How to become a national representative:
To become a national rep, you need to be a strategic member of your local parent carer forum. This could be in any position, such as chair, treasurer, or parent carer representative, paid or voluntary. You do need to have the support of your forum and NNPCF Board member when applying to be a part of our national representatives’ team.
For further information, please email participation@nnpcf.org.uk
London
Dave Barnard
Dave has worked in third sector (community and social care) for over 20 years in a variety of roles and services, from mental health day centre worker to CEO of locally based domiciliary home care charities, social prescribing and community engagement organisations.
Dave joined their local Parent Carer Forum in 2021 when their teenager was diagnosed autistic and was experiencing mental health issues. Dave is keen on ensuring the voice of the young person and that of the family is heard and recorded.
East of England
Sylvia Jenkins
Sylvia has been the Finance Director and an active Rep for HPCI, her local Hertfordshire PCF, since co-founding it in 2010. She also has a strong Regional commitment having been the Secretary of the Eastern Region of Parent Carer Forums (ERPCF) since 2015 and is a Regional Rep.
Sylvia has always focussed on helping to improve SEND services through co-production, bringing the voice and views of the wider parent body to the room and focussing practioners and service providers on the needs of the child or young person to allow our SEND CYP to achieve their best outcomes.
Julia Brunning
Julia has 3 boys – all now young adults and with a range of additional needs. We have experienced both mainstream and specialist education and are currently negotiating the transition into the adult world.
Having been involved in establishing the current forum for Essex in 2017/18 – she now works as their Education and Social Care Lead and in 2023, was voted in as the Vice Chair of the Eastern Region. Julia truly believe that the collective voice of parents and carers is a powerful tool for influencing change.
Lisa Belton
Lisa was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Pinpoint in February 2022. Lisa first came to Pinpoint as a parent carer to seek support in respect of her own children. Having realised the value of that support, she quickly volunteered to become a Pinpoint Parent Champion. In November 2021, Lisa joined the Pinpoint staff team as Opportunities Area Workshop Host, having been self employed for the previous 6 years working in assessment and training for health and social care staff. Prior to that she has an extensive social care background as a registered social worker.
She is passionate about supporting other parent carers to get the support that they need when they need it and not to feel alone. Lisa is a Mum to 3 boys all with additional needs. Lisa is keen to help professionals supporting children with additional needs and their families to work together so that families get the help they need in the way that they need it.
Kerri Rennie
Kerri is a dedicated advocate for families with SEND, currently serving as Chair of Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (BBPCF). With a background in hospitality, including roles as a chef in prestigious five-star hotels, Kerri brings a unique perspective to her work.
Her personal journey, marked by the discovery of her children’s SEND, ignited a passion for improving the experiences of SEND families. Kerri is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable society where all SEND families feel valued and supported. Through her tireless efforts, she is making a significant impact on the lives of countless families in Bedford Borough and beyond.
South East
Terri Walsh
Terri has been involved with her local forum, SEND Voices Wokingham, since 2014 and is now the Joint CEO.
Terri has 3 children who have a collection of diagnoses and is passionate about improving the outcomes for all SEND children and their families.
Rowan Westwood
Rowan is the Chief Executive of the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum and a passionate representative for families navigating SEND systems. She joined WSPCF in 2020 and became CEO in 2023, bringing a strong background in strategic leadership, education and systemic change.
Bringing both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent carer, she is committed to ensuring that parent carer views shape services to be more inclusive, responsive, and joined-up.
She is an active member of the SEPCF Steering Group, where she works alongside regional colleagues to share insight, challenge inequality, and champion coproduction. .
South West
Rachel Hale
Rachel is Chair and a Director of B&NES Parent Carer Forum which is in Bath and North East Somerset. She has two children with a variety of additional needs including autism and PTSD.
She worked for the local SENDIAS for 13 years before moving to work independently and with B&NES PCF. She is also Vice Chair of Governors and SEND Governor at a local mainstream secondary school. She believes passionately in fairness and equality of opportunity for all people, and in empowering parents to fully participate at all levels.
East Midlands
We are looking for National Reps in the East Midlands. If you would like more information please email participation@nnpcf.org.uk.
West Midlands
Heather Delaney
Heather is the Chair and a Director of her local forum. She has two children with a range of additional needs. Heather is passionate about working together to improve outcomes for all children.
North East
We are looking for National Reps in the North East region. If you would like more information please email participation@nnpcf.org.uk.
North West
Becca Selby
Becca has been involved in the Wigan Parent Carer Forum for a few years, initiall joining as a Parent Rep during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She is one of the first trustees since the forum became a CIO last year. As a parent to four children, three of whom currently have been diagnosed or are on pathways for neurodivergent diagnoses, including autism and ADHD, Becca brings a wealth of personal experience and insight to her work. She is also autistic herself, with inattentive ADD and physical disabilities.
Beyond involvement with the Parent Carer Forum, she is a karate club manager (admin only, nothing exciting!), an infant feeding peer supporter, and a PhD student. Becca is passionate about public health and policy, particularly concerning infant and young child health & nutrition, and children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. Becca is dedicated to co-production and to understanding the view from the ground. She strives to ensure that Parent Carers’ voices are heard and valued in shaping policies and services that affect them.
Kath Bromfield
Kath remains a National Representative after her term as the NNPCF Director for the North West came to an end.
Yorkshire & Humber
We are looking for National Reps in the Yorkshire & Humber region. If you would like more information please email participation@nnpcf.org.uk.