Our Team
Just a few of the faces behind our work
Our team are parent carers who work hard together to help other parent carers.
They know what it’s like to feel unheard or overlooked - and they want to make every challenge easier for the wider SEND community.
Kenton Mee
Chair / CEO
Kenton has three children, one with autism. He is determined that one day every child and young person should have their needs met without parent carers wearing themselves out asking for the right provision.
Having spent much of his life overseeing projects in business, he has a mind for strategy and is developing the forum to better represent parent carers. He wants it to benefit every parent carer in North Somerset.
Facts
A former school governor
Has climbed the three peaks (over the years!)
Grew up in West Sussex
Likes
Coffee and a brownie
Exploring the outdoors and travelling
Dislikes
Not having coffee in the morning
Towing
Laura Shaw
Senior Operations Lead Systems & Data Lead
Laura has 2 children, one with Autism and ADHD. She joined the forum in February 2021 as the Training Co-ordinator. She has multiple years of experience delivering training within the charity sector and is passionate about helping parents and their children get access to useful resources and advice.
When not busy researching new training topics, Laura loves spending time with her family walking on the beach, biking and playing football in the garden.
Facts
Grew up in Africa and the Caribbean
Has completed 2 bungee jumps
Swum with dolphins in New Zealand
Likes
Cold-water swimming
Wild food foraging
Baking
Dislikes
Spiders
Being late
Marmite
Francesca Betts
Senior Business Lead Media and Resource Lead
Francesca joined the forum in March 2021 as Media and Marketing Administrator. Her aim is to reach as many parent carers as possible and support families through social media platforms and creativity.
She has 2 children herself, the youngest of which has Autism, Global developmental delay, Sensory processing difficulties and other issues. Life is busy however after finding her own Special needs journey rather adventurous, she hopes to make it a smoother ride for others. With a background of Early Years and working in schools, she has a passion in effecting change through the whole family.
Facts
Lived in Greece for three years as a child
Has a rather large dog aptly named Scooby Doo
Likes
Swimming
Gardening
Dislikes
Spiders
Busy places
Claire Bullock
Senior Strategic Lead Engagement and Participation Lead
Claire joined the forum in September 2023 as Engagement and Participation Representative after leaving her long term career in the NHS to support her daughter. Claire has two children, her eldest daughter has SEN difficulties, ADHD and Anxiety and has subsequently suffered significant mental health issues and Emotional School Based Anxiety. During the last few years, Claire has navigated the challenging road of accessing more SEN and mental health support for her daughter in a mainstream school, which has been a life changing experience.
The training and support Claire accessed through NSPCWT was so helpful, she is passionate to give something back and help other parents and carers to access the right support at the right time. The voice of parents and carers is key to influencing change at a local level but also at a strategic and system level, with a background in health, Claire hopes to use this experience to make a really positive difference to families in North Somerset.
Facts
Lived in Crete for 3 years and can speak some Greek
18 years experience in the NHS
Set up a small local cancer charity in memory of her sister
Likes
Holidays and exploring new places
Lifting weights in the gym
Walking my dog by the sea
Dislikes
Sitting in traffic
Untidiness
Any kind of exercise that involves running or burpees!
Nicola Mesham
Grants Lead
Nicola has a background in learning support in both primary and further education. Alongside her NSPCWT role, she is also a Connecting Lives Carer (previously known as Shared Lives) supporting adults and young people with learning or physical disabilities and mental health difficulties. Since 2014 Nicola has supported a number of service users within her own home to gain independence skills and access the wider community.
Nicola is keen to support parent carers to have their voices heard and signpost them to relevant individuals and organisations who can offer help.
Facts
Loves photography
Has climbed Snowden…twice!
Currently learning to play the Ukulele
Likes
Crafting, especially crochet
Time in the allotment
Camping in Wales
Dislikes
Spiders
Parallel parking
Danielle Vincent
Training & Events Lead
Danielle is just starting her journey with her son learning all about SEN, he is 3 years old and has already taught her so much. She hopes to use her experience of 11 years in the health and social care sector to help her family and others. Being a parent can sometimes be scary, and a little lonely, Danielle wishes to help anyone feeling that way and give them the confidence they need.
Danielle and her husband love travelling to beautiful parts of the world, holidays are there favourite time. When she is home, she enjoys cooking and baking, Danielle loves having friends over for dinner and a good game!
Facts
Natural hair colour is jet black
Would like to retire to France one day
Likes
Downton Abbey
Chocolate
Dislikes
Rain
Cheese
Bev Robson
Lead Trainer
Bev joined the team at the beginning of May 2022 having been in education for most of her working life.
She is mum to 3 adopted children, all with wide ranging additional needs including Attachment, Trauma and Sensory Processing. She also has a step-daughter who is almost 25.
Even with her teaching background, Bev’s experience of the additional needs journey through schools has been really difficult. Along the way there are some people who have made a truly life changing difference by giving advice and practical guidance. Bev hopes to be able to pay this forward to help make the journey for other families less stressful and complicated.
Facts
Grew up in the North East
Went back to Uni to do her degree in her late 20s
Likes
Chocolate
Being outdoors
Hot tea
Dislikes
Lots of milk in tea
Being late
Being disorganised
Jo Mansell
Finance Lead
Jo has 3 children; 5 year old Twin girls and a 4 year old boy. Twin 2 has Ataxia, Hypermobility, Speech and Language disorder, Global developmental delay, Sensory processing difficulties and other Metabolic issues that are yet to be diagnosed. Jo joined the forum in July 2024 as the Finance Lead.
She has many years of experience in varying Administrative roles; along with nursing assistance in a Psychiatric Hospital; working with the Beach Rangers on Weston Seafront; and several hospitality roles.
When Jo doesn’t have her head stuck into her spreadsheets; she loves going for long dog walks with her two English Springer Spaniels, spending time on crafting hobbies - making handbags or book pocket cushions; and cosying up to watch Disney films with the children and her cat.
Knowing how difficult it is to navigate the SEND system with her daughter, she wants to try and help as many parent /carers as possible with the best knowledge she can in their journey.
Facts
Flown in a Helicopter over the Grand Canyon
Once performed in front of over 10,000 people from 67 countries when she was 15, as part of the “Eurojam” stage events team. (European Scout Jamboree)
Likes
Sparkling water
Spending time with family
Dislikes
Getting lost
Really sweet things
Leanne Havinden
Peer Support & Wellbeing Lead
Leanne has two children, one of whom is Autistic with sensory processing difficulties, demand avoidance, hypermobility and extreme anxieties.
Her passion is to offer support to parents and carers after finding little support when she needed it years ago.
Leanne’s background is nursing, primary schools and support groups.
Facts
Worked in a boarding school for the rich and famous
Likes
Walking her two dogs
Chinese food
Dislikes
Coffee
Mess and clutter
Kirsty Andres
Peer Support Worker
Kirsty joined the forum in January 2022 and has one daughter who is disabled and is currently undiagnosed.
Advocating for carers is a huge passion for Kirsty and she loves to share her knowledge and lived experience of navigating the, sometimes overwhelming, healthcare system. Kirsty recently completed a course in health and social care and is keen to help and encourage families to exercise their rights to suitable care and support.
Facts
Governor at a special school
Lived in Australia for 2 years
Has abseiled down the side of the Bristol Children’s hospital for their grand appeal charity before her child was born - who would have known that significance!
Likes
Baking
Running
Going to the theatre
Dislikes
Being late
Horror movies
Suzy Summerhayes Peer Support Worker
Suzy joined the team in the Peer Support role in July 2024. She has many years of experience supporting people in a professional capacity, and will be bringing that empathy and understanding to members of our forum and community, with the determination to provide support and awareness within North Somerset.
Suzy has 2 children, the eldest with a diagnosis of Autism, and currently supporting her youngest with his own diversities. She understands the difficulties parent carers may face first hand, and that all of the children we encounter are also so gloriously different and unique! After many days/months/years research and advocating for her son, Suzy went on her own journey and was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 37. Her personal experiences have driven her passion to make a difference and have a positive impact wherever she can.
Facts
Lives for holidays, will be found searching the internet for deals
Comes from a big blended family, has 2 sisters and 3 brothers!
Likes
Swimming in the Sea
Eating great food with great people
Dislikes
Big crowds
People breaking the rules
Kenton Mee
Kenton has three children, one with autism. He is determined that one day every child and young person should have their needs met without parent carers wearing themselves out asking for the right provision.
Having spent much of his life overseeing projects in business, he has a mind for strategy and is developing the forum to better represent parent carers. He wants it to benefit every parent carer in North Somerset.
Facts
A former school governor
Has climbed the three peaks (over the years!)
Grew up in West Sussex
Likes
Coffee and a brownie
Exploring the outdoors and travelling
Dislikes
Not having coffee in the morning
Towing
Our Directors
Claire Bullock
Claire joined the forum in September 2023 as Engagement and Participation Representative after leaving her long term career in the NHS to support her daughter. Claire has two children, her eldest daughter has SEN difficulties, ADHD and Anxiety and has subsequently suffered significant mental health issues and Emotional School Based Anxiety. During the last few years, Claire has navigated the challenging road of accessing more SEN and mental health support for her daughter in a mainstream school, which has been a life changing experience.
The training and support Claire accessed through NSPCWT was so helpful, she is passionate to give something back and help other parents and carers to access the right support at the right time. The voice of parents and carers is key to influencing change at a local level but also at a strategic and system level, with a background in health, Claire hopes to use this experience to make a really positive difference to families in North Somerset.
Christianne Audain
Engagement & Participation Representative
Christianne joined the team in July 2024. She has 3 children all of whom have been diagnosed with a combination of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Anxiety.
Christianne has a background in both Health and Education. She was a Registered Mental Health Nurse for almost 20 years, a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative and most recently a Teaching Assistant in primary education.
She is passionate about all children regardless of their challenges having equal access to education, health and social provisions and opportunities. She believes that all children have the right to reach their full potential.
Christianne understands how challenging this journey can be for children and their families and hopes that by supporting each other the process can become a little easier to navigate.
Facts
Grew up in North Somerset
Walked a night marathon for Cancer Research
Sings in a choir
Likes
Country Music
Chips and Gravy
Dislikes
Ironing
Baby Corn
Facts
Lived in Crete for 3 years and can speak some Greek
18 years experience in the NHS
Set up a small local cancer charity in memory of her sister
Likes
Holidays and exploring new places
Lifting weights in the gym
Walking my dog by the sea
Dislikes
Sitting in traffic
Untidiness
Any kind of exercise that involves running or burpees!
Angie Griggs
Angie Griggs is a mother of two; her youngest has Down Syndrome. She started working for the forum in June 2019, her heart set on making a difference for children and young people with SEND.
She has a degree in inclusive practice and enjoys working to help young adults with additional needs gain more independence at home and in their community.
Facts
Teaches independent skills
Can often be found baking
Likes
Coffee
Italian food
Dislikes
Being late
Marcus Tyler
Marcus has two young children both pre-school age. Marcus currently works within the NHS as a Keyworker, supporting young people with learning disabilities and/or autism with their mental health. The Keyworker role aims to directly support young people by ensuring all of their needs are met but also is a key role in challenging existing systems and provisions and ensuring they work in a way that is fair to all.
Marcus has spent his career supporting children and adults with additional needs to achieve their potential and working to remove systemic barriers for our community’s most vulnerable young people. He is excited to join NSPCWT and support its development and progress.
Facts
Has worked in Education, Local Authority and NHS roles.
Has completed 5 marathons.
Supported Gloucestershire College to achieve their Ambitious About Autism status
Likes
Art and Creativity
Gardening
Surfing
Dislikes
Sand (which can make surfing tricky)
The never ending washing pile
Say hello
We’d like to get to know you too!
Get in touch with our team or post a message on our forum.