Our charity is led by a group of people called “Trustees” that support us to ensure we are supporting disabled people the very best we can. Here’s some details about them.
Kathy Lester-Dobson: My name is Kathy Lester Dobson ~ I am the new chairperson of the DENW trustee board. I have been involved with DENW for many years as a service user and for the last five years ? As part of the trustee board – latterly holding the role of secretary. bring much experience to my role as trustee from my working life, I have skills around employment, project management, finance, people skills customer service & customer care, education & training to highlight a few. I have lived experience of being affected by acquired disability – visual & physical which has led me to use my skills within varied voluntary roles across the last 20 years these include fundraising, bid writing, direct disability support for people receiving new diagnoses, advocacy, & raising disability, awareness to improve inclusion within services and sectors along with creative thinking to effectively problem solve. I look forward to meeting our members their family and friends & continuing to be of service within the disabled community.
Louise Gill: I was attracted to the role of Trustee as I had witnessed the benefit of the organisation having signposted clients to DENW and the feedback received. I felt the genuine approach and commitment of Mel and her team to provide support to both the local disabled people and the wider NW. I was proud that such an organisation existed. The opportunity presented itself for me to get on board. I felt able to bring both professional and individual experiences of living with and managing a disability. Professional experience of working in both Health and Social Care settings. Also, raising the profile and integration of disabled people in a ‘real sense’ not just ticking boxes. Advocacy and campaigning, listening to Disabled people. I hope that I can make a positive contribution to DENW whilst on the board and look to your support.
Mark Harris: Ever since getting my law degree in 2000 I have been involved with disabilities one way or another. Initially I worked with adults with learning difficulties/disabilities. When I became disabled myself in 2009 I started volunteering at Disability Equality (North-West) and in 2013 I became a member of staff as an advisor. Subsequently I became the service lead for specialist advice. After retiring I joined the board of trustees. Disability Equality has a very special place in my life and I’m very proud to be associated with the organisation.
Neil Darby: “As a Preston City Councillor and former Mayor of Preston, I have a knowledge of the city and of local government. I also work in marketing and management, enabling me to bring these skills to DENW to help the team as and when needed. I am also the chair of trustees for another local charity – Lancashire LGBT – and also bring this experience to the table at DENW. I applied to become a trustee with DENW after I saw them in action throughout my year as Mayor, working across the city and doing phenomenal work and helping so many people (and always with a smile on their face!). Lived experience and ensuring the voices of disabled people are heard is particularly important to me, my mum suffers from a chronic condition, yet through support she is able to continue to work and enjoys a high quality of life. DENW’s support for people here in Lancashire is so important. I wanted to do what I could to get involved and to help them to continue to grow and to help more people and to play my part in improving the lives of those with a disability in and around Preston and beyond.”
Pratap Parmar: I am Pratap Parmar from Preston in Frenchwood Area, I was Trustee of Disability Equality northwest I was Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair, after that I was retired and re-join again on 7th of December 2023.
Previous boards include Age Concern Central Lancashire, Pukar Disability Resource Centre, Preston Community Network, Third Sector Lancashire Trustee, Lancashire Equality Org, and Preston Faith Forum . and I’m a Life Member of Gujarat Hindu Society and know English, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, and Bhojpuri.
Other Trustees with their further details to follow:
Rakhi Amin
Daniel Duckworth
Roy Aldwin