Meet The Staff
A short introduction to our Office Staff and Trustees who help make the group the success that it is.
Patricia Allison
Pat is the Manager/Coordinator of the group. She is married to Bobbie and has two sons - Andrew who has Cerebral Palsy and Jamie who is a whiz with anything technical.
Pat, who was a committee member for Friends of Thornhill School and then a Governor for Catcote School, was a founder member of the group working for many years in a voluntary capacity before being employed in her present role. Her experience, specialist knowledge, organisation skills and dedication are an enormous asset to the group. In addition to her full-time paid employment, Pat volunteers much of her own time (and that of her family and friends) to ensuring the group provides all that is required to ensure success.
Julie Parker
Julie is the other of our two administration assistants. She is married to Geoff and has two daughters, Jessica and her younger sister Katie.
Julie´s involvement in all aspects of the group has given her much experience in working with our members. This experience and the knowledge gained, together with Julie´s essential office skills, make her an invaluable member of the office staff.
Meet The Trustees
Loraine Potts
Loraine works tirelessly as Chair of the Trustees. Her enthusiasm and passion rubs off on everyone involved.
In addition to her work as Trustee Loraine runs the very popular drama group entitled "Constellation". Loraine is married to Leo and has three sons. Jamie is the eldest, Shaun has Muscular Dystrophy and the youngest, James, has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Loraine is Treasurer for the Muscular Dystrophy Group and is in full time employment as a Teaching Assistant with children with special needs. She is passionate about the group and her specialist knowledge and experience is invaluable.
Melanie Dunn
Melanie has the position of Treasurer of the Trustees and is married to Phil. Her eldest daughter, Livvy, who has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, Autism and Epilepsy, has been a member of the group for several years.
Livvy´s younger sister Alice also enjoys many of the group´s activities. In her spare time Melanie is employed as a Teaching Assistant in a local school, supporting a child with Autism and has given many voluntary hours to helping the members of the Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group. Melanie´s experience and expertise make her a greatly valued Trustee.
Julie Carter
Julie lives with her partner Steve and has three children.
Sam, who is the middle child, has Down's syndrome and attends the toddler/support group weekly with Amy his younger sister. Thomas, the eldest, also enjoys many of the group's activities.
In her spare time Julie attends training sessions relevant to disability and services to help benefit herself and other parents; she often gives many voluntary hours from her busy schedule to help Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group.
Julie Bennison
Julie is one of the most recent Trustees and has the position of Secretary.
She is married to Trevor and they have three children, Emily, Rebecca and Olivia. Olivia is the youngest and she attends “Friends”, Emily is helping out at the Monday Club and the family enjoys being involved and meeting friends when participating in other group activities. Julie is in fulltime employment and in her spare time helps behind the scenes with sewing etc., for Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group.
Jayne Robinson
Jayne is also one of the most recent members of the Trustees.
She is married to Paul and has two children. Abigail who is the youngest child has a rare genetic disorder and attends the Monday Club weekly and “Friends” she also enjoys participating in other activities. Jayne is in full time employment as a teacher and runs an after school drama group for them.