Meet the Team

Hi! I’m Barbara and I’m the Portsmouth Parent Voice Co-ordinator. I work with parent carers to ensure that their voices are heard by professionals working in education, health and social care as well as the voluntary sector.

I am passionate about involving parents in changing what is not working for their children and family.  Parents are the expert, they have a wealth of knowledge that needs to be shared with professionals involved in special needs and disability.

My son has autism, he is now 22 and attends Portsmouth University. I am so proud of him and what he has achieved, but it’s been a long journey with highs and lows along the way. Understanding the battle parent carers face through this journey enables me to share with others what an incredible experience it is to bring up our extraordinary children with the right support.

I love anything crafty and I am also Arty’s aunty (meet Arty below!)  who occasionally comes on holiday with me (because my husband won’t let me have a dog of my own!).

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Hi! I’m Alison and I’m the PPV Administrator. I provide the administrative support such as designing materials and promotions for meetings and events, monitor and analysing feedback, and working closely with Barbara to promote PPV and signposting parent carers towards the right support.

I joined PPV 2 years ago and since then, Barbara, myself and our advisor, Matt, have given the website an overhaul and created a new logo! We have increased awareness of PPV and made it easier to get information to parent carers.

I have 3 beautiful children, my eldest child is 12 and has ASD/ADHD (he is being educated at home), and my other 2 children are aged 10 and 5 so my house is always busy and full of energy. I fully understand the struggle that many families experience, how crucial a service like PPV can be and the difference the right support can bring for families. I enjoy being with my children, I love anything ‘tekkie’ and I like to hula-hoop!

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Hello. I’m Kara. I’m the Engagement Officer for The Portsmouth Disability Forum. My role is to recruit parent volunteers to work alongside local schools to be a SEN (Special Educational Needs) Champion. A SEN Champion will be a parent that others can speak to for ideas and information if they are unable speak with the school SENCO.

I have been working with children and young people since 1998 and I hold various other positions within the community. I’m an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Childminder, a school governor of a local infant school as well as a governor of a secondary school. In both schools I am the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) governor.

I have a 15 year old daughter with a diagnosis of autism, she attends a mainstream school. I also have a 10 year old son who attends a mainstream school.

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Woof! I’m Arty. I am by far the cutest member of the team, and the best behaved! I am an Italian Spinone and you will often see me at the Frank Sorrell Centre looking for attention, or asleep under a desk.