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We are an Ashford Based Charity . We give information throughout the country
and individual help to residents of Kent and Medway. We have an
Executive Director, part-time administrator, volunteers
and a board of trustees.We support parents, carers and people with
severe communication difficulties. We also welcome the involvement
of schools, residential homes, community groups and health/social
services professionals.
We
offer advice and help
about communication aids. We have a free Resource Library with switch
toys, communication aids, training videos and useful books. We also have
experience of applying for funding of equipment. For more details
on obtaining your own communication aid click
here. We are working towards a more effective community equipment
service, focussing on the needs of communication aids users. For
examples of how our work has
helped many of them achieve the equipment they need click
here.
We also offer ICT training to adults with communication needs and support adults and children using symbols.
FIND A VOICE TEAM
We work hard to ensure
that everyone who is entitled to funding is able to receive it.
Joy
Butcher Executive Director of Find A Voice
Joy has extensive experience working with people with speech, language and communication needs. As a parent of a communication aid user, she has been involved with Find A Voice from the beginning and is also currently Chair of Ashford District Partnership Group for Learning Disabilities.
Karen Clarke
We welcome Karen to the Find A Voice team as our Symbol Support and Resource Trainer at our Find A Voice Centre.
Karen said ' As mother to a son with severe autism. I have been using symbols for several years to solve some of our communication difficulties. I have developed many resources to help make life easier not only in our home, but also in a school setting, and look forward to working at Find A Voice and sharing my experiences with others'
Becky Washington
Becky has been a teacher to adults with learning disabilities since 2004. She teaches a wide range of subjects, including IT,Art, Drama,Literacy and Numeracy.
Becky has adults with a learning disabilities within her family
circle.
Becky said "I am passionate about supporting people with a learning disability, and helping them to reach their full potential."
Here at Find A Voice Becky is currently supporting 17 students who are learning varying aspects of I.T.
Various Skills learned by the students include alphabet work, computer recognition, word processing, internet research and basic computer training.
Becky prides herself on the fact that all lessons are fun as well as informative, and each lesson is regarded by the students as a truly enjoyable experience.
James Stafford
James has studied IT for many years and joined the staff recently from The Shaw Trust to assist in the Administration side of the charity and to update the website.Completed Communicate in Print course,to be able to produce symbols for future resource needs.My role also involves updating the database and supporting the work of the resource library.We welcome James to the team at Find a Voice.
TRUSTEES
Eryll Woollett (Chair)
Eryll joined us as Chair in July 2006, having been involved with the Charity through supporting her granddaughter who has special needs. Eryll is looking forward to working to develop the charity further using her business background. At the moment she is also supporting our rapidly expanding Resource Library.
Michael Claughton
As Mayor of Ashford 2002-3 Michael worked tirelessly to raise £14,000 for Find a Voice as part of his Mayor's Charity Appeal. From 2005-2006 Michael was also our Chair.
Ted Hawkins (Hon. Treasurer)
Ted has been involved in the sporting and community life of Ashford for many years.
Sue Soan (Secretary)
M.Ed. in Special Educational Needs. Sue is Principal Lecturer in SEN at Christ Church Canterbury University.
She is now undertaking research into Augmentative and Alternative
Communication in partnership with Find A Voice.
Ruth Sweetman
Ruth originates from Australia but now lives in Ashford. She is a highly experienced and qualified lawyer,who is assisting us with her expertise.
Pauline Winlow
is head of Residential Care at the Caldecott Foundation. Ashford.
SUPPORTING THE TRUSTEES
Keith Price
received a new Pathfinder communication aid with the support of Find A Voice. He regularly attends meetings and functions sharing his experience of using acommunication aid. Keith is now undergoing further training so he can increase his work as an ambassador for Find A Voice.
PRESIDENT
Damian Green(MP)
Damian Green has been President of the Charity,for the past nine years and feels it is a very worthwhile cause and a model of how complete dedication and determination of a few people,with a deep personal interest in this form of disability,can make a difference,-not only for their own families but for many others.
Damian is Chairman of Parliamentary Mainstream,Vice-President of the Tory Reform Group and Vice-Chairman of the John Smith Memorial Trust.
In May 1997 he was elected Member of Parliament for Ashford and he was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.
Alastair Dutch OBE
Our former Chairman. Alastair Keith Dutch received the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2006 for his services to the Foreign Office and in recognition of his work for Find A Voice.
Patrons
Bob and MaryHolness
ave over a number of years been great supporters of Find A Voice, joining the team from Find A Voice on various events held by the charity. Bob is know from his broadcasting fame and of course the number of years that he presented Blockbusters.
VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteer team includes:
Trevor Sakuringwa
Is a volunteer placed by the Ashford Volunteer Centre. He is an Accounting and Finance degree holder who is volunteering his services to update and maintain the accounting system.
Victoria Vaughan
is assistant treasurer of the Ashford District Partnership for People with Learning Difficulties.
Jill McAdams
is a busy mum involved with her church and working at our local college. We are very grateful for her help with mailing out our newsletters.
Many of our volunteers find placements through the Ashford Volunteer Centre Ashford Volunteer Centre Website - Powered by ik.com
How to find us
We are on the Number A Singleton Bus route (every 15 minutes) from Ashford
International Station or Bank Street Ashford. Ask for 'Arcon Road
stop'. Our centre is on one floor, is wheelchair accessable and
has a wheelchair-user friendly toilet. For a map click
here.
Our address is:
Find a Voice
49 Beaver Lane
Ashford
Kent
TN23 5NU
You can find full details of contacting us on our contact
us page.
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