Trustees and Governors Pen Portraits
Chair of Trustees and Governors: Rev. Allison Harding
I am currently the Vicar of Newburn Parish. Talbot House Children’s Charity is in my parish and I am delighted to be the Chair. I had a number of jobs prior to becoming a Vicar – they have all involved working with young people and their families. My passion is for all young people to achieve their potential, so I really enjoy going into school and seeing the progress that our children are making.
It is a privilege to spend time with them and to be part of an excellent team of staff, trustees and governors. I want our young people to believe that they are unique and special, and to leave Talbot House with the knowledge and skills they need to live a full life.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and walking our dog in the lovely area that I live.
Vice Chair of Trustees and Governors, and School Governor: Lisa Alcorn
I am currently the Chief Operating Officer at SJOG which is a national charity supporting adults with learning, physical disabilities and autism in residential, supported living and domiciliary services. My role is vast, with additional nursing and older community services, homeless hostels and an ever growing national safe house accommodation pathway for people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking. I am also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead for SJOG.
I have worked in social care for over 30 years and eventually specialised in autism by completing a PhD in Autism and Positive Behaviour Support. My thesis integrated a Holistic Practice Framework across a number of large national complex needs providers to help autism practitioners in understanding PBS within the domains of autism.
I was previously Head of Children’s Services for an autism specialist provider where my responsibilities involved children’s homes and schools. I have been successful at the BILD International Leadership Awards for Innovation Practice for Young People and the National Autism Awards, but nothing beats seeing children and young people thrive.
Trustee and School Governor: Nina Ramsay
I am a qualified Art Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor. I have been practising since 2010 and have worked for a number of charities supporting children, young people and adults with many referral issues including complex trauma, attachment issues, abuse, identity issues, eating problems, suicidal ideation and self-harm and loss. I also have worked with fostering/adoption agencies supporting carers/adoptive parents in thinking about how to therapeutically parent their children, assessing and supporting carer needs and supporting the placements of looked after CYP.
Since 2012, I have been providing supervision to various therapeutic and non-therapy practitioners, and I currently work for Durham County Council and a number of charities across the North East as a Clinical Supervisor, Swiis Foster Care as an Independent Panel Member, and am in private practice to continue to support my caseload of private supervisees, clients and organisations who need training/consultation/restorative supervision. I previously set up and ran a therapeutic service for parents whose children attend the service at Acorns (North Tyneside), and prior to that I oversaw a large therapeutic team at Barnardo's Orchard Mosaic Project.
In my spare time, I enjoy travelling with my husband, eating out, reading and learning new skills. I'm particularly fond of anything Japanese.
Trustee and School Governor: Victoria Mears
I have recently changed roles and currently work for British Business Bank as Director for UK Network in the Midlands & North. Prior to this I worked for NatWest Group for nearly 23 years in various roles across International Trade, Business & Commercial Banking & Retail Banking. I am an active member of Chartered Banker and Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.
I have been a Trustee & Governor at Talbot House since 2022, and I am passionate about making a difference in the local community and to the children at Talbot House. It is important to be able to give every child the opportunity they deserve to grow, prosper and reach their ambitions for the future.
I am married with two children, and in my spare time I enjoy walking our Labrador, swimming and reading.
Trustee and School Governor: Trudy Johnson
I am delighted to be a Trustee and Governor at Talbot House and offer my skills and experience to continue to develop the service for the benefit of the children in our care. Over the years I have worked in the private, public, and voluntary sectors across a wide variety of career roles. My skillset covers pre-school and adult education, marketing, event management, tourism, economic development, charity organisation, and project funding and I have had the opportunity to live and work in England, Scotland, Wales and Switzerland before moving permanently to beautiful Northumberland.
Previous roles include working with young adults at the Tullochan Trust Charity in Scotland and then latterly as Director/Owner of our own children’s nurseries, taking a financial and strategic lead in developing the business over 14 years and establishing strong relationships with local authorities, Care Inspectorate and other partnership organisations.
Personal interests include sport, skiing, attending the gym, playing pickleball, cycling, theatre, travel, and exploring the wonderful coastline in the North East.
Staff Governor: Karen Cowans (Family Liaison Officer)
I work in the school as the Family Liaison Officer, I liaise with our parents/carers almost on a daily basis, I attend meetings with outside professionals, and multi-agencies, and I am also a Deputy DSL. I have worked at Talbot House since 2004. On leaving university I worked for British Airways as a personnel/staff trainer. It was after some time here I was given the opportunity to train and became a dispensing optician, a role which I thoroughly enjoyed.
After having my three children, I joined the Prison Service, working in Durham and Bracknell adult prison and Hassockfield young offender’s institute. My main role in the adult prisons was security and hostage negotiation. I was then very fortunate to be offered a position at Talbot House Children's Charity. From that day the ethos of Talbot House has been my passion.
I feel privileged to be given the chance to meet our young people, to meet and work alongside the parents, and be part of a team that strives to bring change to their lives, personally, socially and emotionally giving them the opportunities, they deserve.
Staff Governor: Steve Hughes (Science Teacher)
I have been the Science Teacher at Talbot House for several years, having moved from Dorset to be nearer my children and grandchildren. After a teaching career, I moved into the hospitality sector where for over 25 years I ran pubs/clubs and restaurants with my wife. I use the wide and varied set of skills learnt in a fast-paced ever-changing environment to motivate and support children and adults to achieve their true potential.
Being a staff Governor means I can be an integral part of the process to support Talbot House achieve its goals, as a teacher I have the commitment to ensure our pupils achieve their very best.
Parent Governor: Rachel Gosling
My name is Rachel Gosling. My son who has a diagnosis of ASD, attends Talbot House, after struggling with in the mainstream system, and has since thrived whilst being at Talbot House. This is the main reason I want to become a Governor at Talbot House.
After finishing university, where I gained an undergraduate degree in health and social care and an undergraduate degree in social care, I worked for the department of works and pensions as the Newcastle Disability Employment Advisor. I then worked with Northumberland Children's Services with looked after children. More recently, my role was as a Service Manager for a charity, supporting adults with learning disabilities, where I managed multiple residential homes.
I feel very privileged to be in a position as a Governor within Talbot House. It allows me to support not only the young people that attend Talbot House but also their families, as well as being part of a Governing Body to achieve the best outcome for the future of the Charity. The knowledge that I have gained throughout my educational and professional career will support my role as a Parent Governor.