Our Trustees

Dave Thompson MBE DL

Chair of WDP since the launch

Special interest: Social inclusion, equality and diversity, information, access, representation, and partnerships. Dave was founder and chair of Warrington Disability Information Service and the chair of the Warrington Committee for Disabled People. He was the founder and a trustee of Shopmobility and the founder and vice chair of Warrington Disability Sports Forum before all 4 organisations joined to form WDP.

He is the founder and current Event Co-ordinator of the North West Disability Awareness Day Europes largest and longest running voluntary led independent living exhibition, and was a founder and past chair of the Cheshire Disabilities Federation and the founder of the North West Positive Action Awards . Dave has travelled widely across the UK and Europe promoting the development and sustainability of partnerships involving disabled people and carers. He is the Assistant Director of Inclusion and Partnerships at the 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust and leads their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit covering patient and public involvement, equality and diversity, and social inclusion . In June 2001 Dave received an MBE for services to disabled people and the NHS, in October 2006 he received an invitation to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire. Dave chairs the North West NHS Equality and Diversity Forum, he is also a trustee of the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace and Trustee and Chair of the Griffiths Court Foundation.

Pat Kitto

Deputy Chair

Special interest: social inclusion and equality & diversity, with particular focus on education. Prior to her retirement in 2008, Pat was an Assistant Principal at Warrington Collegiate where she worked since 1979 in a variety of different roles. One of her responsibilities was for Equality & Diversity across the college and she worked closely with the college's Equality & Diversity Coordinator to ensure the college upheld its duty as both an employer and an educational institution.

Pat is maintaining her commitment to lifelong learning and making a real difference for all members of the Warrington community through working in an educational consultant capacity and also through her work as trustee for not only WDP but also the Warrington Wolves Foundation.

Dave Cheetham

Secretary of WDP

Special Interest: Disability awareness, inclusion, equality.

One of Dave's daughters has a mobility impairment and whilst having an overall interest in the development of WDP, is particularly focussed on promoting the benefits of inclusion and equality, both to individuals themselves and the value of their contribution to society in general. Dave and his daughter firmly believe that "disability does not mean inability"

Dave's professional background has primarily been in Banking, where he was a Regional Operations Manager in Corporate Banking for one of the principal UK Banks, but also has experience in the voluntary sector, having been involved in several disability-orientated organisations in Warrington. Presently working for Business Link as an advisor in the Financial and Professional Services Sector, he is looking to use his knowledge in both business and disability capacities to support the WDP team.

Sue Bentley

Treasurer of WDP

Special interest: Communications, IT and websites.

Sue manages five websites for WDP and also produces a monthly electronic newsletter, as well as carrying out the tasks associated with Treasurer. Sue is Commercial Director of Skill Zone Ltd, a web development company based in Runcorn. Prior to founding Skill Zone she worked as a Training Centre Manager for a Cheshire-based Microsoft Solution Provider, and as a Technical Sales Manager in the CCTV industry. Educated to degree level with twenty years of commercial experience, Sue is a Certified Microsoft Professional in Windows and a published writer of web site and product review articles in the trade press, and an active member of the Women's Institute.

Chris Molyneux

Special interest: Mental health, challenging stigma, social inclusion and equality

Chris was one of the pioneers and trustee for the Warrington Carers Centre until 2008. She is also a trustee for Making Space and is a member of three of their governance sub groups: Human Resource, Quality Standards Audit and Hospital Manager for their two independent Hospitals. Chris is also pro-active for the Joint Service User Carer Forum with the 5 Borough Partnership at Hollins Park Hospital and represents carers on a number of projects and committees.

In addition to her trustee roles Chris has also been a volunteer with the WDP for the last 10 years at the Market Information Point and is still offering information, advice and assistance relating to Welfare Benefits to all member of the general public.

Gary Skentelbery

Special Interest - Media and Advertising.

Gary is currently the editor of a group of magazines in the Warrington and Cheshire area namely Warrington Worldwide, Lymm Life, Culcheth Life, Village Life and Frodsham Life and publisher of the town's daily online newspaper www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk . He is also Editor of the Insight Chamber of Commerce magazine. Gary has been a photo-journalist covering the Warrington area for local, regional and national newspapers, radio and TV for the past 30 years before embarking on his own publishing venture in 1999 following a 10-year spell as freelance Editor of the Warrington Mercury. Passionate about everything Warrington, he is also a member of the Warrington branch of Business Network International (BNI) and Chief Executive of Warrington Town Football Club. 54 Gary is also a Patron for the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace.

Terry Wadsworth

Special interest: I.T. and Access. Terence was a Trustee at WDIS and has been a volunteer since 1999. He currently leads the Information Technology and Communications Support team at WDP, ensuring the day to day running and maintenance of our computers and telephone infrastructures. He has just completed part two of the Microsoft server support accreditation course. He previously spent 3 years undertaking access audit work for WDP, most notably, audits of all the HM prisons in the North West of England.

Terry worked for 12 years for Gandalf Digital Communications in Information Technology. He has 5 years experience as a volunteer for a Night Shelter Winter Homeless Scheme where he supported people and families affected by addiction problems, drug and alcohol abuse.

Ian Richardson

Special interests Disability Awareness, Inclusion and Access. Ian joined WDP as a volunteer in Jan 2008 and in Nov 2009 was asked to become a trustee. In Dec 2007 Ian retired due to a spinal injury, throughout his career he worked in the printing industry the last 23 years being self employed. A life long Warrington resident, married with twin sons, one of whom has mild cerebral palsy.

A former Warrington Lions member he has a good understanding of the "ups & downs" of charity work

"There's a huge amount of work to be done till finally disabled people can be accepted as equals in every aspect of life"

Jan Pritchard PGCE MA FCIPD

Active member and committee member of Warrington HF Walking Group, Chair of St Helens and Warrington CIPD group and external Examiner for St Helens College CIPD programmes. Jan supports WDP quiz nights and is a Steward for DAD.

During her 21 years teaching Management programmes at Warrington Collegiate she was Programme Leader for CIPD programmes. Jan spent 8 years as Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator, cross college role, which involved attending Warrington Disability Forum, Mental Health BME group, NW Equality & Diversity Network, Managing Diversity Week, staff development, Chair of ED committee, advising Senior Management

Sarah Hall BA PGCE Dip Pysch

Special interest : learning disabilities, autism and mental health.

Sarah is currently a specialist teacher for looked after children. She has been teaching in mainstream and special schools for over ten years. She has two children, her youngest child has autism and learning disabilities and she is keen to raise the offering of services to children, young adults and their carers. She is interested in developing the links with business to offer young people with learning disabilities meaningful employment and support in adult life. Sarah is currently an elected council member of a mental trust and sits on the membership and communication committee.

Eileen MacDonald

Karen Beaton

Ian Grant

Dave Williams