The National Executive Committee

Chris Walker

Chair

I started my career as a primary school teacher and also worked in Sweden as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. After spending 8 years at home as a full time mum to 3 young children, I became a volunteer Portage Home Visitor for Bromley Portage in 1985.

A job share became available and I was appointed as a part time Portage Teacher and after a few years this became full time. I became the Coordinator of Bromley Portage in 1992 and was Senior Teacher of the Bromley Pre-School Specialist Support Services when I retired in December 2007.

I was nominated to the Board of the National Portage Association in 1997 as London & South East Regional Representative. I have also been the Chair of Publicity & Information and Vice Chair. I took on the Chair of the Association in September 2007. I am an Accredited Portage Trainer, a tutor for the Training for Trainers Course and a member of the Training and Monitoring Committee.

Sue Goodhead

Treasurer

Hello, I’m Sue Goodhead and I became the NPA Treasurer only a few months ago, in October 2009.

I retired from my job as City of York’s specialist senior educational psychologist (early years and Portage) in August 2007. It brought me into close contact with Portage workers and families, and had a strong positive influence on my educational psychology practice.

Shortly after my retirement, I was delighted when NPA asked me to do some consultancy work; firstly identifying an awarding body to accredit the Portage Basic Workshop, and then researching key working within Portage services. I enjoyed my contacts with Portage people across the country and with Board members so much that, when the consultancy work finished, I volunteered to join the Board and am now enjoying the next stage in my life-long learning journey!

Jeanette Smith

Membership Co-ordinator

I have been working in Portage since 1987 and have been a member of the NPA since that date. I joined the board a Membership Co-ordinator in 2007. I retired as manager of Gloucestershire Portage Service in 2005 and I now work part-time for the local authority as a trainer.

Veronica Boys

Chair of Equal Opportunities

Hello. I my name is Veronica. I'm the Equal Opportunities Chair. I've been practicing Portage for over 19 years' so it is now a way of life! I give some training. I am a senior accredited trainer.

Pauline Harris

Chair of Ethics

My name is Pauline Harris. I first became involved in Portage 30 years ago as a new exciting way to work with parents. I am a senior accredited trainer, and for the last 3 years I have been the Chair of Ethics, and am still very much enjoying the wonderful world of Portage.

Jo Byers

Chair of Publicity and Information

My involvement with Portage began over 12 years ago (1996) when my daughter was born with Down syndrome. The support we received during my daughter's early years from our Portage Home Visitor inspired me to want to have further involvement with Portage.

I successfully completed the Portage basic workshop in 1998 and I now work as a Portage Home visitor and have been a and have been a board member since 2006.

Audrey Cooper

Training and Monitoring Committee Representative

Hi. My name is Audrey and I am a member of the NPA. I have been aware of the Portage and its very positive approaches to working with families since 1996. I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer with the services in Blackpool and Lancashire for a few years before applying for and becoming Senior Portage Worker in Blackpool Portage Service.

Over the last 6 years I have become an accredited trainer, attended NPA forums and conferences and most recently have volunteered to sit on the training and monitoring working group and have been successful in applying to become a trainer on the Trainer for trainers team, the ASD PCPD team and the behaviour PCPD team

Shahenaz Shaikh

Northern Regional Representative

Hi I'm Shahenaz, I've been working with The Kirklees Portage Service since the summer of 1998. Initially I joined as a Bilingual Portage Home visitor. I was fortunate enough to get the post of Senior Portage Home visitor in 2001.

My role as a representative on the board involves acting as a contact person for the Northern region and presenting any queries or views of our members to the board.

David Strawson

Parent Representative

My son Scott was born in 2003 with Cerebral Palsy. I received Portage for Scott very early on. I had very challenging personal circumstances after my wife left, when Scott was only 1. My Portage home visitor was Chris Walker, now the Chair of the NPA.

Sessions were fantastic and gave us every support possible. Given that I had to juggle care for Scott, work and everything else, the care and support Scott I received is something I'll always cherish. I felt I wanted to give something back for all I had received and in June 2007, when Chris asked me if I'd be interested in being a Parent Representative I jumped at the chance.

Given my 20 year plus IT background, I've also taken on the challenge of bringing the NPA's website up-to-date. And this is the result!

Gary Walker

Parent Representative

I was asked to be a Parent Representative after my daughter Megan had received Portage. The fantastic emotional and practical support offered by our portage worker along with the inspirational experience of attending the NPA conference meant that there was no hesitation in saying 'yes'. I see the role as a way 'to give something back' to the service and ensure that parents voices are heard and their needs considered when developing and implementing national policy and initiatives.

Merle Cattermole

Eastern Regional Representative

Hi! I first became involved with Portage in 1991 as a volunteer, after having worked with a girl who received Portage preschool. I am now Senior Portage Worker with the West Suffolk Portage Service and an accredited trainer.

My role as representative on the board for the Eastern Region involves acting as a contact person for anyone within the region who has a query or wants information, disseminating information from the Executive Committee to members, and making sure that the views of our members are presented at board meetings.

Ruth Norman

London and South East Regional Representative

Hello there. I am Regional Representative for London and the South East. I have been involved in Portage for 21 years and run the Lewisham Portage Service. I first became involved in Portage as a support teacher at a school on Greenwich as part of a pilot project in 1998.

Elizabeth Marwood

North East Regional Representative

Hello. My name is Elizabeth Marwood and I have been Leading Portage Teacher in Sunderland where we have a multi agency Portage Worker system since 2003.

I took over the role of Regional Representative for the North Eastern Region in September 2007 and have really enjoyed working closely with colleagues from other Local Authorities.

Sharon Ensor

South West and Wales Regional Representative

Greetings! I'm Sharon Ensor. I am the regional Representative for the South West and Wales. I was employed as a portage visitor in Portsmouth in 1998 and became the manager in 2003.

Sarah Addison

Midland Regional Representativ

My name is Sarah Addison and I am the NPA representative for the Midland region acting as a contact point for members locally.

I initially became involved with Portage as a seconded worker through my work within our local Child Development Center and since 2003 have been a Senior Portage Worker for Staffordshire Portage Service. I joined the Board as regional rep in January 2008.

Louise Bell

Communication and Development Co-Ordinator

I'm Louise Bell, the Communication and Development Co-Ordinator (or CADCO). I am based in the National Portage Association Office in Birmingham and do a wide range of job within the organisation in true Portage Style!

I manage the office and support the Board in the running of the organisation and making funding bids. My role is a part time one and I usually work 3 days a week.

Bonny Robinson

Conference Co-ordinator

I've been Conference Co-ordinator since 2002 and work with a team of fantastic volunteers who each work from year to year on a specific area of the conference programme. The role of co-ordinator is an exciting and continually developing experience and I welcome ideas on how we can ensure Conference continues to be informative and enjoyable to all.

Debbie Sharp

Admin Assistant

My name is Debbie Sharp and I am the admin assistant at the National Portage office in Birmingham where I provide general admin support. This includes processing membership forms, maintaining the database of members and services, answering queries, stationary ordering and sending out mail. I mainly work from Wednesday to Friday.

Julie Hodge Allen

Book Keeper

I'm Julie and I'm based in the National Portage Association Office. I pay all the bills, send out invoices, process payments and generally keep track of the finance matters, in partnership with the treasurer. I'm usually in the office on Monday and Tuesday.