Meet our Team
A photo of Nikita, with a blue top and auburn hair, smiling at the camera with a tree behind her.
Nikita Hayden
is a Research Associate on the Humanising Healthcare project. Nikita will be based at the University of Sheffield and a healthcare service in South Wales. Nikita enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time
is a Research Associate on the Humanising Healthcare project. Nikita will be based at the University of Sheffield and a healthcare service in South Wales. Nikita enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time
Bojana smiling at the camera
Bojana Daw Srdanovic
Hi, I’m Bojana. I’m a research fellow on the Humanising Healthcare project. I have worked for years with people with the label ‘learning disability’. A lot of the time we cared for each other, but people usually only notice the care I have given. I think that’s weird.
Dan smiling directly at the camera, wearing a hat at the Glastonbury festival 2022
Dan Goodley
Dan is Principal Investigator of Humanising Healthcare and Professor of Disability Studies at the University of Sheffield. He co-directs iHuman - a research institute that explores what it means to be human in the 21st Century - and has been lucky enough to work with self-advocacy groups and their researchers for a number of years. He supports Nottingham Forest.
Barod's logo
Barod Community Interest Company is an innovative training and information company. Our owners and work force are an equal mix of disabled and non disabled people. We specialise in bridging the gap between public and private sector organisations and the people they need to be talking and listening to. We grew out of the People first movement within Wales. Some of the Barod members involved with Humanising Healthcare are detailed below:
Drawing of Simon Rice, with dark hair and a beard
Drawing of Claudia Magwood, with dark hair and smiling.
Drawing of Simon Richards, with short dark hair, smiling
Drawing of Bryan Collis, with grey hair, beard and glasses
A photo of Katherine wearing a blue shirt and smiling towards the camera with a tree behind her
Katherine Runswick-Cole
Katherine is Professor of Education and Director of Research in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield, UK. She is the mother of two grown-up children, one of whom has attracted the label of 'having learning disabilities'
Speakup's logo
Speakup is a Self Advocacy Group run by and for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. We help people have a voice, employment opportunities and be valued and included in society. At Speakup we see people and not labels and believe that everyone has the right to live a full and enjoyable life. It all started back in 1988 when a group of people with learning disabilities came together because they were unhappy that people were not listening to them. At Speakup we have been supporting, employing and training people with learning disabilities and autistic people to use their skills and abilities to help others and make a difference for over 30 years. Here is a photo of some of our members involved with this project:
A group photo of some of the members of Speakup standing in the sunshine in front of a brick wall
A photo of Jodie, with red hair and blue t-shirt, smiling directly at the camera
And here is a photo of Jodie Bradley - also a key member of Speakup - she was not around on the day that the photo was taken
A photo of Charlotte, with dark, long curly hair looking directly at the camera
Charlotte Lawthom
Charlotte is a neurologist (a brain doctor) and her main interest is epilepsy. Every week she does a clinic for people with epilepsy and intellectual disability. When she's not at work, she hangs out with her dog.
A photo of Rebecca, with curly hair and glasses, smiling directly at the camera
Rebecca Lawthom
Rebecca is Professor of Community Psychology and Head of the School of Education, University of Sheffield. Rebecca is used to working collaboratively with people; recognising that people have answers, skills and expertise. She has engaged in research with people who may often be considered as marginalised including disabled people, migrants or those who are ageing.
Sunderland People First's logo
Sunderland People First is a Community Interest Company and all our work is led by self-advocates who have a learning disability or are autistic.
Our team have been working for close to 30 years to promote the inclusion of people with a learning disability and autistic people.
We work together with lots of other organisations and services to achieve this and make positive changes for people and families. As a team, we are very excited about this opportunity. Here are members of our team who will be involved with Humanising Healthcare:
A photo of Ian, smiling and looking directly at the camera
Ian Middleton
Hi, I’m Ian. I am a self-advocate at Sunderland People First. When I am not working, I like to take my dog for a walk, and I like playing my keyboard and knitting hats for little babies who are premature. I also like cooking.
A photo of Matty, wearing shirt and a tie, smiling directly at the camera
Matty Prothero
Hi I’m Matty. I am a self-advocate for Sunderland People First and have worked with the group for almost 20 years. I love working as part of a team and supporting new self-advocates.
In my spare time I enjoy fishing. I also enjoy diamond painting and writing short stories. My family are really important to me.
A photo of Toni Ann, smiling directly at the camera
Toni Ann Wood
Hi I’m Toni Ann. I am a self-advocate at Sunderland People First. When I’m not working, I love going out and about with my friends and family. I really enjoy going to the theatre, cinema, to concerts and having a few cocktails. I really love cooking for my family and friends.
A photo of Matthew, with dark hair and a beard, smiling directly at the camera
Matthew Moon
Hello I’m Matthew. I’m a self-advocate and director at Sunderland People First. I’m passionate about supporting and speaking up for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. I love music, films and video games. When I’m not enjoying any of these, I also like taking trips out on my own or with my dog and go swimming when I can.
A photo of Lisa, sitting working at her desk with a computer in front of her
Lisa Clark
Hello, I’m Lisa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sunderland People First. I have over 30 years’ experience in different job roles of working with people with a learning disability and autistic people. I am also a family carer.
I love being with my family, nights to the local pub, walking our dog at the beach.
I have a passion for indoor and wild swimming 😊
A photo of Andy, sitting in the sunshine on a bench and smiling at the camera
Andy Fox
Hi, I’m Andy. I am a Development Worker at Sunderland People First and support self-advocates to take the lead on lots of different projects. I love spending time with my family and enjoy supporting people to get involved in everything to do with nature.
A fish eye lens photo of some members of Sunderland People First in a meeting
You can find out more about our work by following us on Twitter: @SunPeopleFirst or on Facebook: Sunderland People First Co-operative CIC.
The logo for Sheffield Voices
Sheffield Voices is a self advocacy service for adults in Sheffield and the surrounding areas whose voices are seldom heard. We are made up primarily of adults with a learning disability and autistic adults but we are also a welcoming and inclusive group. We run sessions both face to face and online through zoom around self advocacy, issues affecting the learning disability community, healthy and active lifestyles and many fun social group.
A photo of some of the Sheffield Voices colleagues involved with our research.
Sheffield Voices is a charity that is part of Disability Sheffield and we have been in existence since 2012. We are all about supporting people to have a voice about things that matter to them, and our work is led by our members.
We work alongside other organisations and, in the community, reaching out to people to join our self-advocacy movement and supporting people to understand their rights.
A photo of Kathryn smiling into the camera
Kathryn Littlewood
Hi, I am Kathryn and I have worked with Sheffield Voices for the last 10 years. I support the group to get involved in lots of projects and help to create creative spaces where people can come together to have a voice about things that matter to them.
A photo of Darren, looking to the left of the camera, sat in a chair during a meeting.
Darren Lee
I am Darren Lee of Sheffield Voices self advocacy group. I am passionate about disabled people and people with mental health's human rights and most important to me is stopping the NHS dehumanising people all over the UK.
A photo of Mary standing in the sun facing the camera
Mary Bottomley
I am passionate and lively advocate for disabled rights especially for those with learning disabilities and autism. I am active part Sheffield Voices, British Institute of learning Disabilities and Autism, Yorkshire Housing. In my spare time I love spending time with my husband Lee and his guide dog joya, friends and building lego.
Kelly Scargill
Hi I'm Kelly. I've been working with Sheffield voices for almost two years. I'm autistic and I use my life experience to help others to have their voices heard.
Claire Liversidge
I'm Claire Liversidge a member of Sheffield voices, I suffer from epilepsy but don't allow it to deter me. I am passionate about helping people wherever possible. Although I don't have a cat of my own I find animals very warm and consoling and occasionally cat-sitting.
Photo of Robert McLean
Robert McLean
The name is Robert McLean from Sheffield Voices. I am registered blind and a BIG advocate for Disability Rights. I like rock music and I am in a band, ‘Club land Detectives’. I like to speak my mind. I want to rule the world so that I can give everyone that is disabled the same rights.
Photo of Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith
I have been with Sheffield voices for over 6 years now I like to empower people with learning disabilities and help them with their issues whether it be social or political. Also I am a technician and I produce videos. My passion is for people to have equal rights in life and equal services in the NHS and would like the NHS to change their practises in line with their patience.
photo of Rohit Shankar
Rohit Shankar
Rohit is a professor in Neuropsychiatry with University of Plymouth Peninsula School of Medicine and director of its Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER) unit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cider-cornwall-intellectual-disability-equitable-research. He is a consultant in developmental neuropsychiatry and clinical director for the Cornwall adult intellectual disability services.