Welcome to www.CompassDisabilty.org.uk

Who's Who

Please “Click On” any photo to find out more about them

Trustees
	Cathy Magill Trustee & Chair	Robert Taylor Trustee & Vice Chair	Hughie Bollan Secretary & Treasurer	Helen Rooke Trustee
Trustees
	Stephanie Witherick Trustee	Dave Abbott Trustee	Paul White Trustee	Joe Magill Trustee
Trustees
Staff
	Richard Pitman Chief Executive Officer	Michelle Edwards Operations Manager	Alison Mawhood Development Manager	Natalie Warren Personal Assistant
Staff
	Mandy Seaman Project Coordinator	Natalie Stevens Project Assistant	Pam Powell Finance Support Worker	Don MacPhail Finance Support Worker
	Pavla Volna Office Support Worker	Katerina Ranisova Office Support Worker	Sadie Bull Office Support Worker

Cathy Magill - Trustee & Chair

My name is Cathy Magill, I have been married to my husband Joe for 39 years. We have 3 grown up children and 5 grandchildren. I have lived in quite a number of places around the country due to Joe’s work, however we settled in Somerset in 1985. We had our own business but because of ill health, my back, and other reasons we had to give it up. In 1991 I had an operation on my back, which went wrong and left me disabled.
So why did I become involved with disabled people? It was after I came home from hospital, I laid for 2 years at home because I didn't know where to go or who to ring for any help or information. Joe was working full time and I had to stay in bed until he came home. If it weren’t for a friend talking to someone I would still be laying there.
It was after I started to get help that I realised lots of people where in the same position as I had been. It was decided by Joe and Richard from the Disability information and Advocacy Service that it was about time that I started to help other disabled people. At that point I started as a representative on the County Council Social Services Committee. Things progressed from there to helping in the formation of SAIN, a disability representative group run by disabled people countywide. This led to disabled people being able to tackle problems encountered by them in Health, Social Services or Environment. We are now a strong group of disabled people who help by working with the various authorities putting policies right before they are published wrong. We would like you to do the same and join us.

Robert Taylor - Trustee & Vice Chair

I became a wheelchair user after I broke my neck in a road traffic accident in 1976 at the age of 17 years. I have now been married for 15 years and lives independently in the community with the aid of 2 live-in support workers. I have worked in the field of disability issues for the past 23 years both on a voluntary and professional basis and have been involved in training disabled people to become Disability Equality Trainers.

I am currently Chief Executive of RT Disability Consultants Ltd, a national consultancy involved in personal injury litigation, working with people involved in catastrophic claims.

As a Trustee with SAIN, I hope to bring my knowledge and experience in the private sector to the board.

Hughie Bollan - Trustee & Secretary & Treasurer

I was born in Croydon, Surrey in December 1939; therefore I was demonstrably not to blame for the Second World War! I spent my early years in Greenock on Clydeside, returning to England in 1946. After a short spell in the RAMC, I returned to Bridgwater and promptly married the girl next door, so I’m not what you’d call energetic! I had various employs in the area mainly at Wellworthy ltd from where I took early retirement on health grounds.
I became interested in SAIN after having turned up at an AGM under the misapprehension that they had a bar in there. Notwithstanding, I have stayed At SAIN ever since as a representative, currently on the Culture, Inclusion and Access Policy Panel. I hold the post of Company Secretary and I man the SAIN office on a Friday morning.
My main interests are natural history, the environment and word games

Helen Rooke - Trustee

I live in the country just outside Wincanton with my husband of 37 years, two dogs and a cat. We have no children (but ten godchildren). My passion is gardening from March to November (not in the winter too cold and my wheelchair churns up the garden). Summer months also find me sailing as much as possible, this has included sailing with the jubilee Sailing Trust for the Disabled. I’m a voracious reader and have an interest in current affairs and what’s going in the world both locally and nationally.

My working life was in academic publishing and libraries being employed by Dorset County Council, the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Service. I’ve also taken two Open University degrees.

My husband was in the army and as a result we have traveled widely and lived all over the world. We still love to travel but as the saying goes it’s always nice to come home.

I joined SAIN as a Trustee in November 2005 and I am excited at the prospect of being involved in such an innovative organisation and tackling issue that affect disabled people in Somerset.

John Watson - Trustee

Stephanie Witherick - Trustee

Dave Abbott -  Trustee

My name is David Abbott, my age is(OOPS THIS IS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION) and I have lived in East Coker,South Somerset since 1986.
I am married to Jenny,and have been disabled since 1993, I have a muscle wasting disease. I have been doing voluntary work for about 9 years with Social Services, which I enjoy very much. I have been a member of SAIN since 2000, becoming a trustee in 2001.
My main interest is football (Yeovil Town FC) to which I go to all home and away games. I was a lorry driver before my illness.
I enjoy doing voluntary work, I try to put something back into the service. GOD WILLING

Joe Magill - Trustee

After 25 years of service in the Army coming into civilian life was a great cultural shock for me and my family, I am still trying to recover from it 20 years later. As a full time carer for my wife over the past nine years, it has given me an insight into the world of disability. While working with SAIN since its formation and prior to that with two other disability organisations, as secretary for all three at some stage, has made me appreciate the ability of disabled people. Most recently I have taken over the role of Treasurer. SAIN has been a wonderful experience not only in meeting and working with disabled people but understanding their needs and aspirations. To see people get up and go for objectives that would thwart the best of people gives me a lot of job satisfaction, no pay but multitudes of satisfaction. The only thing I would say about my age is that I was born very young and have remained that way ever since, young at heart that is, nearer to retirement in body

Paul White - Trustee

I live in the village of Horsington in South Somerset. I am almost retired having completed a career in the British Army. I now act as company secretary (and household husband) to my wife. I have been lucky enough to have served in such exotic places as Nepal, the Caribbean, Singapore and Hong Kong. My job was that of paymaster, which entailed keeping and auditing accounts; taking responsibility for personnel and administration; and managing a large staff to look after various regiments. I also gave financial advice to groups and individuals, helping with specific problems as well as providing general guidelines.

My interests and hobbies include being a school governor, working for the WRVS, playing competitive bridge and keeping fit by walking.

I have two grown up sons, one of whom is married with a baby and another on the way.

I am delighted to offer my expertise to SAIN as a trustee, and look forward to helping it grow as an organisation.

 

Richard Pitman - Chief Executive Officer

Following a car accident I became a wheelchair user. In 1994 I started working for the Taunton Deane and West Somerset Advocacy Service. This was basically one man, an office and a telephone. Despite these humble beginnings, the service managed to deliver and grow. This became DIAS. (The Disability Information & Advocacy Service). From here I joined SAIN, originally as a trustee and then took on the role of Development Worker in 2003. In 2006 I became CEO and still hold up position to the current date. I am married to Martine and have a stepson who was born in 2001 and twins who were born in 2007. To complete the family we also have Bertie the basset hound. With the full household I do not have much time for hobbies, but I enjoy my garden, photography and building design.

Michelle Edwards - Operations Manager

My career prior to joining Compass Disability Services was mainly within the leisure and customer service field. I joined, what was then known as the Somerset Access and Inclusion Network (SAIN) in March 2004 as a part time Office Support Worker. I am keen to ensure that all members are kept informed of developments and given the opportunity to become involved in the growing work that Compass Disability Services are involved in. One of my main aims is to ensure that work is done to further enhance Compass Disability Services profile so that it can continue to develop and be recognised as a key disability organisation in Somerset.
I am married to Gareth, have two dogs and enjoy the great outdoors, good food and the odd Bacardi or two.

Pavla Volna - Office Support Worker

I am from the Czech Republic and I have moved to England in 2003 after living in Australia for 2 year. I have been with SAIN since April 2005 and I am responsible for the general administration, member’s database, web site and I will normally be the first voice you hear when you phone us.

I am married to Martin (also from the Czech Republic) and have a young son called Jakub. I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, traveling and aerobics.

Katerina Ranisova - Office Support Worker

 

Mandy Seaman - Project Coordinator

I was born in Bridgwater and worked at British Cellophane upon leaving school. I remained there until its closure last year having spent 16 years in commercial roles. I took the opportunity of redundancy to change my career and pursue a role within an organisation that I felt provided a valuable service on behalf of its members. I am happy to work for an organisation that I feel can make a difference to people’s lives.

I am married to Greg and have a young daughter. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, dancing and shopping!

Natalie Stevens - Project Assistant

I started work at SAIN in November 2006 on a part-time basis, and was invited to increase my hours to full-time from May 2007. My role as Project Assistant means getting involved in all sorts of different pieces of work which I really enjoy, but the theory is that my time is divided between working with Alison on FEDS and with Mandy on SAIN.

I was born and grew up in West Somerset, moving away to Bristol to go to University when I was 18. After graduating, I spent the next few years travelling and in between trips returning home to earn the money to pay for it all! I have now decided to settle back in West Somerset; the commute to Taunton really isn’t so bad!

My ‘spare’ time is mostly taken up looking after my horse, but also seeing my boyfriend and catching up with friends. I also enjoy growing veggies and baking when I have the time!

Pam Powell - Finance Support Worker

I was born into a farming environment and grew up in the country. After leaving school I learnt office procedures and when my son started school I returned to work using the experience gained over the years. I am a fundraiser for a visual impairment charity associated and has many disabled family members. My favourite pastime is caravanning with my husband and two King Charles Spaniels.

Don MacPhail - Finance Support Worker

I joined Compass in November 2006 as a Finance Support Worker where I look after the day-to-day accounting processes. After 23 years in IT I decided to make a career change in to accounting. I have been attending Richard Huish College in Taunton one day a week where I am working towards my AAT Technician qualification in accounting which I am due to complete in June 2008.

I am married with a young daughter. My interests include skiing, cycling and more recently running, taking in my first half marathon in April 2007. To offset all this keep fit madness I enjoy slap up meals with lashings of real ale!

 

Alison Mawhood - Development Manager

I joined SAIN in April 2006 as a Development Worker. Having trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, I spent many years in accountancy, before moving to Taunton Deane Council for Voluntary Service for 3 years, where I developed a volunteering project for a varied group of disabled adults. From there I moved to DIAS, as the development worker, and then on to SAIN. I am glad I made the move to this sector.

I have two teenage children, enjoy supporting their sports teams and like to travel as much as possible.

Natalie Warren - Personal Assistant

I joined SAIN in July 2006, having just finished my A – levels at Wellington School. I am using this year to gain some experience in a working environment and felt SAIN would be a great place to do this, as not only am I experiencing full time work but am working for an organisation that wants to make a difference to people’s lives. I will be able to take this experience on to University next year.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family, friends and my boyfriend. I also enjoy swimming, skiing, walking, traveling and going out for a dance with my friends!