is semi-retired from working, for many years, in the financial sector. She has an active interest in charities which support the welfare of young people and those affected by addiction.

is a former business manager with many years’ budget monitoring experience.

 is a retired engineer. He has thirty years’ experience as a trustee and coach to youth sports teams.

is a qualified counsellor with 13 years’ experience in supporting families affected by addiction. She works with Families Out Loud to provide assessment and counselling sessions. She also facilitates the support group meetings.

is a trainee counsellor who has several years’ experience in supporting family members affected by a loved-one’s addiction. She also works in a primary school helping children with learning needs, and enjoys amateur dramatics in her spare time.

UKCP Registered Psychotherapist & Supervisor

Buddhist Chaplain

Visiting Fellow, School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University

Families Out Loud offers something very rare. That rarity is to be found in the people who hold the charity and its service to families journeying with addiction. Rather than hiding issues in a shadowy corner, Families Out Loud lovingly and skilfully enable issues to be raised, and words to be spoken. In my view, they have the richest of things – a depth of compassion and knowledge that arises out of experience.

I offer my total support for this unique charity in its support of families struggling to both survive and make sense of the pathways of addiction. They are a family in its truest sense – being there when the going gets tough, offering the kindness and firmness that helps each other to become more of who we are.