Spokz People c.i.c. is proactive in employing qualified staff with disabilities or disability experience. We are a Social Enterprise, a Community Interest Company, company number 7854738 and the non-profit arm of Spokz.

STAFF

Mèlani Halacre, Director Spokz People

Mèlani is an integrative counsellor (University of Leicester) and lecturer (PGCE for FE and HE). She is qualified to practice online counselling (training with OCST) alongside face-to-face and telephone counselling. Other qualifications include a BA in Communication and certificates in psychology and mediation skills. Mèlani has experience and knowledge of physical disability and works with issues such as anger, anxiety, bereavement, loss, cultural issues, oppression/discrimination, depression or low mood, general counselling, relationships and self-esteem. She also runs training and workshops and facilitates support groups. She is a full member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP membership number 618792) and adheres to their ethical framework. She has professional Indemnity Insurance with Holistic Insurance (Member HIS20190) and a current CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Enhanced Disclosure check.

Online counsellors, because they store and process your personal data on computers, are required to be registered data controllers. As a non-profit organisation Spokz People are exempt from this requirement, though we do abide by all legal requirements relating to personal data storage and the data protection principles of the Data Protection Act. Please visit www.ico.gov.uk for more information.

Steve Dent, trainer and support group facilitator

Steve has a spinal injury of 23 years and has experience as a group leader and trained mentor for the BackUp Trust, a charity that arranges activities and events for people with spinal injuries. He has been an access auditor and has knowledge of the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act). Steve has a wealth of personal experiences to bring to the training courses and support groups. Steve set up Spokz in 2008 and runs the retail arm of Spokz.

 

VOLUNTEERS

Counsellors and sex therapists for the Forum and Helpline: we have a pool of sex therapists who can answer your sex and relationship questions. They are Jill Moore, Judy Karr, Monika Dedus, Maureen Wiliams and Selena Doggett-Jones. We also have Claire Pooley, a counsellor who can answer general relationship questions.

You can find out more about Monika and Maureen by clicking on our Therapy Directory, they are listed here.

 

PARTNERSHIPS

our training and support groups are a collaboration with a range of other professionals:

 

Michelle Donald, sex therapist and trainer, runs www.I-Said.co.uk

Michelle is a qualified psychosexual therapist and couple counsellor with expertise in the areas of sexual dysfunction, relationship issues and concerns of daily living. She covers issues such as loss of desire, erectile problems, painful sex, vaginismus, orgasms and body image. She understands how important sexuality is after suffering a spinal cord injury herself and how this aspect is often neglected, with the focus being on the physical dysfunction. Michelle helps with training and with sex and relationship questions on our forum and by telephone. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy and is a general member of the College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT used to be called BASRT, membership number 2290).

 

Ali Gibson, Trainer and Support Group Facilitator, runs www.parentsinwheelchairs.com

Ali is a research associate and PhD Student at University of Central Lancashire in vocational rehabilitiation. She is also founder of parentsinwheelchairs.com, a personal account of being a parent and a wheelchair user.

 

 

Beverley Wood, Life Coach and trainer

Beverley is a qualified life coach and disability, diversity and equality trainer. She works with individuals with physical disabilities who want to achieve more from their lives. Beverly has a disability and is a wheelchair user. She understands the barriers people face which prevent them from living life to the full such as attitudes, physical and environmental barriers and institutional barriers. Beverley has the expertise to help people achieve their goals, no matter how small or large. She has a Certificate in Professional Coaching, City & Guilds Training in the Life Long Learning Sector, Advanced Train the Trainer, Disability Equality Training and a Certificate in Counselling/Helping.

 

www.Enhance the UK.org

Enhance the UK are a user-led charity run by Jennie Williams which aims to assist people with physical and sensory disabilities to play a full and active part in society. We work together by connecting our members to each others' services, working together on campaigning for equal rights for people with disabilities - including sexual rights,

Enhance the UK can enhance your social life by matching you with volunteers to do activities, whether it's a one-off event like sky diving or skiing, or regular things like shopping, going to the cinema, restaurants, whatever it is you want to do! Please visit Enhance the UK for more information.

 

 

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Spokz People are available for presentations and lectures on disability, therapy and psychological wellbeing and are also interested in conducting or participating in any research in this field.