Meet Our Team
Meet Our Trustees
Our trustees all have experience of addiction within their family network and so understand the benefits of getting the right kind of support, for as long as it is required. Ensuring that we meet the needs of Wiltshire families living with a loved-one’s addiction, and working to secure a sustainable future for the charity are their main priorities. Whilst help is more readily available for substance users, families can often feel overlooked so the trustees understand how important our services are both to families and to the wider community.
Susanna is an artist who studied at Goldsmiths College of Art and Bath School of Art. She exhibits locally and across the UK. She was a FOL committee member for several years with shared responsibility for organising the FOL market stalls selling craft items made by the charity’s volunteers. Susanna was also responsible for putting on the Out Loud Art Exhibition in Trowbridge Town Hall in 2022 which focussed on addiction issues, and advertised the services FOL offers to families. Last year she joined the board of trustees but still works on the craft -sub committee helping with marketing and selling items on stalls around the county. Susanna is a keen advocate and supporter of FOL and its mission. She has experience of addiction within the family and is witness to the very positive and enduring outcomes which can be achieved with their help.
Debra brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to Families Out Loud. She was a Wiltshire College lecturer for 10 years, prior to which she worked as a customer services manager in various organisations around the south-west. With long-term addiction affecting her own immediate family, Debra fully understands the problems faced by others in the same situation. A co-founder and strong advocate of the charity, Debra is passionate about ensuring all Wiltshire families affected by addiction get the help they need. In her spare time Debra spends a lot of time with friends and family. She enjoys gardening, going to the gym and reading.
Tracy Monk joined Families Out Loud as a trustee after many years working in senior leadership, most recently as a Chief People and Culture Officer across the public, not-for-profit, and education sectors. She brings a wealth of experience in governance, strategy, and relational care. After stepping away from corporate life, Tracy founded ListnHeal.Me, a trauma-informed counselling and coaching practice supporting individuals and families through grief, complex trauma, and emotional challenges. Her work is grounded in compassion, inclusivity, and a deep respect for the unique journeys people face—especially when loss and relational complexity are involved. Tracy is passionate about amplifying the voices of carers and ensuring that support services are not only effective, but also deeply human. She’s honoured to contribute to Families Out Loud’s mission and to help shape trauma-aware, ethical governance that truly reflects the needs of the families that we serve.
Susy has worked in the financial sector for many years, both in retail and professional services and is now semi-retired. She has an active interest in charities which support young people and also the welfare of those affected by the addiction of others. Personal experience of dealing with the effects of addiction have given Susy a strong conviction that without the active work of charities like Families Out Loud those affected by alcohol or drugs will find little support in society. Susy is a co-founder of Families Out Loud and is currently Treasurer.
Kayleigh is head of partnerships in an out-of-home advertising company, with over a decade of contract management experience in transport advertising. At home Kayleigh is a parent to two young boys, and spends a good deal of time on the side of a pitch as a result, as well as pursuing interests in travel, genealogy and history, when possible. Through her own experience of the effects of addiction, Kayleigh recognises the difference Families Out Loud makes, and is grateful to support the compassion and community it provides.
Mark Richardson is a retired Chartered Accountant, living in Bath. He worked mainly in small IT and technology companies and in his retirement volunteers in a number of local charities, including Bath City Farm and Bath Foodbank. Mark has four sons and a growing number of grandchildren, which brings many great joys and inevitably sometimes some challenges. Mark says, ‘I am supporting Families Out Loud as I have seen at first hand the fantastic difference they make to families suffering the effects of substance abuse and hope I can play a small part in helping them do more, as the need seems so great. ‘I love playing tennis while my aching limbs can cope with it, enjoy travelling with my wife and help the local community look after our local park. But my greatest joy is my grandchildren as there is nothing like a hug and unqualified love from a child.’
Meet Our Committee
Families Out Loud professionals are experienced in supporting families affected by drug or alcohol use. They work with clients by offering therapeutic support, more formal counselling, group support and activities that encourage personal growth and self-confidence. Operating within the framework for ethical practice from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), all our counsellors have qualifications awarded by accredited bodies.
Sara Merritt is a local healthcare business owner with many years’ experience in administration and working with people. As with many who volunteer with FOL, she has lived experience and is proud to support the important work that FOL does.
Jordan is a mental health support worker, currently studying to become a mental health nurse. She brings to the table prior experience in both administration and advertising. Jordan is experienced in handling substance misuse situations and fully understands the impact they have on all family members. After receiving excellent support from FOL services herself, she wanted to join the team in order to give back. She is keen to help the charity to support others in a similar position.
Claire White - bio coming soon
Bridget Green is a qualified professional with many years’ experience of working with families affected by addiction. As lead counsellor for Families Out Loud she works directly with clients to provide 1-1 counselling, family therapy and support group meetings. Bridget also supervises the team of counselling professionals who work with FOL.
With a deep understanding of addiction’s complexities, Fiona brings a blend of personal and professional experience to support families affected by a loved one’s substance misuse. Having navigated the heartache of living with a loved one’s addiction, she truly understands the turmoil that accompanies this journey. Fiona’s professional experience spans over a decade, with a focus on delivering direct support services including six years directly working with substance misusers. She was involved with delivering a 5-Step Family Programme to affected loved-ones, with a further four years supporting 16-24 year olds at risk of homelessness. Fiona currently works with travelling communities where addiction and mental health issues are prevalent. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, taking the dog out, travelling and helping at her son’s auction.
Meet Our Support Team
Donna is a fundraising manager who has worked in the charity sector as a Trust fundraiser for 24 years. During this time she has raised over £40m for charitable causes. Donna lost a close friend to addiction/suicide 20 years ago and ever since has had a passion for raising awareness of addiction and how it impacts family members.
Hannah joins the charity as finance and admin manager. She has formerly worked in a range of corporate financial and operational roles, building a range of skills in data analysis and process management. After a career break of a few years to focus on raising her three young boys, she has now returned to working life in support of Families Out Loud. In her spare time Hannah enjoys family time, days at the beach and going to the theatre.
.png)
Ingrid Gammage is a passionate and committed counsellor who offers a safe, confidential space for individuals to explore and work through difficult emotions. She believes that the heart of effective therapy lies in the relationship between client and counsellor, one built on trust, mutual understanding, and open communication. Ingrid’s calm and compassionate approach allows clients to feel heard and accepted, even when emotions are messy or hard to express. A trained trauma-informed practitioner and integrative counsellor, Ingrid brings extensive experience from working within mental health charities. She has supported individuals and groups on their mental health journeys, offering guidance, empathy, and practical tools along the way. Her own personal experiences have shaped her belief in the power of having someone by your side during life’s most challenging moments: someone who listens without judgment and holds space for healing to begin. Ingrid originally trained in Fine Art and brings creativity into her counselling practice. Whether through the use of a sand tray, stones, or other expressive tools, she helps clients find new ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Her sessions are always paced and tailored to the individual, with care, compassion, and sensitivity. Outside of her counselling work, Ingrid enjoys spending time with her family and creating art.
Vicky is an integrative counsellor and support group facilitator who feels privileged to be a part of Families Out Loud. She has experience in dealing with domestic abuse, trauma and anxiety, and she is a trained mental health first aider. Having lost friends to addiction, Vicky says “it is a real gift to be able to offer people support with navigating the emotional complexities of loving someone with an addiction. I have a passion for building relationships, offering a safe, non-judgemental space where people feel understood and supported. I love the holistic approach of FOL, how much it offers and the passion and care of all who are a part of it. It has been incredible to see how those supported by the charity have also become a part of helping it grow”. Vicky is a mother of two children, currently completing her Level 5 studies which will enable her to work with children and young adults. She enjoys spending time with friends, family and reading.
Nick is an integrative counsellor and is honoured to be a part of Families Out Loud. Nick sees the work of support and counselling as an important act of action that can offer practical and stabilising strategies in what is so often a chaotic world. Nick has lived experience in growing up with addiction in his family. He empathises with the many complex difficulties that loving family members who are living with addiction can cause to the personal members as well as the collective members of a family. This is why Nick is committed to creating a strong, holding, non-judgemental safe-space for family members to communicate their needs and emotions. Before Nick’s work with Families Out Loud, Nick worked in the arts and music industries for more than twenty five years and so is passionate about working with human relationships and the practical needs that are essential for support and healing when in relationship to others. In Nick’s spare time he is a musician and a football player. Working and playing in teams is a passion that Nick has had since a very young age and are essential sources of connection, wellbeing and nourishment for him. As are times spent being in nature and with friends and family. Nick is a father to a fourteen year old boy and together they love to make music.
Anyo is a freelance marketer who specialises in working with charities, not-for-profit organisations and companies that have a strong emphasis on doing good. She loves knowing that her marketing makes a difference in people’s lives. When not working, Anyo enjoys travelling, getting lost in a good, independent bookshop or wandering through a museum or art gallery. Anyo also loves to bake and many moons ago owned an online macaron shop.
Tanya is a qualified counsellor who has supported families and children affected by addiction in private practice, rehabilitation centres and with charities. She now feels honoured to be supporting adults and young people with Families Out Loud. Having grown up with an alcoholic parent Tanya well knows how difficult it can be living with an addict and this is why she is so passionate about Families Out Loud. She has an insight into what clients are experiencing and how it can affect every part of life. She brings a lot of life experience to her counselling and support. Away from work Tanya enjoys cooking, reading, going to the gym, spending time horse riding and can often be found driving a classic American Chevrolet or MGB GT to shows and meet ups with her husband.
Andin is a qualified integrative counsellor and support group facilitator for Families Out Loud. She has extensive training and experience in providing support for individuals dealing with loss, and she is deeply dedicated to this work both at FOL and in her private practice. Before her current role, Andin served as a Volunteer Counsellor for Mind and Cornerstone Warminster, where she provided long-term and brief therapeutic interventions to adults from diverse age groups and cultural backgrounds. With a strong commitment to creating a safe and non-judgmental environment, Andin aims to provide a space where clients can freely share and express their deepest emotions, free from assumptions and stereotypes. In her leisure time, Andin finds joy in immersing herself in nature and cherishes moments spent with her loved ones, sharing her passion for the arts.
Kathy is a qualified Integrative Counsellor with a passion for supporting others through challenging times by providing a safe space for individuals to be heard, accepted and understood. She has experience of working with a wide range of people who present with different challenges. She has worked with Wiltshire Mind and also as a residential rehabilitation counsellor with individuals and their families who are struggling with addiction. Kathy has personal experience of the challenges addiction can bring to individuals, families and relationships. She understands how people who are supporting an addict need their own support too, as addiction impacts far more and far further than just the individual. In her free time Kathy enjoys spending time with family, walking in nature with her dog and exploring on the motorbike.
Meet Our Champions
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.
Jane Eaton is a Wiltshire Artist and Textile Designer As a mother of four children, two daughters with addiction, one in recovery and one still battling to embrace change, I am very aware of the devastating impact this can have on the family. Thirty years with an addicted family member with very little professional support, Families Out Loud was recommended to me by one of my daughters and I reached out to them for help. They have been an anchor and an amazing support to me in dealing with traumatic incidents that have occurred in the last couple of years. My thanks go to them for being there for me and for the amazing work they do to help families.
Wiltshire Councillor & Trowbridge Town Councillor Trustee – Trowbridge Future Business Support Consultant Vice Chair of Board of Governors – The John of Gaunt School Governor – Studley Green Primary School Charities that are born out of personal experience and genuine compassion provide not only a vital service to those in need, but also enrich the wider communities in which they are embedded. Families Out Loud is such a charity. Created by, and for, those understanding the impacts addiction can have on families, it provides an essential lifeline. I’m very proud to support Families Out Loud who I know are making a difference to people in our community every single day.