Jill Joseph
In my role as Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion in an inner-city primary school, my special interest in Speech Bubbles developed because I have had first-hand experience of the massive positive impact the programme has on our most vulnerable pupils over the last four years. Speech Bubbles improves pupils' access to learning opportunities by improving their resilience for learning and communication skills. It's always a joy and pleasure to see how the pupils thrive following their involvement in the programme.
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Jonathan Barnes
I've been teaching for 45 years and often concerned with those whose voices are rarely heard, and I have never experienced a more effective approach to confidence building, involvement and the motivation to speak out than Speech Bubbles.
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Lehni Lamide Davies
I am an artist, creative producer and university Programme Manager. As a Speech Bubbles Practitioner - I have witnessed and seen evidence of the transformative power of Speech Bubbles and what it provides for children with communication needs through the use of story-telling and imaginative drama. I am thrilled to now be part of the team of trustees that will be supporting the development and growth of Speech Bubbles in its exciting new phase, as it expands the programme supporting young children with communication needs in educational settings across England.
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Matt Wardle
Matt has been a passionate Speech Bubbler for 10 years, as both a practitioner for Peoplescape Theatre in Manchester and now managing North West Drama’s cohort of schools across Salford, Stockport, Trafford and Tameside. He is a firm believer that all children and young people have a right to experience drama that inspires learning and drives forward a creative and humanising curriculum.
He was a primary teacher for 10 years, and now works across the areas of theatre making, performance, drama for learning and producing. He is the Creative Producer of North West Drama alongside his freelance work - and also teaches yoga.
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Keilah Chambers-Turner
I am a Participation Coordinator and Events Producer, bringing experience from across Theatre, Higher Education, and Youth programmes. I value and specialise in creating positive experiences and social impact through participatory programmes, events, and audience engagement activities, and am driven by a desire to improve access, representation, and equity in the arts.
I currently work across our Children and Families programmes at Nottingham Playhouse, and have a strong belief that all young people should be given the confidence and opportunity to explore their creativity in a fun and joyful way.
I look forward to bringing my knowledge and ideas to Speech Bubbles’ board because above all, I want to contribute to work that makes a tangible difference to children and communities, and I value the opportunity to help Speech Bubbles continue to grow this impact nationally.
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Sharon Kanolik
Sharon has been a Speech Bubble Practitioner since 2024 and has led drama and arts projects for young people for 20 years.
She is also a theatre maker and creative producer, collaborating with different organisations on participation projects.
Sharon is proud to be part of Speech Bubbles and enjoys hearing children's stories and bringing them to life. She also loves seeing children grow in confidence and self-expression throughout the project.
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Shermaine Slocombe
Shermaine is an interdisciplinary artist and educator deeply engaged in participatory practices. Over the past two decades, she has contributed to the cultural and educational sectors, devising and delivering authentic artistic experiences and immersive projects for both Primary and Secondary audiences. Her aim is to empower young individuals to discover their voices, emphasising the presentation and curation of outcomes generated by participants.
Within her practice, she leads workshops and projects in dance, theatre, and visual arts. She delivers teacher training sessions, develops classroom resources and provides guidance on educational initiatives. Her passion lies in recognising the transformative potential of the arts to unite communities and individuals, as well as advocating for the integral role of creativity in education.
She adores being a Speech Bubbles practitioner, where witnessing the transformation in communication through play and drama for young people is remarkable!
@shemyslocs
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Natasha Tomlin
Natasha is the Safeguarding & Wellbeing Officer at Grange Primary School in Southwark and is a wonderful support to Speech Bubbles
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Lily Rice
I am passionate about supporting young people and children. This has been at the centre of my career for the last 7 years, something I am immensely proud of. I currently work in the Access team at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and am an actor in my spare time, so I know first-hand the great joy that drama brings us. I am excited to join Speech Bubbles’ Board of Trustees, to help bring that joy to more children, and see them tell their stories with more confidence, creativity and imagination.
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Tom Brain
Tom is a freelance drama facilitator. In addition, he works as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant at an SEN school in South London. He first started working for Speech Bubbles in Hertfordshire in January 2024 and now works in London schools too. He also works for Herts Inclusive Theatre, creating shows with groups of people with additional needs, and has lots of experience visiting schools to facilitate workshops, including one entirely in French!
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Shanti Sarkar
For 15 years I have worked across the Charity, Theatre and Arts sectors, driven by my interests in how Creative and Expressive Arts can be a tool for social change. I’ve worked with communities from a variety of backgrounds, such as Refugee/Asylum-seeking Youth groups, as well as with children with alternative learning needs, and I’m particularly passionate about ensuring that those who wouldn’t ordinarily access the Arts, are supported to develop their confidence, cultural capital and communication skills through creative arts programmes. I’m currently Creative Hub Producer at the Unicorn Theatre, responsible for the Schools Programme.
In my spare time I enjoy my book clubs, hiking groups, going to see dance theatre shows and weightlifting/strength training in the gym.
I’m delighted to be on the Board of Speech Bubbles- I’m deaf and I wish I’d had access to such a programme as Speech Bubbles when I used to go to speech & language therapy as a child!
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Adam Power-Annand, CEO
Adam is a participatory theatre maker, learning his craft as an actor/teacher and youth theatre leader. Since 2000 he has developed as an organisational leader at Greenwich and Lewisham Young Peoples Theatre, Half Moon Theatre and London Bubble. Adam is a member of the Cultural Learning Alliance advisory panel.
Nurturing Speech Bubbles from a local project to a national programme has been the most rewarding thing in Adam’s career. Speech Bubbles uses all the instincts of theatre making to provide children with a joyful creative space where they can develop their own unique communication.
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Elizabeth Kennedy, General Manager
Lizzie is a visual artist who has been working on projects across different art forms for over 20 years. She has a BA (Hons) in Creative Arts from University of Birmingham, graduating in 2003 and has worked in the arts ever since. She has experience in the charitable sector in project management, event management, support work and business administration. Lizzie is enjoying supporting everyone involved in Speech Bubbles projects in her role as General Manager and is committed to our work to support children to develop their communications skills in a fun and relaxed ways.
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Wendy Lee
Wendy has worked as a management accountant for many years in the technology and media sector.
Since 2016 she has shifted her focus to work with charities. Wendy works with over half a dozen charities of various sizes.
She has extensive knowledge in charity SORP, charity accounts preparations and reporting.
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Wayne Cooper
I am an experienced teacher and leader in primary education who is passionate about supporting artistic creativity as a vehicle to overcome physical, mental and emotional barriers to children’s learning. I have been in education for 27 years.
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Tara Brophy
Participating in drama was one of the main influences that led me to my vocation: Speech and Language Therapy. It is a huge responsibility and honour to be part of the advisory group and support Speech Bubble's development.
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Tracey Brook
As formerly a SENCO in one of the Southwark schools that pioneered the wonderful Speech Bubbles programme, and who subsequently ran it in person for several years, I had first-hand experience of its positive long-term impact, on the confidence, expression and engagement of the children, on the relationships between the children and the adults supporting them, as well as on the sense of self-worth of those adults. It also gave us great joy and became the high point of the week for us all!
This is why I consider it a privilege to be counted a member of the Advisory Group.
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Warda Farah
There is nothing more powerful than a child that is given free rein to explore their innate creativity. Through the Speech Bubbles intervention children use the modality of drama and storytelling to express themselves in a safe space. It's incredibly exciting to be a part of the advisory group and see the direct impact they will have on the children and schools they operate in.
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