About Us
SpeakUpCIC originated from the East Kent User Forum, which was established in 1992 to capture and share the voices of mental health service users. In February 2011, SpeakUpCIC was founded as an independent not-for-profit organisation to continue advocating for service users and to provide a range of peer support groups and activities aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing. Currently, SpeakUpCIC operates in Thanet and Ashford and surrounding areas within East Kent.
SpeakUpCIC is led by Managing Director and Founder Maggie Gallant and supported by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and helpers with lived experience. Our services are shaped by our service user members - who are valued as the experts by experience - ensuring that we continue to meet their needs.
OUR MISSION
To provide opportunities for mental health service users to share their views and experiences about services and issues including policies, strategies, frameworks and service provision. With people’s permission, these views are presented to others – for example, mental health commissioners, decision makers, clinicians and service providers – with the aim of improving and developing better mental health provision to prevent people from reaching a crisis.
OUR VALUES
“When I started out on my own recovery journey over 20 years ago, user forums in this part of Kent did not exist and that is where it all started. With my own experience of the mental health services and the difficulties I had trying to make my own voice heard when unwell, I knew I wanted to make a difference to other people and that is what I have set out to do, in partnership with other users and organisations."
- Maggie Gallant - Managing Director of SpeakUpCIC.
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The belief that all mental health service users and survivors have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.
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The commitment to working together and collaboratively to create a culture of hope, support and recovery that embodies a belief in people’s own abilities to manage change and improve the quality of their lives.
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To create inclusive communities free from stigma and discrimination.
Meet the Team
Maggie Gallant
Managing Director
I previously managed the service when the former East Kent User Forum was hosted by Thanet MIND and later by Rethink Mental Illness. I grew this business with support from Service Users, Volunteers and Stakeholders from the forum which began in 1992.
Clare Wright
Director
I lived in Thanet until 2006 when I worked on local re-generation projects and community and business engagement. A Chartered Town Planner, I had a local authority and non-profit background, I am a Director of my own planning consultancy and Founding Director of Community Spirit Partnership CIC.
Ian Carter Chapman
Director
I have been a member of the User Forum since 1993, having faced mental health challenges since the age of 12. Born in Margate, I am a life-long resident of Thanet, and I have worked in various cinemas across Kent as well as at Ramsgate's Tourist Information Centre.
I'm a long-time supporter of diversity and LGBTQ equality, and I was involved with Canterbury Pride and Thanet Gay Pride, both as a steward and an organiser from 2006 to 2010.
Tracy Dighton
Director
I’ve been supporting Maggie and the team with service development, management and governance issues since SpeakUpCIC was founded in 2011. I have since joined the Board as a Director to mark a greater commitment to the organisation and its members going forward. The positive energy at SpeakUpCIC makes contributing a joy. I am experienced in managing community organisations both as a trustee and a chief executive. I have managed the CAB in Hastings and Rother for a number of years and before that ran Ashford Counselling Service. I haven’t always found it easy to keep myself in good wellbeing but have found in recent years sticking with the mindful activities I enjoy, such as working in a community garden, walks in nature and wild swimming has really helped.
Kay Byatt
Service Manager
Originating from London, I've been living in Thanet since 1992.
I've been involved in charitable and community development work for many years and I'm also a fully qualified Holistic Therapist.
My passion is supporting people to help improve their mental health and wellbeing via engaging with others through peer support groups and activities.
In my spare time, I am a singer/songwriter who enjoys the therapeutic benefits of music.
Lorraine Kent
Finance & MD Support
I'm Lorraine Kent and I have been with SpeakUpCIC for over 2 years. Previously I liaised with SpeakUpCIC in the capacity of a working partner.
My role has changed over my time, now focussing my part-time hours with finance and supporting the Managing Director, Maggie Gallant.
I have worked in mental health services for about 20 years in total and I find the roles both challenging and rewarding.
Watch This
Space
Watch this space
Meet our Volunteers
Watch This
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Watch this space
Nicky Harwood
I joined SpeakUpCIC as a service user member in 2012 after a succession of traumas, a mental breakdown and 4 years of agoraphobia. Once my confidence had sufficiently grown, Maggie offered me the opportunity to become a volunteer, and I began running the Art & Craft and Gardening Groups which helped me to share my coping strategies with other members. In 2022 I suffered sudden and significant sight loss. However, with support from staff, helpers and my beautiful guide dog Danni, I continue running the Art &Craft Group twice a week and organising events and wellbeing activities etc.
David Hawthorn
I began volunteering with SpeakUpCIC in 2024 and run a range of peer support groups in-person and online. I live in Ramsgate and used to work as an editor in legal publishing, then as a teaching assistant in a secondary school. I’ve also previously worked as a volunteer for Advocacy for All, a charity supporting adults with autism. My interests include watching Ramsgate’s football team, foreign films, creative writing, playing board games and the Magic the Gathering card game. I am also a massive Bob Dylan fan.
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Steve Pike
I’ve been a volunteer with SpeakUpCIC for many years. I used to help run the Music Appreciation Group as I love music and am an avid collector of vinyl records of all genres. I enjoy helping and supporting others, so you’ll find me helping out at events and engagement meetings where we share views and
feedback about services in Thanet. I also like supporting new members so they feel confident to attend our groups and events.
Carolyn Jones
I joined SpeakUpCIC in 2021 following a 3-year period of severe anxiety. After participating in online workshops and groups, I became a volunteer and run the Talking and Sharing Zoom session on Wednesday mornings. I’m a member of several local groups including the Broadstairs and St Peter's Twinning Association, St Andrew's Women's Group and am on the committee of the League of Friends of the Michael Yoakley Care Home. My main hobby over the last 20 years is making and selling cards.
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Kelly McGlasson
Bio
Danny Coles
I'm Danny or (Colesy). I have many years’ experience working across youth working/homeless/peer supporting roles in the Thanet area. I’m aiming to use my lived experiences and pay something back for the support that I have received by making someone else's journey a bit easier and for them to not feel alone. I co-facilitate the Peer Support Group for Men (PS) and help to represent the service user voice.
Damian Erbe
I’m Damian and I’ve been part of the SpeakUpCIC community for a few years. I have lived experience as a carer and am passionate about getting the voice of service users and their carers heard so I attend lots of engagement meetings as a representative for the voice of the people. I co-facilitate the weekly PSM (Peer Support Group for Men) which provides a safe and friendly space for us to meet up and chat. I also help to run the Creative Writing Group encouraging others to share thoughts, feelings and stories without rules!
Hope Gibson
Hi! I'm Hope. I work at Riparo Lounge in Westwood. We've been fundraising for SpeakUp, and I'm volunteering my time to help with the IT side of things. I have been working on an update and redesign of the website. I also have a photography workshop in development. I am on the ASD spectrum, and I'm going to be helping out with some of the ADHD events as well. In my spare time, you can usually find me playing Pokémon Go, or taking photos. My favourite music to listen to is Owl City.
Alone sat a star,
in a universe of dreams.
Waiting to be discovered
she sat and waited.
Along came an astronomer,
and named her one day.
Now the world knows her
and she watches with glee.
“When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”