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.

The belief that all mental health service users and survivors have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.
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.
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.

Jade Perkins

IT & Website Manager

I’m Jade - a certified Web Developer with a Level 3 qualification and a passion for building user-friendly digital experiences. As IT & Website Manager, I focus on keeping systems efficient, websites visually engaging, and content easy to access.

I blend creative problem-solving with a practical approach, drawing on experience in visual design, web development, and content strategy to support both user needs and team collaboration. I’m always exploring ways to improve functionality while maintaining a clean and thoughtful user experience.

Mental wellbeing is an important part of how I work. I care about fostering inclusive, empathetic digital spaces and believe tech should empower people, not overwhelm them.

Volunteers

Julia Hope

Support Worker - Ashford

I’m Julia and I live in Ashford. I have been a member of SpeakUpCIC for over 12 years. It was the one peer support group that met up in Ashford each week that seemed to understand my difficulties and made me feel welcome. They listened if I wanted to speak and I felt heard. I am a mum of two young adults, and I was a professional photographer before I became unwell in 2007. I have since studied to become a counsellor and run the weekly peer support group in Ashford which has enabled me to give something back to the mental health community.

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.