Mark Evans

Chair of Trustees

Mark brings a wealth of legal knowledge to his role as a Trustee at Blackpool Headway Wyre & Fylde. Having qualified as a solicitor in 1995, Mark has spent his whole career representing claimants in personal injury cases. Having worked at one of the UK’s largest practices, Mark joined Easthams Solicitors Blackpool as co-owner and Director in 2018.

Easthams Solicitors is a highly rated solicitors practice dedicated to providing friendly, down-to-earth advice to the people of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. As well as specialising in recovering compensation for injured claimants, Easthams has a great reputation for helping the local community with conveyancing, preparing powers of attorney, will writing and probate services.

Jonathan Young

Trustee & Treasurer

Jonathan provides his expertise on all things financial to support the work of the charity. In addition to his work for Headway Blackpool Wyre and Fylde he is the founder and Director of Gresham Wealth Management Ltd. Jonathan joined the financial services industry in August 1991 and has been advising clients since then. He advises in all areas of financial planning to individual and corporate clients however, Jonathan has, over the last decade, dedicated his time to providing solutions to clients referred to him via professional connections across a broad range of disciplines. Jonathan has built a strong track record of advising recipients of clinical negligence and personal injury awards and his services are retained by a large number of solicitors nationwide.

Mark Rybczynski

Trustee

As well as supporting Headway Blackpool Wyre and Fylde, Mark is founder and Director of Rehabilitation for Independence an occupational therapy company covering the North of England. Mark’s primary area of interest is in neuro-rehabilitation, in which he has over eight years’ experience. Mark has extensive experience of rehabilitation of adults and children with complex neurological conditions, particularly, Acquired Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder and Sensory Integration dysfunction and physical conditions such as spinal and orthopaedic injury. Mark established Rehabilitation for Independence in 2012 and has forged links with leading law firms and case management companies, throughout the North of England.

Keith Whigham

Committee Member & Members Representative

Keith joined the RAF as a Firefighter aged 17 and completed 23 years taking him all over the world. He left the RAF aged 40. Keith suffered a nasty knock on the head after falling down the stairs at home and has been attending Headway Blackpool for over 5 years. He is an active member and joined the committee in order to help those people who find themselves in his position. Keith is a firm believer that Headway can assist members and family through harrowing and life changing moments such as head injury, it has helped him and his family greatly. Keith’s interests include football and music, he has a collection of vinyl records which he loves to listen to.

Kath Goulding

Commitee Member & Carers Representative

Kath is a mother of two, she ran her own business in the UK and abroad. Her life changed when her husband Craig got an acquired brain injury nearly 10 years ago. She gave up work to help support him and eventually became his carer as part of his care package. She and her husband joined Headway Blackpool and attend regularly.

Kath joins the committee as carer’s representative as she can offer input, knowledge and support from different points of view as she is the wife of a service user as well as a carer. Kath wants to make sure people know that carers need support too as they are often forgotten.

Clare Welsby

Commitee Member

Alison Battersby

Commitee Member

Samantha Ashcroft

Network Coordinator

Sam became involved with Headway over 10 years ago when her friend had a road traffic accident and required support from Headway Blackpool. After volunteering for a number of years Sam applied for and was successful in securing the post of member support officer. The role involves; supporting members with tasks that they may struggle to complete themselves, organising drop-in sessions, managing the Headway Blackpool phone-line, organising day trips for members along with the day-to-day running of Headway Blackpool Wyre & Fylde. Sam is very keen on networking with other charities and businesses on the Fylde coast to raise more awareness of Headway and to reach out to adults that require Headway’s support.

Kat Whitemoss

Communications Manager

Kat has worked in the field of communication and marketing for over 20 years. Kat began her career as a media/press officer at Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, she then went on to broaden her scope of work in communication via roles within Lancashire County Council. Kat now works on a freelance basis supporting a number of not-for-profit and private sector organisations.

Kat is passionate and dedicated, working hard to raise the profile of the organisations she supports.

Kat manages marketing, communication and fundraising for Headway Blackpool Wyre & Fylde.