Yvonne Newbold MBE is an expert-by-experience in Learning Disability and Autism thanks to her son, Toby, who has taught her so much over the past 27 years. She is also the Founder of Newbold Hope which provides help, support, and training to parents and professionals who care for SEND children and young people who behave in difficult and dangerous ways. Due to this work, she now knows several hundred families who have been able to move their children beyond their violent or extreme behaviour episodes and who are now living much happier lives and with a much more optimistic future ahead of them. Yvonne is also a member of the NHS Assembly and works with the NHS to amplify the voices of her community at a national policy and strategy level in many other streams of work associated with learning disabilities and autism. Yvonne’s book, “The Special Parent’s Handbook” is an Amazon number one bestseller, and she does all this work as part of the “bucket-list” commitment she made when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer with a very poor prognosis. She received an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List for services to children with special educational needs and disabilities and to their families.

Dr. Mark Brown

Since October 2020, Mark has been a Senior Lecturer at Kingston University where he teaches on the Learning Disability Nursing Courses.

In addition to Mark’s everyday work, he was a regular contributor for The LIME Magazine in which Mark was also the resident “Agony Uncle” in his Ask Mark column. Although The LIME Magazine is no longer in circulation, Mark has continued to provide such input via regular drop in sessions in the London Borough of Sutton, as well as other areas throughout the year. Mark has also written chapters for a number of books, including:

• Claire Bates (2018) Sexuality and Learning Disabilities (2nd edition) – Practical approaches to providing positive support

• Renee Francis et al (2018) Learning Disability Today (4th Edition) – The essential guide for support staff, service providers, families and students

Other Publications

Away from his work, Mark also runs a social club for adults with learning disabilities aimed at developing their social skills and confidence in using them.

Dr Mark Brown – Special Needs Consultant

RNLD, PhD, MA Autism, Dip App Psych, Dip Prof Prac

Phil Brayshaw

Phil Brayshaw | Head of Children and Young People at NHS England and NHS Improvement

Phil is a nurse for people with learning disabilities. He works for NHS England and NHS Improvement on the National Learning Disability and Autism Programme, where his role is to help local areas commission and provide better support and services for autistic children and young people and children and young people with learning disabilities. Before this, Phil worked as a children’s intensive support nurse, family therapist and as a local children’s commissioner.

Gill Phillips

Creator of the award-winning Whose Shoes? concept and tools: a multi-perspective approach to transforming health and social care, through listening to people and working together for positive change. Host of the ‘Whose Shoes – Wild Card’ podcast series including chatting to Yvonne Newbold, founder of Newbold Hope!

A connector and strong believer in people, grassroots change and what we can all achieve … together! #NoHierarchyJustPeople

Gill is listed in the HSJ100, most influential people in healthcare, as a Wild Card! A perceptive thinker, skilled at highlighting barriers and inconsistencies in policy and practice and devising innovative ways to break down taboos and stigma. An international speaker, she gives lively, challenging talks and workshops and is a champion of the full involvement of ‘experts by experience’.

Rachel Tomlinson

“Atticus, he was real nice."
"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.” 

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird 

Rachel Tomlinson is the headteacher of Barrowford Primary School in Lancashire.   

Rachel is committed to educating the whole child both in terms of academic attainment and social and emotional literacy and wellbeing.  

Barrowford has a Relationships Policy based on a sanction and reward free context for all children, enabling a safe and secure environment for all the community to develop an intrinsic desire to exceed their best, to imbue a passion for learning and to have healthy and respectful relationships. 

Professor Frank Besaq

Professor Frank M C Besag FRCP FRCPsych FRCPCH,

Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at East London Foundation NHS trust in Bedford and visiting Professor at University College London and Kings College London.

Professor Besag graduated from Birmingham with the Queen's Scholarship (top student) and honours in paediatrics.  He trained at Birmingham Children's, John Radcliffe, Great Ormond Street, Royal Manchester Children's, Hammersmith and Maudsley Hospitals.  Honorary consultant posts include Great Ormond Street, Kings College and Maudsley Hospitals.  He is fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and Paediatrics & Child Health.  He was Medical Director/CEO of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy and has lectured in over 30 countries. With more than 200 publications, he is an author/reviewer for many international journals.  Interests include: autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, epilepsy and brain-behaviour relationships.