New Chair for Possability People’s Board
Brighton and Hove charity, Possability People, have appointed Dr Jon Hastie as Chair of its Board of Trustees.
The charity, which believes that anything is possible, regardless of ability, is user led, which means that 80% of its board members are disabled people or have a long term health condition.
Jon’s relationship with the organisation began as a volunteer in 2008, joining the staff team shortly after as a project officer for its Get Involved Group.
Jon lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and employs a team of 11 personal assistants to provide 24/7 care. Possability People support him by managing payroll for his PAs to maintain his independence, allowing him to work and live independently in West Sussex.
He says:
“I’m delighted to be part of such a dynamic user-led organisation and hope my experiences as a disabled person will be of benefit. We have a strong board, and I’d like to thank our previous chair, Christine Laurence, for her sterling efforts over the last year.
“Disabled people face significant challenges in the current climate of budget cuts and continuing discrimination in many aspects of society. Yet where we can access effective, personalised support, the possibilities can be endless. From advice and advocacy, employment advice and help, through to practical support, Possability People plays a vital role in supporting disabled people to live independent, successful lives”.
Possability People’s Chief Executive, Geraldine Des Moulins, says:
“Jon is an absolute asset to the organisation. Not only does he bring a lived experience of being disabled, he brings campaign experience and a strong sense of fairness and equality. We look forward to working with him.”
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Note to editors
Possability People is an independent charity based in Brighton and Hove, working across Sussex. We offer a range of services and support for disabled people and people with impairments or long term health conditions.