It is with great sadness that we share the news that Teresa passed away on 25th September 2019 after a short illness.
Teresa joined the Trust as a Grants Manager in March 2019, and made a great impact on us all during the short time she was with us. She was a very warm, supportive person, who was a keen advocate for small grassroot organisations, particularly those run by people who had first-hand experience of the issues. She was looking forward to developing this work at the Trust, and had already written a blog on the issue.
Teresa joined the Trust from the Walcot Foundation, having worked there as a Grants Manager since 2010. We worked closely with Teresa whilst she was there on the Step Up Initiative, an innovative programme piloting in-work progression support for low paid workers which was co-funded with the Trust.
Teresa brought to the Trust 25 years’ experience of working and supporting the voluntary sector, predominantly with fellow mental health service users and survivors developing peer support, user run campaigns and participation in policy and service development.
After co-founding Kingston Users’ Forum she worked for Mental Health Media delivering media skills training and PR to user groups across England and Wales. She then joined and later managed user run Southwark Mind, acting as a key spokesperson in a campaign which delayed the closure of the Maudsley Hospital Emergency Clinic for three years and secured NHS funding for “a safe and segregated” mental health area at Kings Hospital A & E.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Teresa’s two sons, who we knew she was very proud of, and her family and friends. Teresa’s life was cut short far too soon, and we will all miss her very much.