About Us

Open Minds is a charity for people with learning disabilities in Nottingham

About Open Minds

Open Minds was founded in 1999 to provide activities for individuals with a learning disability who live in Nottingham. Our aim as a charity is to provide a social network for our members so they can make friends and have a safe space to talk about their worries or concerns. More importantly however, we like to have fun! We pride ourselves on putting on a diverse programme of activities for our members. Open Minds is a small organisation, we rely on a close-knit team of volunteers, staff and trustees to help with the day to day running of things. Our programme of activities includes our Saturday meetings, mates and munchies, talk chat and chill, group trips, workshops, 1-2-1’s etc. We do all our activities out in the community and take our members to many locations in central Nottingham.

During the covid 19 pandemic we had to put our face-to-face activities on hold. Our charity continued to thrive online as we were faced with brand new challenges. The purpose of Open Minds to provide activities and socialisation become even more important, with Zoom being a tool to allow the continuance of our activities. We developed our services to have an emphasis on mental health, to combat the isolation our members were going through. The introduction of our What’s app group ‘What’s up?’ was a part of this, allowing our members to keep in touch and share photos of their outings. At present our what’s app group is still thriving, our services remain blended between in person and online allowing us to reach even more people pre pandemic.

"Our What’s app group ‘What’s up?’ allows our members to keep in touch and share photos of their outings. At present our what’s app group is still thriving"

"The pandemic highlighted the need for more services to tackle the problem of isolation"

Now looking to the future, we have a renewed focus on tackling social isolation, not only amongst those who have learning disabilities but those also struggling with mental health. The pandemic highlighted the need for more services to tackle this problem. We are looking at starting new projects such as support groups and a befriending service to bridge the gap between those who experience barriers to accessing the community.

Our Board of Trustee's

ORIANA BEVAN

Chair of the board

I joined Open Minds in 2019 as a Trustee as I enjoy volunteering and have always loved working alongside those with Learning Disabilities. I have previously worked as a support worker as well as held other voluntary roles in the charity sector. Last year I became Chair of the Board of Trustees, I chair all our meetings and help oversee the running of the charity.

DAVID AUSTIN

Trustee and former chair of the board

With accountancy background David has been managing director and business manager of a number of enterprises, including the employment of persons with various disabilities.

Whilst he is now retired, in addition to Open Minds, he is involved with local charities, and a business mentor with the Prince’s Trust.

David has been a Trustee of Open Minds since 2004, and as Chairman for 15 years. It is an honour and privilege to serve this unique group, and to see the benefits of Open Minds

social gatherings in terms of addressing isolation, and confidence building.

David is 81, married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren

JOHN MASON

Trustee & Treasurer

I was brought up in Ruislip, NW London . I moved to Nottingham in 1966 after university to join Boots. During my retirement after a career in production and personnel management I took up a number of voluntary rolls including Young Enterprise and The Princes Trust both giving business experience to young people. People's College ( as it was then) as a Governor and Citizens Advice Nottingham as a Trustee. I joined Open Minds some 10 years ago again hoping that my work experience would be
useful. Having an affinity with numbers I took up the role of Tresurer. Although a small organisation it makes a positive difference for its members and is served by a friendly committed and enthusiastic staff and volunteers.

PATRICK GALLAGHER

Trustee & Co-ordinator

I have been involved with Open Minds since 1996, as a volunteer and from 2003 employed as Co-ordinator. There have been major changes over the last 27 years as we have developed from a voluntary group through to a sustainable organisation supporting disabled people. The motivation, as then and now, is the empathy we create for individuals, who then carry this forward in the relationships they create in our group.

Dr MATTHEW POTTS BSc MSc DC ISPRM

Trustee

Dr Matthew Potts DC joined Open Minds in 2020 as a board member and trustee. Matthew is the clinical director of the Dorsi Spinal Institute, a world renowned centre for the treatment of spinal deformities such as Scoliosis.

He is the chair of the clinical advisory board at Meloq AB, a member of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and Editorial board member of international journals CICRJ & Rehabilitation Science.

When he isn't busy with patients and research Matthew loves to spend time with his wife, 5 year old twin boys and their older sister. Matthew and family spend part of their year on the Etruscan coast in Tuscany, Italy and is undertaking important clinical research with an organisation in Rome.

BOBBY

Trustee

I have been a member of Open Minds for many years and am also on the board of Trustees. I like going to Open Minds because I enjoyed making and meeting new friends and going to the new places that I have never been before such as Trent Lock, Chatsworth House and some beautiful places.

Meet The Rest Of Our Team

Meet Our Staff and Volunteers