Yvonne Probert
CEO
Yvonne joined Tell Us North CIC as CEO in December 2022 and she brings with her over 20 years’ experience as a senior manager and as a dynamic strategic thinker with a broad knowledge base.
Throughout her career in the voluntary sector she has gained skills, knowledge, and the experience of developing, managing and operating a variety of projects, charities and not for profit businesses. Yvonne’s main strengths are good communication skills, people management, partnership working, income generation and community engagement. She has a passion for health and wellbeing especially the positive impact that the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) can have on statutory services.
Yvonne had personal interest in community led housing, she is one of the founding Directors and currently the Chair of a Northeast housing and advice hub. Also, she is a member of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Management.
Afsana Begum
Research & Engagement Manager
With a background in BSc Psychology and an MPH in Public Health I have a demonstrated history of working with a wide demographic of people from all walks of life. I am passionate about empowering individuals and communities to make positive lifestyle changes that lead to improved health outcomes, and I enjoy being able to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders including healthcare providers, community organisations, and government agencies. I am skilled in developing and implementing evidence-based public health research and health improvement programmes, conducting needs assessments, and evaluating programme outcomes, and I am dedicated to immersing myself in current worldly discussions, and on the latest research and best practices in health improvement and wellbeing to provide the highest quality services to clients.
Above all, I like having conversations, being sociable and helping out, which is why I enjoy doing what I do. If I am not surrounding myself with others, I am surrounding myself with food, cooking and travel in my downtime.
Dan Milburn
Lead Officer
Coming from a position as a leisure centre manager, I have a versatile set of skills, knowledge and experience and a keen interest in wellbeing and health. I am bringing a unique and positive approach to the role, and I am excited to support Healthwatch Newcastle as the voice for local people in the health and social care space.
Outside of work I like to do a lot of trail and road running, getting fit and playing football. I am passionate about family time and trying new things.
Nadeem Ahmad
Engagement and Involvement Officer
Nadeem has over 40 years’ experience in race, community relations and migration. He has held various roles with Police, Housing, Education, Employment, Citizen Advice and Cricket Club, to name but a few. Nadeem is also quite the linguist speaking Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English. He is very passionate about equality and diversity and is keen to share his years of experience and learning and in his spare time he sits on various panels. forums, committees and networks.
Nadeem is a is brilliant Networker who love talking to people, especially about cricket and sharing a good Dad joke.
Jay Conlon
Engagement and Involvement Officer
Jay has lived in the North East their whole life and has been involved in the Voluntary and Community Sector since they were 15. They've worked across the region to deliver meaningful and effective engagement through a range of activities. An English Literature graduate with a history of public service with local and regional governments from childhood, they are always seeking to help make hidden voices heard through representation.
Jay’s interests range from community arts to policy, and they are always seeking new ways to help foster a sense of community wherever they go. Jay's focus is working at ground level to get to the heart of community issues.
Courtney Peel
Business Manager
Courtney holds a strong background in administration and management from her previous roles. Prior to that she worked as a corporate paralegal with a ‘Magic Circle Law Firm’ where she began her career. She is very passionate about social fairness in the community, equality and diversity and therefore is excited about the work undertaken here and is thrilled to be a part of it.
Outside of work Courtney can be found in the local park playing with her young son or in a coffee shop with friends and family putting the world to rights with coffee and a cake.
Avish Johnson
Business Support Officer
Avish earned a degree in Economics and International business and spent six years working at a prominent Big 4 firm, focusing on Australian Tax and people mobility services. He realised that giving back to society is everyone's responsibility and decided to explore the dynamic landscape of health services. He was presented with the great opportunity to work at Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead. Avish is eager not only to navigate the intricacies of health services but also to explore and understand the diverse cultures and societies that make up our global community. Beyond the world of finance and health services, he has a strong passion for travel and exploration.
Lewis Brown
Information and Communication Officer
Lewis is experienced in the fields of marketing, content writing and social media, with a track record of participating in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and a background in creative writing and literature. He is passionate about accessibility, as well as local arts and culture. In his personal time, he also takes part in Newcastle & Gateshead’s performance poetry scene, organising writing workshops and open mic events.
Our volunteers
Susan Chan
Susan has been a Healthwatch Newcastle Champion since we began in 2013. She initially joined us because she wanted to learn more about how health and social care services work and how she could influence the way they are run. Susan feeds back what she has heard to older people in the Chinese community, and helps them to better understand health and social care processes.
Susan also helps out on our stalls, with street surveys, and at listening events. She enjoys spreading the word about Healthwatch Newcastle, as well as learning new skills.
Aditya Chandra
Hi, my name Aditya but it will be easier if you just call me DEETS! I am a volunteer, partaking in helping and reaching out to the vulnerable and the ones in need. I am friendly or at least I believe my behaviour is friendly. So, you won’t have any problems asking me questions.
Edwina Forde
Edwina was born in Barbados in the West Indies. From childhood she always had the desire to travel, which led to her emigrating to England at an early age. She spent many years in the health industry, both in the UK and abroad as a Research Sister and Clinical Research Educator.
In addition to volunteering she has completed a BSc (Hon) and MSc in Clinical Research Management. Her personal interests include travelling, reading, meeting people, and learning Spanish.
Nusra Mollik
I was born in Newcastle and have lived here since. My personal interests and hobbies include travelling, reading, learning new languages and hanging out with people.
I joined Healthwatch to learn more about health care services and help young people raise their concerns to improve services to meet their needs.
Rajan Nair
Rajan has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Newcastle for several years. He is passionate about supporting stroke survivors and raising awareness of the condition.
He has worked in hospitals and clinics and supervised speech and language therapies. Rajan hopes that through volunteering with Healthwatch Newcastle he can give a voice to people in the city.
Robert Rendall
Robert studied psychology at Durham University and then went on to work as a mental health support worker. He has also volunteered with Children North East for three years during his studies.
Robert joined Healthwatch Newcastle to get involved in its research and support the NHS.
Violet Rook
Violet trained in midwifery and nursing and has a teaching qualification. She was Vice chair of Newcastle LINk and represented the network at regional meetings. Violet has connected with many communities in the city and was as a governor at the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust for two years. She is also involved with school governance and her local neighbourhood forum.
Cath Smart
Cath was born in Gateshead but educated in Newcastle and then Nottingham where she took a French degree and then a PGCE. She came back to Newcastle and has lived and worked here since, apart from a six year spell in Alnwick.
Cath worked as a French teacher and private tutor before retiring early due to increasing health and mobility problems. However, she has always been involved in the voluntary sector (youth clubs, witness support, People's Kitchen, St Oswalds’ charity shop) as she has a strong feeling of wanting to give something back to society.
Cath has been a Newcastle Healthwatch Champion for a number of years. She believes strongly in the NHS and is happy to support and better it in any way she can. Cath is also a volunteer for Newcastle Neurological Advocacy and a trustee of the Elders Council Newcastle.
Linda Woodcock
Linda worked for the NHS for many years, before taking early retirement because of a long term health problem. She lives in the west end of Newcastle and currently volunteers at a project based in Benwell.