As a charity we are governed by a team of trustees. Trustees play a pivotal role in the governance and management of a charity and we are lucky to have such a fantastic team here at Spectrum Holidays. Our trustees and advisors help shape the services we offer and help drive the charity forward. You can read about each of them below!
Sophia co founded Spectrum Holidays 3 years ago with Malcolm and continues to work on the operational side of the charity as an unpaid trustee. Sophia and Malcolm have always been passionate about creating inclusive holiday environments for autistic people and have always gone above and beyond to help families enjoy successful and enjoyable holidays together. Sophia says “Converting Spectrum Holidays in to a charity is the ultimate dream come true. It means we can reach more families and help make holidays even more accessible to the people that need them most. I am so proud of the work Spectrum has done so far and can’t wait to see what we all achieve in the future”
Malcolm Co founded Spectrum Holidays with Sophia, 3 years ago following their experiences trying to find suitable holiday accommodation for their autistic son. Malcolm shares Sophia’s passion for promoting inclusion and accessibility and while he has taken on an unpaid trustee position on the board, Malcolm will continue to support Sophia in the operational side of the charity. Malcolm says “Spectrum is something that is very close to my heart and is shaped by the experiences that I have had with Sophia and Luca. I am very excited to for the future of Spectrum Holidays and look forward to seeing what we can achieve.”
Marianne is a headteacher and Senco at a local primary school and is mum to 2 neurodiverse children so has lived experience of the difficulties our families can face. Marianne says ” As a parent of 2 autistic children I understand the difficulties around accessibility that is often faced by families when thinking of booking a holiday. I am happy to be a trustee with Spectrum Holidays and look forward to helping make the holiday process easier!
Carli has been a supporter of Spectrum Holidays since we launched back in 2020 and has been a fantastic source of knowledge for us in the last few years. Carli says “Hi I’m Carli. I’m a mum to two children, one who has additional needs. I have visited Spectrum holidays with my family in the past and found it so inclusive. We had the best time, and the services that were offered made our holiday such an enjoyable one with much of the stress and anxiety removed. Therefore when I was asked to be a trustee I jumped at the chance! To know we will be able to help so many families make amazing memories is super exciting!”
Many of you may recognise Christine from her fantastic blog “The Life Of Reilly” as well as being co founder of the charity, North East Hearts With Goals. Christine is one of the first people we consult when looking to add to the services we offer at Spectrum Holidays. Christine has so much knowledge and experience that we were delighted when she agreed to join us as a non voting member of the board to help us to shape the services we offer moving forward as a charity. Christine says “As a passionate advocate for special needs families, I am thrilled to be serving as an advisor to Spectrum Holidays. This organisation provides holidays for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and their families, offering them the opportunity to create precious memories together. As a mother of a child with non-verbal autism, I understand firsthand the unique challenges that come with planning a holiday that accommodates the needs of a child with special needs. I am committed to providing guidance to Spectrum Holidays to ensure that their holiday offerings are not only accessible and inclusive but also create an environment where families can relax and enjoy their time together. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with an organisation that shares my passion for advocating for families with special needs children and I am excited to help them in their mission to create unforgettable holiday experiences”
