News

A hairdresser, poet and teacher are just some of the people who have come together to form NHS Kent and Medway's first people and communities' advisory group.

The group, also known as Community Health Voices, had their opening meeting last week to discuss how they will put community voices at the centre of planning and decision making.

13 citizens, from communities across Kent and Medway, along with members from Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway, were recruited to the people and communities' advisory group known as Community Health Voices, with the group chaired by the People and Communities Board champion, Bali Rodgers.

Community Health Voices will provide advice and guidance on using the ideas and experiences of people to improve health care locally. There will be a particular focus on involving underserved and diverse communities.

The group recently had the opportunity to meet Cedi Frederick, Chair of NHS Kent and Medway, where they learned how health decisions are made locally and nationally. They also began drafting expectations for collaboration with NHS Kent and Medway's leadership.

People and Communities Board champion, Bali Rodgers, said: “This group supports a wider cultural shift to ensure community voice sits at the heart of planning and decision making.”

I am proud of the commitment from everyone involved and excited for the next steps in strengthening community voice across our integrated care system.”

Further information about the involvement group will be shared over the coming months.

Meet the Community Health Voices members:

Julie Pout, east Kent

Julie is a teacher and was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2023. She is currently a patient partner with the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance and volunteers with Breast Cancer Now as a public health volunteer and a service pledge patient advocate. Julie believes that it is important that all patients have a voice and for that voice to be heard.

John Haddow, west Kent

A retired IT sales and sales management professional, living in Marden, Tonbridge. John has dedicated the last 20 years to volunteering and advocating for improved patient experiences through involvement with organisations such as The Prince's Trust, Digital Kent, and NHS Kent and Medway as a patient representative. John chairs both the Marden Medical Centre patient participation group (PPG) and the Weald primary care network (PCN) PPG chairs group within the west Kent health and care partnership (HCP) chairs group and holds a public health champion qualification from the Royal Society for Public Health. He is married, has three adult children, and two cats.

Philip Stevens, east Kent

Philip was born and lives in Thanet. He is now retired, after a 42-year career with British Telecom. He has two sons and three grandchildren, who also live in Thanet.

Philip volunteered to join the advisory group, as he has an interest in the NHS and social care and would like to contribute with fellow group members to hopefully ensure that the views of users of NHS services are captured and used to help the NHS Kent and Medway deliver services that better meet their needs.

Ayoola Tikare, Dartford Gravesham and Swanley

Ayo is a wife and mother of two adult children and works as practice manager for a dental practice in Gravesend and she also runs an event planning business. She is involved in her local community as the event manager of the Gravesham African Community Forum.

Ayo's passion is to help address the inequalities of healthcare provision and bring awareness of areas where NHS services could be improved to reduce waste so that it can operate more efficiently. 

Sarah Tait, east Kent

Sarah Tait is a Ramsgate poet and full-time carer for her partner, Lisa. Prior to caring for her partner, Sarah was a nurse for many years, working in a variety of settings within the field of learning disabilities and mental health - with an interest in working with those who provide challenges to traditional health and social care service models. These days Sarah often uses her writing and performance skills within local community arts projects, using poetry as a way of bringing individuals and communities together.

Ayoola Badmus, Dartford Gravesham and Swanley

Parent and advocate, using lived experience to amplify community voices and improve support for families affected by sickle cell.

Michelle Gardener, west Kent 

Michelle is embedded across health, social care and research regionally and nationally. 

She chairs the west Kent health and care partnership (HCP) patient participation group (PPG) Chairs' Forum and the Kent and Medway Digital and Data Involvement Group. Formerly the Ridge primary care network (PCN) Chair of Chairs for four years, she supported Headcorn Practice PPG's transition to Athena PCN. She is a board member of the Kent and Medway Applied Research Collaborative and Vice Chair of the Public and Patient Advisory Group for the Kent Medway and Sussex Secure Data Environment. She has co-applicant experience on research protocols and Vice Chaired a Medical Ethics Committee. 

Michelle also serves on the Partnerships Improvement Board at Kent County Council (KCC), its Digital and Innovation Board, and People's Panel, bringing lived experience and public insight to champion local voices.

Eden Moges, Dartford Gravesham and Swanley

A passionate charity worker and advocacy person dedicated to creating positive social change. With a deep commitment to addressing the needs of underserved communities, Eden focuses on raising awareness and driving initiatives that make a lasting impact. Whether engaging charities or amplifying voices that often go unheard, her goal is to create an inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to be heard.

Eden is passionate about supporting vulnerable individuals and ensuring their voices are heard within the healthcare system and strives to promote dignity, improve access to quality care, and advocate for policies that put patients first.

Sarah Cotter, Dartford Gravesham and Swanley

Sarah has lived in Kent all her life. She has four grown up children and four beautiful grandchildren. Two of her children are autistic and Sarah still cares for them to a degree, but both manage to live independently. She has been volunteering as a peer support worker for almost nine years and thoroughly enjoys her work. 

Sarah is very passionate about people being heard and being seen, especially around mental health, where a lot of people say, that they feel invisible or can't speak or feel they aren't being heard. She feels very strongly about injustice and making sure everyone gets what they deserve and need and feel supported in their decisions. 

Desiree, Medway

Desiree is the founder of Cleopatra's Legacy C.I.C. a Medway-based organisation providing non-clinical products and support for individuals affected by hair loss and breast health issues. Passionate about promoting self-care, early detection, and health equity, she delivers community outreach and awareness seminars to empower others. Desiree's motivation for joining Community Health Voices is to amplify community perspectives and help shape more inclusive, responsive health services.  

Dan Gower Smith, Medway.

Tani Amusan, Medway and Swale.

Amanda Hathaway, east Kent.