Activate’s Board of Trustees
David Barlow (Chair and Finance)
David has been on the Activate Board of Trustees since his retirement from full time employment in 2016.
David was previously the Finance and Corporate Services Director for a major charity in Merseyside, following a varied career in manufacturing, banking and commercial organisations. He is also currently Chair of a major charity in Lancashire. This keeps David up to date with current charity requirements and SEN issues, adding to his wide experience and skills in financial management, organisational strategy and planning.
Kim Webb (Community Links & Diversity)
Kim is a business development expert, established partnership manager, successful fundraiser and disability champion, who is highly regarded within the LCR and Northern Powerhouse footprint. Her experience spans public and private sectors and over the last 15 years + she has created and managed pipelines for;
- The Princes Trust (Charity)
- Randstad- Student and work support division recruitment (Commercial)
- Action for Hearing Loss-formerly RNID (Social Enterprise)
- CE3 Enterprises CIC (Community Interest Company)
Kim works locally, regionally and nationally devising and implementing strategic plans which satisfy financial targets and simultaneous interests of all stakeholders. Kim’s work as a trustee for Activate gives her exposure to all aspects of the college including governance and finance. This enables her to continue her support of young people with disabilities and their families.
David Gary Gregg (Health (OT) & Safeguarding Lead)
David is employed by a local authority as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist assessing disabled children with a holistic approach to their complex care needs due to requiring specialist equipment/aids to maintain their independence and wellbeing. This also encompasses specialised moving and handling equipment to enable safe transfers during daily activities and personal care. He joined the board to broaden his knowledge of how alternative provision of care is delivered to young persons in a college setting while providing Activate with the skills and experience he has gained since graduating from Salford university. David has worked in challenging environments and brings a view of supporting and promoting the college on its journey forward into the future and the challenges it faces in this ever-changing climate.
David also has served his local borough as a Justice of the Peace in both the criminal and family courts, and prior to becoming an occupational therapist he was self-employed owning multiple businesses.
Dr Rupy Kaur Roberts
Dr Rupy Kaur Roberts is an HCPC Registered Health Psychologist, disability rights advocate and researcher with extensive experience in health inequalities, inclusion, independent living and social justice.
She has held national leadership and governance roles, including serving as a trustee of Scope and the Disabled Students’ Allowances Quality Assurance Group, and as Disabled Students’ Officer for the National Union of Students. Her professional work spans research, policy, education and advocacy, with a particular focus on challenging systemic barriers and ensuring disabled people’s voices influence decision-making.
As a disabled woman with lived experience of navigating education, healthcare and social care systems, Rupy brings both professional expertise and personal insight to Activate’s Board.
She is passionate about empowering disabled young people to develop confidence, exercise choice and achieve their aspirations, ensuring that education creates meaningful opportunities for independence, inclusion and fulfilling lives.
Contact
If you wish to contact our Board of Trustees, you can email board@activateces.org.uk