Our Trustees
The National Blind Childrens Society Trustees
The National Blind Childrens Society trustees give their time freely and for the benefit of the charity, they are the original volunteers.
The Trustees roles are to:
- To advise and offer experience for the benefit of the charity
- To ensure the charity complies with the law, work towards the aim of the charities charter and remain viable.
- To be the charities advocates and ambassadors
Our Trustees
Brian Bell – Chairman
Clare Black
Joan Copleston
Frank Smith
Nigel Harris
Rita Kirkwood
Vidar Hjardeng
Vice Presidents
Rt. Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP Wells
Jenson Button
Jan Fennell
Susan Osman
Neil Parish
Adrian Walsh
Trustees Biographies
Brian Bell – Chairman – A former Corporate Banker with a major UK Clearing Bank for 18 years followed by a similar role and time with a Swiss Financial Institution in Geneva, Brian returned to the UK following the opportunity to take early retirement. His business connections in the UK enabled him to take the role of Chief Executive, following a Management Buyout, of a major Bristol based Office Equipment and Supplies retailer which he subsequently sold on. His banking and financial experience is extremely valuable to the Society.
Joan Copleston e – A qualified teacher of the visually impaired who worked at The West of England School for blind and partially sighted children for over 10 years. Joan went on to become an Advisory teacher employed by Somerset VI (visual impairment) Service.
Frank Smith – Frank recently retired from Joseph Clarke School after over 25 yrs there, 20 as head. Frank has worked with blind and partially sighted children of all ages, some with additional difficulties, for 39 years in 3 different London schools. He helped to train teachers of the visually impaired at the Institute of Education, University of Cambridge for 8 yrs.
Clare Black - Clare works as a consultant at Contango Markets Ltd, advising clients in the global commodity and financial derivatives markets. She recently moved there after a successful 14-year stint at international news agency Reuters, where she was deputy editor-in-charge of Commodities for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Clare has four children, two of her own and two step-children. Her eldest son, now 11, is blind from birth and she has lots of first-hand experience of the statementing process. She was formerly Chairman and trustee director of LOOK London, a charity offering help and advice to families of visually impaired children in the Greater London area, which has now merged with NBCS.
Nigel Harris - Nigel is the father of three children including a daughter with a severe visual impairment and additional disabilities. Nigel has many years’ experience as a governor of a Non-Maintained Special School and sits on the Advisory Board of his local Parent Partnership. He is a trained accountant and has worked in a wide variety of organisations from large multinationals to smaller owner managed businesses and charities.
Rita Kirkwood – A qualified teacher of the visually impaired who has worked with and for people with visual impairment in all sectors of education for the last 25 years. Ofsted inspector, headteacher and trustee of several charities, formerly a trustee of Look London
Vidar Hjardeng - Now Diversity Manager for ITV News and Regions, Vidar has so far spent over 20 years as a journalist, for much of that time running a variety of political and social action programmes. Registered blind, Vidar also reviews audio books and audio described theatre/opera performances for, amongst others, Radio 4's In Touch and RNIB's Insight Radio.
