Chief Executive Officer Rachael Swann
Rachael started her career as a solicitor before moving into senior leadership and non-executive roles in Higher Education, charity and housing sectors and is currently the Chief Executive of Grassroots Suicide Prevention.
Our vision is ‘A future where more lives are saved from suicide’ and we empower people to help saves lives from suicide through connecting, educating, and campaigning nationally.
Rachael has specialised in providing VCSE services to a range of diverse communities including; homelessness, young carers and carers supporting those with a learning disability, autism, parent carers, life limiting illness, mental health issues and drugs and alcohol misuse. Rachael’s experience has included leading organisations through periods of change, new ventures in the UK and overseas, external quality assessment, restructures, and major IT projects.
Rachael’s ambition is to ensure that through our work less people will die by suicide. She wants everyone to feel there is hope. This is by empowering people to have life-saving conversations with those they may be worried about. It is helping people with feelings of suicide to know they have options and are not alone.
Rachael is a member of NSPA, VCSE representative on Mental Health for Brighton & Hove and the VCSE representative on Health and Wellbeing for Adur and Worthing and a Trustee of Crossroads Care in Brighton & Hove, a leading provider of support for carers; helping carers to make a life of their own outside caring.
Rachael is available for comment to the media on issues that can help raise awareness of suicide and self harm and reduce the number of suicides and improving support to those bereaved or affected by suicide. She is available to speak at conferences around our work on mental health, self-harm, and suicide.
Partnerships and Stay Alive app
Head of Partnerships & Innovation Alex Harvey
Alex is responsible for building partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, overseeing our portfolio of digital products and supporting the development of new projects, products and commissions.
He joined the charity in 2010 and has worked with the team to deliver a diverse range of innovative digital and training projects aimed at making our world safer from suicide, including the Stay Alive app and Real Talk interactive film.
Alex believes that collaborative working and innovation are vital to our work in preventing suicide and creating a more compassionate world.
Alex is available for interviews, comment, and articles on issues around suicide prevention for the media and key organisations.
Alex enjoys being with family and friends as well as playing, singing, writing and listening to music. He likes meditation, jokes, cooking, and relaxing with Didi the cat.
Training
Head of Training Agnes Munday
Agnes is responsible for developing the training strategy of Grassroots Suicide Prevention and ensuring we become the leaders in our fields. She leads on quality assurance and the development of bespoke courses.
Agnes has over twenty years’ experience in creating training programmes and interventions on teenage pregnancy, domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health. She is a Public Health Registered Practitioner.
Agnes is passionate about enabling professionals and volunteers to raise their confidence and develop the skills and attitude needed to support effectively and compassionately people who self-harm or have thoughts of suicide.
Agnes supports organisations to:
- Develop bespoke training strategy and programmes that will meet the needs of their workforce and clients
- Develop or review their policies around suicide and self-harm
She is available for workshops or speaking at conferences and to provide thought leadership and content for newsletters/webpages etc. on self-harm and suicide topics.
She offers consultancy as part of her role.
Agnes paints, swims in the sea, creates stories and games for her grandchildren, dances 5Rhythmes and meditates daily.
Training Manager Joanna Johnson
Joanna helps develop and deliver our training programmes
Joanna has an eclectic background: Psychology graduate, former teacher, Army veteran, PR professional, and volunteer with various organisations including the NSPCC, NCH Action for Children and Papyrus. Highly experienced educator – has developed and delivered suicide prevention / mental health training courses, for a range of professionals and organisations, including teachers, students, nurses, and counsellors.
She has an absolute commitment to suicide prevention and a passion for developing fully accredited, quality assured training, to give people the confidence and skill set needed to support others in preventing suicide, or those who have been affected by suicide, with care and compassion.
Joanna can help with:
- Design, delivery, and review of quality assured, accredited suicide prevention training, across public, private, and voluntary sectors (e-courses and in-person training)
- Workshop co-ordination for effective co-production in the design of training programmes, to ensure content is shaped by those who will receive the training
Also available for conferences, presentations, workshops, speaking engagements and interviews.
Joanna loves getting outside – on the pushbike or walking. Also loves yoga and the gym, reading a good book, and donning a pair of wellies to develop her newly found passion for growing vegetables!
Project and Engagement Manager Khushi Khandelwal
Khushi is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and evaluation of multiple training projects, ensuring smooth operations and measurable impact.
Khushi holds an MSc in International Relations and an MA in Psychology. She has worked in education and mental health charities, leading projects that support communities and organisations. In addition to their role, they serve as a Governor for a local primary school, maintaining a strong connection to education and community development.
Khushi brings expertise in project management, strategic planning, and organisational development. With a talent for creative problem-solving and designing efficient systems, she excels at streamlining processes, managing complex projects, and ensuring high-quality delivery. Her ability to think both strategically and laterally enables her to drive engagement, optimise resources, and maximise impact.
Khushi is extremely passionate about inclusivity, creativity, and social impact, and is committed to expanding the organisation’s reach and impact. She aims to strengthen engagement strategies, build meaningful partnerships, and position the organisation as a leader in the field of mental health training. Through innovation and collaboration, she strives to ensure that high-quality training is accessible to a wider audience, creating lasting change. (Loves a good project plan and Gantt charts)
Khushi loves animals and has a beautiful Golden Retriever, Louie, back home in India. She enjoys meeting new people, exploring different cultures and cuisines, and has a passion for art, dance, and cheese. Trained in various artistic mediums, she can often be found painting or creating something new in her free time.
Training Administrator Grace Bowman
Grace is responsible for helping develop materials for training courses and coordinating training sessions.
Grace has recently graduated from the University of Sussex in 2024 with a degree in Law (LLB). She has experience in research, writing, and consulting, and has previously worked in Events.
Grace is passionate about the work that Grassroots Suicide Prevention is doing to facilitate important conversations about suicide. Through assisting in developing training materials and coordinating courses, Grace intends to contribute to the destigmatisation of mental health.
Grace is originally from Newcastle but now enjoys living in Brighton. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing chess, and admiring the beautiful Sussex countryside.
Training Support Co-ordinator Lauryn Keller
Lauryn provides a range of support to the training team to ensure that our training is delivered to clients seamlessly and to a high standard.
She has a background in Philosophy, Religious Studies and Critical Theory, having graduated from Brighton University with a masters degree in 2022. She has a strong customer service and administration background and is keen to apply these skills in her new role at Grassroots.
Lauryn advocates for the importance of conversations surrounding mental health and suicide and hopes that her work at Grassroots will assist in encouraging those who are struggling to speak up.
Lauryn is a musician and has been playing guitar for almost 20 years. She also enjoys reading, bouldering, charity shopping and collecting The Simpsons merchandise.
Training & Client Engagement Coordinator Sarah Slade
I’m part of a fantastic team, ensuring the smooth flow of Grassroots Suicide Prevention’s training initiatives. In my role as coordinator, I oversee the delivery of various contracts and projects that keep our training wheels turning seamlessly.
With experience at different climbing wall gyms and in the outdoors industry, I’ve built a diverse skill set. This includes handling course delivery and administration, as well as picking up advanced first aid certificates and climbing qualifications along the way.
My goal is to contribute to creating an environment where individuals feel both informed and confident to engage in important conversations about suicide.
I’m eager to apply my customer service and organisational skills to ensure a top-notch training experience.
When I’m not immersed in the training world, you’ll find me scaling heights – literally! Climbing is one of my passions, and I love nothing more than exploring the great outdoors.
Communications and Fundraising
Head of Marketing, Communications & Fundraising Caroline Blake
Carrie is responsible for all our marketing and communications activities.
She has over 20 years’ experience leading award-winning teams in charities and non-profits. Carrie is on the digital marketing steering group for the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA). She is also a trustee for Long Term Covid Trust providing strategic marketing expertise.
Carrie is passionate about raising our profile with the public and supporters to ensure they understand that the work we do helps save lives from suicide.
Carrie can organise interviews, comment, and articles on issues around suicide for the media and key organisations. She is available to support media professionals on safe and responsible reporting around suicide.
Carrie enjoys time with her family and going for walks with her beloved Labrador. She enjoys upcycling furniture, gardening, international cuisine and travelling.
Senior Fundraising and Partnership Manager Ben Baxter
Ben is responsible for managing and developing fundraising streams, including events, community and individual.
After teaching in Special Educational Needs settings, he has gained several years of experience fundraising and campaigning in the charity sector.
Ben is inspired to create innovative fundraising campaigns to support some of the most vulnerable people in society.
Ben can support with fundraising for Grassroots Suicide Prevention.
Ben enjoys playing squash, going to gigs and spending time with his young family.
Senior Marketing Manager Jake Starkey
Jake is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of impactful, multi-channel marketing campaigns and marketing activities.
Jake has a strong marketing background across various industries, where he blends analytical insights with creative strategies to drive results. He is passionate about making a positive social impact and committed to campaigns that engage audiences and make a difference.
Jake is passionate about creating innovative and impactful communications that raise awareness and drive positive change in suicide prevention, with a focus on compassion and making a meaningful difference.
Jake’s expertise includes:
- Digital Marketing – Developing and executing strategies across multiple channels.
- Campaign Project Management and Delivery – Overseeing planning and execution of marketing campaigns.
- Data Analytics – Using data insights to inform decisions.
- Design – Creating visually compelling and value-driven brand assets.
Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending time with friends and family, travelling, playing guitar, and writing music.
Events & Digital Project Manager Celia Mae Jones
Celia is responsible for making sure our systems and training delivery run like clockwork.
Technical Lead & Website Developer Angus Campbell
Angus is responsible for the upkeep and technical maintenance of our websites and assists in editing our audio and video material.
Angus has been designing, building, and maintaining websites since leaving University in 1995. Following a period of severe mental ill-health in 2000, he started volunteering for a local branch of the mental health charity Rethink, processing invoices and raising purchase orders. Also, for several years and in his spare time, he was a sole trader designing and coding ready-made multimedia widgets for customers’ web projects. He moved over from Rethink to Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) in 2005 to become GSP’s Finance Officer. 8 years later, he switched roles within GSP to take responsibility as an in-house Website Officer.
I hope to promote clear, effective communication in line with GSP’s aims and objectives. I endeavour to maintain a stable, reliable web presence. I enjoy collaboratively producing trustworthy and effective media in support of our charity and stakeholders.
Angus has been responsible for the upkeep of the GSP websites for over a decade. He enjoys programming & coding for the web. He has competencies in design, typography, and layout and also took over editing our podcasts and some videos. He also proofreads.
Angus has been making music on his computer since the mid-80s. He also designs T-shirts. He is a keen follower of current affairs and aspires (but fails) to be a vegetarian.
Lived Experience & Stay Alive App Manager Drew Taylor
Drew is responsible for managing our Lived Experience Advisory Group, Stay Alive app, and Social Media.
He uses the skills and knowledge obtained from his Sociology degree to research and develop the Stay Alive app through user testing and community engagement.
He co-facilitates the Suicide Prevention Lived Experience Advisory Group in partnership with Possability People. This group meet monthly and provide constructive feedback and ideas which informs and influences our work, in addition to policy and practice at local and national levels.
He also has over 9 years’ experience leading on social media, helping to raise charities’ presence and engagement online.
Drew has lived experience of suicide, both personally and through supporting others, so understands recovery is possible and wants to help other people get through times of crisis.
Drew is available to present on the Stay Alive app.
Drew loves spending time with his pet rats who have recently learnt a few tricks! He also enjoys playing the saxophone, nostalgic video games, feeding the birds, and spending time at the gym.
Partnerships Lead Jonathan Robinson
Jonathan speaks to local and national companies with shared values about building partnerships for the benefit of both parties.
Jonathan previously worked, for over 30 years, in the sports industry across all commercial strands including sponsorship, advertising, corporate hospitality, catering, events and retail. He has also been involved, at a strategic level, on various boards and committees.
Jonathan is passionate about working towards a future where more lives are saved from suicide. In his corporate fundraising capacity, he aims to raise awareness and, of course, much needed funding.
Jonathan loves to spend time with family – he has 3 daughters – and friends, long dog walks in the Surrey Hills, where they live, playing golf and village cricket.
Events and Engagement Officer Katie McAndrew
Katie works on the marketing and recruitment of our community and challenge events.
She works closely with event participants and volunteers to support them in their fundraising journey.
Katie has just completed a degree in Acting where she graduated with a First Class Hons.
She has worked in Entertainment, Events, Fundraising and Education.
To recruit as many people as possible onto our challenge events and to ensure that our fundraisers and volunteers are supported in the best way possible.
Creative thinking, organising events and working with the community.
Finance
Finance Officer Sam Hubbert
Sam is responsible for all our financial management.
Sam is passionate about everyone in society, accessing the best support possible to lead a full and happy life.
He is very focussed on the nuts and bolts of charities and supporting them to be the best they can be.
Interested in joining us?
Recruitment
Our team is always looking for ways to strengthen our teams and expand into new areas. When we have available roles, you’ll find them on our recruitment page.
Volunteering
We are always looking for volunteers. FInd more information on our volunteering page.