My Story
I first learnt about the charity from a friend of mine who lived in the same village as Ewan. I didn’t know much about Parkinsons Disease or the impact it had on families but I do now. At that time the charity was looking for volunteers and potential trustees willing to give their time free of charge to help with several projects which were to establish a community garden and also set up exercise classes for individuals with Parkinsons. I have always had a desire to help people and make a difference, so I thought it was an ideal opportunity to help and get involved in this local community group.
My Story
I first learnt about the charity from a friend of mine who lived in the same village as Ewan. I didn’t know much about Parkinsons Disease or the impact it had on families but I do now.
At that time the charity was looking for volunteers and potential trustees willing to give their time free of charge to help with several projects which were to establish a community garden and also set up exercise classes for individuals with Parkinsons.
I have always had a desire to help people and make a difference, so I thought it was an ideal opportunity to help and get involved in this local community group.
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Before joining as a trustee, I had a good understanding of the role as a trustee having been a company secretary for a large charity before. I now have a very good understanding of Parkinsons and the effect it has on individual lives.
As well as the compliance side of being a trustee, I have learnt that being involved in a local well run charity can also be very creative and rewarding in the sense that you can make a real difference to peoples lives and see change happening in a relatively short period of time.
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You only have to see the joy of peoples faces when visiting the garden, engaging in the monthly coffee morning sessions or watch participants after a Move.Me exercise to see that the charity is making a difference. Some of the individuals that attend the sessions have often said these events are the highlight of the week.
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I am proud to be part of a local charity set up to support individuals and their families coming to terms with living with Parkinsons.
Over the past 10 years the charity has set up a number of successful projects supporting many individuals. With your support we can continue to run these and potentially do more.
My Story
I was drawn to Parkinsons.Me though a personal connection to Ewan, funder of the charity.
By a strange coincidence, my dad and Ewan’s grandma knew each other. Ewan’s mum was a great support to me when our children wee little. Wind the clock on a bit and Ewan used to babysit for our children – a massive help.
When Ewan and Tracey founded Parkinsons.Me it seemed only natural to do what I could to help, not least as I’ve spent much of my career working in or supporting charities.
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The main thing I’ve learned from being a trustee is the power of community support. I’ve seen the encouragement that comes from having friends and neighbours turn out to show they’re right there with you when the going gets tough, whether that’s taking part in Wolf Runs, helping to create a garden or providing a steady supply of cakes!
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Chic, one of our associates, talks in our recent annual report about the strength that MoveMe Mates (partners and others closely connected to people with Parkinson’s) gain from coming together. ‘Our motto is in the boat [the boat we’re all in] we paddle together, support each other, learn from one another, laugh and cry together, make true friends.’ For me that sums up Parkinsons.Me’s impact.
Our HearMe counselling service is also helping reshape wider thinking about how people with Parkinson’s and their families are best supported. It’s an exciting journey to be part of!
My Story
My Story
For me I went to my GP for something unrelated. She said I wouldn’t worry about that, but I am concerned about the tremor in your fingers, I think it might be Parkinsons. At that time it was a mild wobble on the 4th finger on my right hand, which I had hardly noticed. It was another couple of years before I had a diagnosis.
I did take up the suggestion of PD exercise classes but it was for me a 90 minute round trip so I cast around for something nearer to home. This was when I first met Ewan, who was doing the ground work for Parkinsons.Me to venture into group exercise.
During this time all the available energy of P.Me was focused on the garden project. There was a grand opening event at which I was asked to consider becoming a trustee. I agreed to attend a few trust meetings to gauge whether I had a contribution to make. The timing was good and at forthcoming trustee meetings I was able to add my voice to the call for the embryonic MoveMe scheme to be advanced. After a few months I decided that being comfortable with the way things were approached it was time to sign up. I became the first trustee with the condition.
MoveMe is amazing. One main philosophy of P.Me is family support and this has become an essential part of MoveMe. Whilst the need for specific PD exercise is met, there is also an added dimension, the opportunity for drivers, friends and family to sit and chat for an hour over coffee in an adjacent room. This has proved to be a great forum for sharing joys and frustrations of living with Parkinsons. When the class is finished, everyone is welcome to linger for more coffee and chat and the room fills up.
In short the charity has proved to be a source of encouragement to all comers. PD has many different facets and symptoms and each person has a different combination to any other. What we all share is a search for ways of coping, or living well with Parkinsons, whether patients, carers or families. Having a charity which helps us share our individual struggles is a huge help in this quest.
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Whether you have Parkinsons, experience of Parkinsons or understand the role of a trustee, the only commitment that would be asked of you is to have a heart for others who need help, and to attend a 90-minute meeting once a month. The more volunteers we have, the more people we can help. Being a small charity has the advantage that we pretty much know everybody and there is a sense of fun and family.
My Story
The driving force behind my decision to become a trustee at Parkinsons.Me was the loss of a close friend, Alex Flynn. Seeing the profound impact Parkinson’s had on him and his loved ones was incredibly difficult. Alex was passionate about raising awareness of the condition, and after his passing, I found myself searching for meaningful ways to continue that mission. That search ultimately led me to Parkinsons.Me, where I felt I could contribute in a tangible and lasting way.
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Since becoming a trustee, I have gained a much deeper understanding of Parkinson’s and its far-reaching effects. It is not only the individual diagnosed who is impacted, but also their families, friends, and wider support networks. The emotional, physical, and social challenges extend far beyond what many people initially realise, and being part of the charity has opened my eyes to these realities.
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Although Parkinsons.Me is a relatively small charity, the impact we have made is significant. We have supported individuals and families in a variety of ways, from offering guidance and resources to creating a strong sense of community. For many people, this network simply did not exist before. In addition, we have played an important role in raising awareness of Parkinson’s, helping to educate and inform a wider audience.
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Being a trustee is an incredibly rewarding experience. It offers the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself—something that genuinely improves lives. Seeing the difference our work makes to individuals and families is both humbling and motivating. I would strongly encourage others to consider becoming a trustee, particularly if they are looking for a meaningful way to give back and make a lasting impact.
My Story
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in March 2023 whilst owning and operating a popular Bar on Cowley Road, Oxford with my wife Josephine.
With a lease renewal fast approaching in 2024, we decided to sell the business rather than commit to a further 10 years. It was when we sold the business in late 2024, I found myself with no regular job and needed to find my purpose so I began working as a Volunteer with Parkinson's UK and specifically work surrounding newly diagnosed.
In the Spring of 2025, I saw an advert seeking Trustees for Parkinsons.Me - a local Oxfordshire Charity that I had not been aware of.
I read the story of how Parkinson's.Me came to be and of how the charity supports Carers and Loved Ones just as much as those with Parkinson's.
This resonated with me as I have family members acting as Carers for differing needs and they are often over-looked.
Being a Trustee, I have discovered how a small Team of Volunteers can make such big difference to the local Parkinson's Community.
We have a strong sense of trust and comradeship amongst the Trustees and everyone adds value to decision-making.
Being a Trustee gives you a sense of pride in giving back to the community in a small way and whilst it's satisfying to organise and attend events, there is no obligation for giving up too much of your precious time for the role. We are a very friendly bunch of people and are looking for like-minded people to join us.
