Chair of Trustees: Laura Gill
Laura Gill founded The Monday Night Club in 2011 so that she could spend time with her friends and have fun. She is a powerful advocate for people with learning disabilities, championing recognition, respect and opportunities for people to be valued for their individual talents.
Laura brings a wealth of lived experience and a strong commitment to co-production. She has spoken up for, and on behalf of, people with learning disabilities throughout her adult life. She has chaired Worcestershire People’s Parliament for six years, and has held co-chair roles with Worcestershire County Council’s Learning Disabilities Partnership Board and the self-advocacy charity Speakeasy NOW.
She is a lived experience expert for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Integrated Care Board and, in 2024, became a trainer for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.
Dr. Max Dean
Dr Max Dean is a Creative Producer at award-winning arts charity C&T and a specialist in inclusive digital creativity, co-creation and cross-artform practice. His work focuses on creating opportunities for learning-disabled adults to take an active, authorship-driven role in creative projects.
With over a decade of experience in the charitable and arts sectors, Max has helped develop innovative programmes that bring together creativity, technology and lived experience. His work has contributed to raising over £1 million for charitable causes and has helped position C&T as a national leader in inclusive, participatory arts.
Max has worked with The Monday Night Club since it was founded in 2011, supporting a wide range of creative projects, including the first ‘The Monday Night Club’s Got Talent’. He joined the board of trustees in 2018.
Ashanti Brazier-Olatunde
Ashanti graduated top of his year in Law from the University of Exeter and is now completing his training in Commercial Law in London. He brings legal insight and a strong understanding of legal governance to his role as a trustee.
Alongside his legal training, Ashanti has gained valuable experience working and volunteering with people with learning disabilities, including with MacIntyre, Fort Royal Special School and C&T. This has given him a strong understanding of inclusive practice and the importance of creating opportunities for everyone to take part.
A keen sportsman, Ashanti was a committee member of both the BAME Football and Weightlifting societies at Exeter, and brings his enthusiasm for sport and teamwork to The Monday Night Club.
Alison Rankin Frost
Alison is an experienced trustee and non-executive director with a background spanning sport, education, business and technology. She is a marketing and communications professional and holds Chartered status with the CIPR.
She currently serves as a Governor at the London School of Economics and sits on the boards of JDX Consulting, Rungway, British Showjumping and Crocus Fields Property. She was, until recently, a Patron of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her professional work focuses on organisational culture, reputational risk, inclusion, behavioural insights and stakeholder relationships.
Alison has supported The Monday Night Club for many years, including helping Helen and Laura to organise the club’s trip to London for the premiere of ‘The Monday Night Club Has Got Talent’ at the Shaw Theatre.
Samantha Wilkes
Sam first discovered The Monday Night Club as a parent, looking for opportunities for her daughter Imogen as she prepared to leave college. Wanting to continue friendships and enjoy meaningful activities, they quickly became part of the MNC community, attending Monday nights, Wednesday Sports Club and football sessions.
Sam became an invaluable volunteer and, in 2023, joined the board of trustees. She brings a strong parent perspective, with a particular interest in supporting families and individuals with complex needs. Her personal knowledge of members contributes to the club’s approach to health and safety, safeguarding and confidentiality.
Sam works as a team leader within Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. She lives in Pershore with her husband Simon and has three grown-up children.
Tom is a financial planner based in Bristol, where he also studied Pharmacology at university. Since graduating, he has built over 11 years of experience in finance, including five years training as a management accountant for a global wine company before moving into an advisory role. As Treasurer, he brings strong financial oversight and a clear understanding of governance and accountability to the board.
Outside of work, Tom enjoys a wide range of interests including home DIY, music, travelling, cooking and most sports.
Tom grew up in the same village as Helen and Laura and considers them close family friends, having shared many happy memories together over the years.