Staff

Management Team

Simon Kitchen - Chief Executive

Simon has been CEO of Bipolar UK since April 2018. His previous roles include leading one of the largest co-production initiatives in adult social care at Leonard Cheshire Disability and running the social action movement at the Dementia Action Alliance. He has also held a number of policy and research roles in Whitehall and in the regions. He is passionate about peer support and giving people with bipolar greater choice and control over their lives. He has a family connection to bipolar.

Rosie Phillips - Deputy CEO

Rosie joined Bipolar UK in 2017 managing our Information and Support Line and latterly overseeing integration of our Peer Support Services. Her previous experience allows her to bring a wealth of experience working with people across a range of sectors including homelessness and youth.

Dr Tania Gergel - Director of Research

With an academic background in philosophy, Tania has specialised in mental health ethics and law since 2012. Her recent research has concentrated on mental health advance directives, issues in neuropsychiatry and the development of lived experience involvement (co-production) in mental health research.

Tania’s aim is to bring together the bipolar and research communities, to raise awareness of bipolar and campaign for increased resources for bipolar research and services. She is also working in partnership with University College London (Division of Psychiatry), Cardiff University (Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences), and King's College London (Centre for Humanities and Health) as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow.

For more information about Tania's work, please visit her UCL profile.

Peer Support Services

Sara - Services Manager, Support Groups

Sara joined the Bipolar UK team in 2021. Prior to this she spent nearly 15 years working within volunteer management roles in a variety of settings, within employed and voluntary capacities. Sara has a personal link to mental health through friends and family.

Molly - Services Manager, Digital Services

Molly joined the Bipolar UK team as a Peer Support Line volunteer in 2018, progressing to a full-time employee soon after the end of the volunteering period and transitioning into a senior role in 2021. Molly has an academic background in psychology, with experience in both statutory and third-sector mental health care.

Parisa - Senior Peer Support Officer, Support Groups

Parisa joined the Bipolar UK team in 2018, starting off as a Peer Support Admin Assistant before transitioning into an Officer and now her current role. Parisa’s background is diverse having previously worked in both primary and secondary mental health services, most notably Bromley & Lewisham Mind’s IAPT service and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust on a psychiatric ward. Her connection to bipolar has been through work and she has lived experience of a mental health diagnosis.

Helen - Senior Peer Support Officer, Support Groups

Helen joined Bipolar UK as a peer support officer in 2022 having previously worked for many years as a company secretary and lawyer. She has also worked in the NHS in Bristol and South Wales as a community nursing and mental health services manager. Helen has experience of bipolar through friends and family.

Helen - Peer Support Officer, Support Groups

Helen joined the team in 2021 and has an academic background in Psychology. She has lived experience of Bipolar and has several years experience in volunteer management.

Ellie - Peer Support Officer, Support Groups

Ellie joined Bipolar UK at the start of 2019 as a volunteer working on the Peer Support Line and Fundraising Team. She now supports the charity as a Peer Support Officer.

James - Peer Support Officer, Support Groups

James joined Bipolar UK in 2023, and has a background in volunteer group work with non-profits. James has also worked as an administrator with social work teams, and has experience with mental health through family and friends.

Ellie - eCommunity Moderator

Ellie joined Bipolar UK in 2021. She has an academic background in health sciences, including mental health, with experience in third sector, health care and administration. She also has lived experience of bipolar.

Leshmi - eCommunity Moderator

Leshmi joined Bipolar UK in July 2022. She is passionate about peer-to-peer support as well as online communities. Leshmi has experience in third-sector mental health care.

Dean - Peer Support Officer, Peer Support Line

Dean joined the team in 2023. Prior to this he has worked in the charity sector providing mental health support. He is a qualified therapist and has a family connection to bipolar.

Jack - Peer Support Officer, Peer Support Line

Jack joined Bipolar UK in 2024 and has a background in counselling. He has previously worked in police occupational health as both a counsellor and running psychological screening programmes. He has also worked as a volunteer in a horticultural therapy centre. Jack lives with cyclothymia.

Research

Dr Talen Wright - Postdoctoral Research Manager

Talen is a postdoctoral research manager for Bipolar UK who has research experience in mental health and psychiatric epidemiology. Her doctoral work was chiefly concerned with the relationship between microaggressions and depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the trans community. Talen's research interests centre on communities who are marginalised and minoritised and how this interacts with mental health. Talen joined the Bipolar UK team in September 2023. For more information on Talen's research please see ResearchGate.

Fundraising and Partnerships

Lorna - Strategic Partnership Manager

Lorna has been with Bipolar UK since January 2021 and leads on strategic partnerships and fundraising within the corporate and major gift sectors. Lorna also oversees Bipolar UK’s individual giving, legacy and event programmes. Lorna has over 25 years of diverse fundraising, event and project management experience including being a National Events Manager for Cancer Research UK’s ‘Race for Life’. Lorna has a connection to bipolar through family and friends.

Camilla – Partnerships Development Manager

Camilla joined Bipolar UK in December 2021 as partnership development manager, having previously worked as senior partnership officer for eating disorder charity Beat. Camilla has also been a facilitator for the Camden Bipolar Support groups and has been an integral volunteer for the charity. She has built up a strong support network in her local area and has provided the community with a reliable and safe space for over three years.

Odhran – Trusts Manager

Before joining Bipolar UK in 2017, Odhran has over 20 years’ experience in trust, statutory, corporate and general fundraising. Among the organisations he has worked for are BLISS, ChildLine, NAHCF and Gorilla Organisation. In his spare time Odhran is an enthusiastic guitarist and loyal Fulham Football Club fan.

Peter - Senior Partnership Officer

Peter joined Bipolar UK in November 2023 and works within the fundraising team; securing corporate partnerships, maintaining key relationships and handling major gift donations. With more than 5 years' expertise overseeing partnerships within the life sciences and healthcare sectors in Canada, he has also worked in overseas development and higher education charities in the UK.

Kate- Trusts Officer

A background in copywriting, communications and events led Kate into the charity sector 4 years ago, finding that trust fundraising was the perfect match for her skills. She joined the team in June 2024, having previously worked for the British Hen Welfare Trust where she had a particular interest in the benefits of animals in therapy.

Communications

Sarah - Head of Policy and Communications

Sarah has a background in health journalism and, alongside her cousin Amanda Saunders, is co-author of 'Bipolar Disorder - The Ultimate Guide' (Oneworld Publications). Several members of Sarah's family had/have bipolar, including her late grandfather, father and aunt, and her sister and oldest son.

Eve - Senior Public Policy Officer

Eve joined Bipolar UK in 2023 as a Senior Public Policy Officer. She previously worked as a researcher in advertising agencies. She has lived experience of bipolar.

Eleanor – Senior Communications Officer

Eleanor joined Bipolar UK in 2023, having previously worked in fundraising and communications for other charities. In her spare time, she has a huge passion for exploring how animals can benefit mental health. Eleanor lives with bipolar.

Finance and Administration

Steve – Head of Digital Transformation

Steve joined Bipolar UK in 2021. Steve has over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, implementing IT systems, Salesforce CRM and digital services.

Becca - Senior Web Officer

Becca has a background in political theory and disability justice, specialising in psychiatric illness and relational equality. She integrates this theoretical knowledge with her technical skills in web design and accessibility, striving to make the online space accessible for everyone. Becca, who lives with bipolar, is also dedicated to supporting her family members and others who share this experience.

Lisa- Finance Manager

Lisa joined Bipolar UK in 2023. She has over 20 years working in the education and charity sector, working as a management accountant and now a Finance Manager.