Team

We are all committed to supporting people with mental illness by listening to their wishes and concerns, protecting and promoting their rights, and ensuring their voices are heard.

We bring a range of personal and professional experience to our roles, working together to deliver Independent Advocacy in line with our charity’s values and principles.

Patricia Winchester

Our Chief Executive Officer is Patricia Winchester.

Patricia is a highly qualified Independent Advocate who has specialised in mental health and capacity since 2006. She has huge experience of working with people suffering from a wide range of serious mental illnesses across our community. Patricia is passionate about ensuring patients are treated with dignity and respect.

She was awarded National Outstanding Advocate for 2019-2020 in the National Advocacy Awards, runner up Outstanding Advocate in the National Advocacy Awards in 2018 and was nominated for a Human Rights Award in 2013 for her work in Mental Health in Jersey.

What clients say about her

“It’s so good to have somebody like you to help us. It’s a great comfort to know I’m not alone”.

“Thank you so much for your kind assistance. Your involvement and the information you gave me made a huge difference.”

“People listened to me better and treated me better once you were there”

“Thank you for the support that you gave me at times when I felt that the rest of the world was against me but that you were on my side”.

What service providers say

“The experience I have had of working with you has been fantastic. I cannot express how impressed I have been by your dedication and kindness to our client.”

Meet the rest of our team

Sir Michael Birt, QC

Sir Michael Birt, QC

Patron

Sir Michael Birt, QC

Patron

After practicing as a barrister in London and subsequently as an advocate in private practice in Jersey, Sir Michael was appointed as Attorney General of Jersey in 1994. He served as Deputy Bailiff from 2000 – 2009 and as Bailiff from 2009 to 2015. He is currently a Commissioner (judge) of the Royal Court and a member of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and of Guernsey. He was also appointed in 2018 to be a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands.

Wendy Kinnard

Wendy Kinnard

Chairman of the Board

Wendy Kinnard

Chairman of the Board

Wendy was eager to become involved with My Voice because she has an enduring interest in promoting the rights of people who feel marginalised or are victims of discrimination. Formerly as Chairperson of Women’s Aid and Women’s Refuge Wendy campaigned for women’s voices to be heard and for those affected by domestic abuse to have their need for safety and security met by the wider community.

As a Senator she successfully guided the States through the Human Rights (Jersey) Law and was a prime mover in the development of the island’s antidiscrimination legislation. Discrimination can take many forms. People with mental health problems may be made to feel disempowered and suffer disadvantage in many areas of their lives. Wendy understands that just like everyone else they have a fundamental right to be treated with dignity and respect and not to be discriminated against.

Wendy believes My Voice provides a platform from which to challenge prejudice and discrimination and to empower people with mental disabilities to have a better life for themselves and their families. 

Ana Slous

Ana Slous

Independent Capacity Advocate

Ana Slous

Independent Capacity Advocate

Having developed my career supporting people at Social Security and Women’s Refuge, I am now privileged to be working for My Voice Jersey, supporting vulnerable individuals in our community who may lack capacity to make important decisions affecting their life. The role can be challenging at times but also fascinating and it is always a pleasure meeting the people I support and work on behalf of because ultimately it’s about using the law to protect their rights and to ensure their best interests are at the heart of the decision making process. I learn something from every person I meet and I always keep an open mind prior to meeting a client to ensure I am lead by them and what they are able to communicate in whatever way. I am very passionate about the work I do and the service My Voice gives to the Island’s community and I am delighted that I successfully qualified as an Independent Capacity Advocate in 2021.

I love going for walks on the beach especially after work as it really helps me transition between work and home mode. I enjoy reading and watching the news, books and watching documentaries.

Travelling is my passion and I hope to do more of it in the future.

You can contact Ana on ana@myvoice.org.je

Jemma

Jemma

Independent Mental Health Advocate

Jemma

Independent Mental Health Advocate

Jemma is a qualified Independent Mental Health Advocate. She joined My Voice in April 2022 as a Trainee and has completed her qualification to a very high standard. She previously worked in the finance industry managing large trust and company structures for high net worth individuals and their families. Jemma has a first class honours degree in law and a post-graduate diploma in legal practice and she has also worked in legal practice specialising in family law.

Jemma’s role at My Voice is to support individuals with serious mental health disorders to participate in all aspects of their care and treatment. She works with in-patients who have been detained in hospital, as well individuals with acute or enduring mental illness living in the community. Jemma supports individuals to express their views, wishes and feelings, and shares information so that they can make their own decisions and feel empowered.

Jemma is passionate about helping others and has volunteered for a number of charities over the years, including Jersey Hospice Care and Red Cross Children’s Hospital in South Africa. In her free time, Jemma enjoys keeping fit, travelling to sunnier climes, music, art and spending quality time with her family and friends.