4th December 2025
| On the 24th November, Vicky McDonaugh stood down as Chair of Trustees of The Talk About Trust, remaining as a trustee. Vicky is a founding trustee of the Dorset based charity that works nationally to provide children and young people with the knowledge, skills and resilience to make safer choices around alcohol and drugs and has played a vital role in the charity’s growth and development over the last 16 years. Vicky McDonaugh said, 'It’s with great pleasure that I have handed over the chairmanship of the Talk About Trust to another teacher, Jackie Sonner. It has been a joy chairing this incredible charity for the last 8 years and I look forward to continuing to help the team continue its invaluable work across the country in improving the health and life chances of our young’. Helena Conibear who founded the charity, which operated from her garden garage for 10 years commented, ‘With Vicky’s past and long experience as a head of department and PSHE at a busy London comprehensive and as a school governor, her knowledge, wise counsel and guidance are invaluable. Her belief and faith in our ability to raise £350,000 to build Pavilion in the Park, our office, café and community hub was amazing. We have been so grateful that she was able to oversee our move from schools and alcohol to include more targeted settings reaching the most vulnerable young people with education on all drugs and nicotine as well as consent and issues around online safety, grooming and county lines. This has been transformational. Vicky has always been encouraging, empowering and a valuable mentor to us all and we thank her for her long and dedicated service.’ Jackie Sonner first came to know the work of The Talk About Trust through volunteering for the charity’s holiday clubs, after school art club and via Damers First school, agreeing to become a trustee in 2023. Jackie brings a wealth of experience from her work as a primary school teacher, leadership and management skills from her work as a deputy head teacher for a large Primary Federation in Weymouth as well as experience in staff recruitment, training and safeguarding. Jackie also has expertise in PSHE and Early Years education, curriculum design and is a school Governor. The Talk About Trust could not have a better skill set in its new Chair of Governors and are very grateful to Jackie for agreeing to take on this essential responsibility, as they are to all trustees and volunteers who give their time, expertise and guidance day to day. Jackie Sonner commented on her appointment, 'It is with humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept the position of chairman of the Talk About Trust. I would like to thank the trustees for showing their confidence in me and to express my sincere appreciation to Vicky for her chairmanship of the last 8 years. I am personally committed to upholding the mission and values of the Talk About Trust and will work hard to build upon the strong foundations and success of the first 15 years. Together with the founder, CEO, my fellow trustees, dedicated staff, volunteers, ambassadors and advisors we will ensure that our obligations to the Trust are met and that we continue to keep the young people we engage with at the heart of all our endeavours.' |