Our People
Our Trustees
Dare 2 Express is a registered charity (Charity No. 1166072), and our trustees are legally responsible for all of our activities.
They ensure we make the best use of the funds we receive and continue to carry out our vital work, exclusively in pursuance of our charitable objectives. They play a vital role in ensuring the proper procedures and policies are in place to manage the charity’s resources effectively, provide long-term vision and protect our reputation and values.
Dare 2 Express wouldn’t exist without our fantastic trustees, who volunteer their time to make sure that Dare 2 Express is governed well.
John Dennis
John is the founder and driving force behind Dare 2 Express.
Stemming from his own personal mental health problems, John decided it was time to help others. His depression and PTSD stems back from his fathers suicide when he was just 17 years old.
"Depression is something I have suffered with all of my life, with 90% of it unknown to anyone" he says. There are multiple reasons behind his choice to hide it, mostly due to stigma and the perception surrounding it. With that in mind, John remains relentless in his pursuit to raise awareness of depression since 2013. As a result, he has appeared on the BBC in both radio and television, spoken at keynote events, been a speaker at a TEDx event and been published in many newspaper articles globally; all to raise awareness for this hidden killer.
John Dennis
Mark Newman
Mark is a Chartered Surveyor and Programme Manager within the construction industry. John and Mark met through their mutual love for cricket and although both classed as veterans they still enjoy a game on a warm summer afternoon.
Mark has seen on numerous occasions that long working hours, travelling, family separation, job insecurity, financial and tight deadlines often lead to the development of stress, anxiety and depression. Suicide kills more men in the construction industry than falls from height, but thanks to the prevalence of a "tough guy" image in the sector, poor mental health can be difficult to spot.
Mark cares about people and being a trustee of Dare 2 Express enables him to make positive changes to peoples lives whatever their background or circumstance.
Mark Newman
Nathan Giles
Nathan is a serving officer and pilot in the Royal Air Force who met John some years back through their respective children attending the local nursery school in Bishops Waltham.
As a military man, Nathan was very aware of the traumatic injuries Service personnel had received in conflict in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Within the Services it was understood they would suffer long term psychological effects even after their physical injuries had healed. However, there was still a stigma attached to mental illness especially if there were no signs of outward physical damage.
This was bought into sharp focus a few years ago after Nathan had an in depth conversation with a military doctor (over a few beers) who explained how prevalent mental health issues are within in the Services. He explained that depression was an issue that affected both young and older Serviceman and was far more widespread than most people believed.
Nathan Giles
Louise Salter
Louise is a lead practitioner and works in an infant school in Hampshire. As a lead practitioner she not only teaches her own class, but leads other teachers to develop themselves. She wants to help empower people to make real changes in their lives. Louise strives to provide a positive climate for learning.
Mental Health and Well Being is an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education and it is paramount that teachers understand the needs of their pupils and have the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.
With a new demanding focus on high standards and personal achievement in education Louise worries that more and more young people will suffer with anxiety, stress and depression. Children need to be taught to develop positive coping strategies, recognising and understanding feelings.
Louise Salter
Our Ambassadors
Our ambassadors support othe charity by promoting our vital work as widely as they can, and encouraging more people to support Dare 2 Express. They are committed to our cause and to raising awareness of people suffering from mental health problems.
Michael Kurn
Charlie Head
