Meet the Trustees
Silent Voices is built on a weath of knowledge and experience from around the construction industry.
Meet them all below...
The Silent Voices Trustees
All invited based on their commitment, passion and experience.
Mick Shaw
Safety Behavioral Specialist & Silent Voices Co-founder
I've been in the construction industry for over 20 years and I'm proud to have worked on some of the biggest projects in the UK. Primarily I worked as as a Tunnel Miner, but in recent years have crossed over to Health, Safety & Wellbeing. As Co-Founder and Trustee of The Silent Voices Construction Charity, I'm dedicated to helping as many people as possible, giving everything I can to reduce the horrific number of suicides in construction.
James Thrower
Senior Safety Manager & Silent Voices Co-founder
My role as a trustee for Silent Voices is fueled by a deep, personal mission. Having lost a family member to suicide when I was young, and another in 2025, I know the suffocating weight of this grief and the "Why?" that haunts every family left behind. I refuse to stand by while more families are shattered by the silence that permeates our trade. I want to use my experience to ensure that mental safety is treated with the same urgency as physical safety, transforming our worksites into environments where "silent voices" finally feel safe enough to speak.
Darren Kent
Electrical Duty Holder & Silent Voices Co-founder
With over 40 years in the construction industry, I've worked on small sites to some of the biggest in the UK. I have recently crossed over to Management and Health & Safety. The UK Construction Industry has now recognised Mental Health as equally important to physical Health - however, we still see huge numbers suffering from poor mental health due to workload pressure, just "getting on with it" suffering in silence. As Co-Founder and Trustee of Silent Voices, I'm dedicated to reaching out to the whole UK Constuction community to let them know they are not alone - before they feel they have nowhere to turn.
Deborah Madden
Director CITB & Silent Voices Co-Chair of Trustees
I’ve worked in the construction industry for nearly three decades and over that time, I’ve seen first-hand the growing mental health crisis within the sector — something that has also touched me personally, with suicide affecting my own family. As a Trustee of Silent Voices, I’m passionate about using both my professional experience and personal perspective to help drive change, raise awareness, and strengthen real support right across our industry—from those delivering major projects to the smallest businesses and sole traders.
Neil Hancox
Silent Voices Co-Chair of Trustees
I have over 40 years’ experience in the construction industry, beginning as a Site Engineer. Following a life-changing site accident in my mid-twenties, I retrained in Health & Safety, shaping a 25-year leadership career for major UK civil engineering projects. As a suicide survivor, I bring both professional expertise and personal perspective to Silent Voices, drawn to the charity by the energy and conviction of its founders, I recognise both the urgency of the issue and the strength of their vision. Two lives lost to suicide every day in our industry is not a statistic we can tolerate. Silence is costing lives, and breaking it is everyone’s responsibility.
Natasha Shaw
Silent Voices Trustee
My name is Natasha Shaw. I am a mother, and a wife to someone who has worked in construction for over 2 decades. My husband also suffered a severe mental health crisis a few years ago and this is part of the reason why I joined the Silent Voices trustees. Behind every person struggling, there will also be family, friends and colleagues, potentially suffering too. We at Silent Voices want to help not only those in construction, but those around them too.
Eddie Woods
Safety Consultant & Silent Voices Trustee
For the past 35 years, my passion has been steadfastly dedicated to the wellbeing of workers. Witnessing growing challenges in mental health and heartbreaking rises in suicides drives my commitment to become a helper and ally for all workers. I believe these deeply emotive and complex issues need courageous conversations if we are truly to build a stronger sense of belonging. The team at Silent Voices embodies passion, focus, and compassion, a perfect blend that inspires me every day. I am proud to step into this environment as a devoted advocate, alongside my fellow change-makers.
Dr Claire Handby
Business Owner, Director, Coach, Author & Silent Voices Trustee
Involved with the constrution industry since childhood, I have seen first-hand the pressures that can mount and impact mental health, wellbeing, and people’s sense of hope. Loss and sadness has also touched my life personally and as a Trustee of Silent Voices, I'm committed to helping people step back from suicide by continuing to raise awareness, and create more open, human conversations around mental health. Through my professional and personal experience, I am passionate about supporting individuals and communities to feel seen and able to take positive paths forward for both the person and their loved ones, whatever their starting point.
Mick Loughran
Behavioural Safety Mentor & Silent Voices Trustee
A big man with a big heart! After leaving school with no qualifications, I went straight into the construction industry. Soon to become an apprentice bricklayer, I truly found my feet with the physical nature of the work, and my new passion, rugby. Unfortunately fate was to intervene and I suffered a life changing injury. After some time rehabilitating, I continued in the industry as a groundworker. With huge help from others, I ended up where I find myself today. I love the construction industry, and it's people, but my greatest achievement is my wonderful family.
Jules Reed
Behavioural Scientist, Therapist, Teacher & Silent Voices Trustee
I have had the privilege to create Culture Change Strategies and deliver Behavioural Safety Programmes for Tier 1 companies. My motivational talks have been delivered at various industry conferences, over many years and I am considered a Thought Leader in Human Behaviour, within construction, rail and utilities. I lost a colleague to suicide two years ago. It had a profound effect on me. I truly believe that being of service is the best way to show gratitude for the life I have. I would appreciate the opportunity to offer my time, knowledge and experience to a charity that is meaningful to me personally.
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Silent Voices is a construction organization based in the UK, aimed at raising awareness of the shockingly high numbers of suicides within the construction industry. At the time of writing this, the number of suicides in the UK is 507. Which is 2 construction workers taking their own lives - every day!!
We at Silent Voices want to eliminate this number and raise awareness throughout the UK. Too many years have passed and this number is rising year-on-year. Help us raise awareness by donating below.
