The Grants Panel

All applications are reviewed by the Joseph Patrick Trust Grants panel. The current Grants Panel is made up of 7 members. The grants panel oversees the Trust’s budget and spending and currently meets four times a year to make decisions on individual grant applications (View current Meeting Dates). The panel is made up of service users, parents and professionals from around the UK who volunteer their services.

The Joseph Patrick Trusts welcomes parents and professionals alike to sit on the grants panel. If you have a few days a year to spare (currently four) and can travel to London for the meetings (travel expenses paid) please do get in touch with us on email jptgrants@muscular-dystrophy.org

The Current JPT Panel

Stella Fowler

Stella was appointed to the Joseph Patrick Trust Grants Panel in 2004. She has been a member of The Muscular Dystrophy Group for over thirty years.
Diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy in 1955 and a wheelchair user since 1977. She was a founder member of Camden Dial A Ride in 1983 and later Chair, and went on to become Vice-Chair of Central London Dial A Ride.

Stella has wide experience in disability transport issues, having served on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, and the London Regional Passengers Committee, now “London Travel Watch”. (Both Secretary of State appointments.) She is the representative of The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign on The London Councils Mobility Advisory Panel.

Stella, having Muscular Dystrophy herself, felt that the vital support given to people with muscle diseases by the Joseph Patrick Trust was so important, that she wanted to make whatever contribution she could by serving on the panel.


Kate Fox

Kate Fox has been a panel member since October 1994 and is one of the co-founders of the Neuro Muscular Centre in Winsford Cheshire. Kate is a retired chartered physiotherapist and is still very active in the voluntary sector.

Kate is a trustee of the Warrington Disability Partnership and her local Riding for the disabled group. She is also a member of her local muscular dystrophy branch.

Kirsty Read

Kirsty has been a panel member since 2004. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 in 1978, Kirsty is familiar with many of the challenges faced by people with neuromuscular conditions.

Jacqueline Goodier

“Recently retired from a varied and interesting career in the NHS both clinical and administrative I felt I could contribute to the panel from both a personal and professional aspect”. Jacqueline in married with three (almost) grown-up children.

David Jackson – Current Chairman of the Grants Panel

David has been associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign for many years and in recent years has served as the Chairman of the Joseph Patrick Trust’s Grants Panel.

“My committee and I are always heartened each time that we hear from a recipient of a grant that our work has made such a difference to their lives”

Robert Warner

Robert has worked as a social worker in child care services in Scotland since 1979. He is married with three children, the youngest of which has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

He became a member of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s National Council in 2004 and joint the Joseph Patrick Trust Grant Panel as the Council’s representative shortly after. Robert is committed to the aims of the Joseph Patrick Trust and his knowledge in Scottish child care issues, policies and legislation has proved useful in the past.

Jane Field

My name is Jane Field and I am a mother of Murray Field aged 10 and a half who has duchenne muscular dystrophy and Finella who is nearly 2 years old.

I qualified as an osteopath in 1980 and since 1981 have run my own practice in Worcestershire. I have been involved with the British Olympic Junior Judo squad and used to lecture in diagnosis and clinical skills at the British School of Osteopathy.

I am a professional classical soprano singing solo oratorio and modern art some and have been a member of The Duo Dolcetini a pure soprano duo since its inception in 1990.