Live ChatThe policy and general management of the Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) is directed by the Full Members Committee. The FANDF Committee consists of 13 committee members, including the Chair and Vice-chair.
The Full Members Committee, where possible, consists of:
- At least one representative from each of the single Services.
- An overseas representative.
- Regular or reserve serving personnel or immediate family member who has an additional need and/or disability themselves.
- Regular or reserve serving personnel who has an immediate family member with additional needs and/or disability.
- An immediate family member of regular or reserve serving personnel with an immediate family member with additional needs and/or disability.
- A young adult over the age of 18 with an additional need and/or disability.
New Members:
The FANDF Full Members Committee are continuing to seek new committee members and would like to welcome anybody interested. Please click on the button below to access the Full Members Committee application form.
Chair - Jo Gordon
Jo Gordon was elected as FANDF Chair in June 2024. Jo has been an Army wife for 28 years so far, she has two children aged 27 and 24. Her son has rare Chromosome abnormalities that result in him needing round the clock care and support. Over the past 24 years Jo and her family have been met with many challenges from areas including healthcare, education and local authorities. Mix this into the melting pot of military family life and they have been on quite the adventure so far. Jo hopes to draw upon this life experience to listen and support our FANDF members in their own challenging periods and to continually bring to the fore what is needed by serving families to be able to implement change. Jo joined the FANDF committee in 2020.
Vice Chair - Hannah Illingworth
Hannah Illingworth runs her own business providing Business Management/Operations Support to other small businesses. Her husband is a serving Army Officer and she is also an Army Reservist with over 30 years service, currently with the Royal Signals. Two of her three children have a diagnosis of Autism so Hannah joined the FANDF committee in 2017 as she wanted to help give families like hers a voice. She is responsible for managing the FANDF social media pages.
Committee Member - Mick Mayes
Mick Mayes has been in the Army for over 35 years. He is employed in a Senior Soldier Continuity Post (SSCP) and is currently assigned in a unit welfare office in a Tri-service location. His daughter is diagnosed with high functioning autism. Mick Joined the committee in 2020.
Committee Member - Michelle Earnshaw
Michelle Earnshaw, an Army veteran, is married to Mark who is now a reservist officer currently working with NATO. They have two sons, Matthew and Alexander. Alexander was diagnosed as being Dyslexic and Dysgraphic in 2013 and was subsequently diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism in 2014. Michelle became a member of the FANDF after the boys attended the SSAFA short breaks, from which the family have benefited enormously, and joined the committee after attending the conference in 2014.
Whilst Vice-Chair of the FANDF Committee, Michelle undertook the 30th Anniversary survey in 2019 and was the author of the Families Fighting On report, presenting the findings directly to the MOD and other key organisations at the launch event in January 2020.
Committee Member - Shelley Ellis
Shelley has been a Royal Marine wife for 17 years. She has 2 children, aged 11 and 14, one of whom has very complex needs. Shelley and her family have had to navigate a multitude of challenges that military life can present.
Shelley’s background is in SEND law (level 3 IPSEA trained) and she was a SEN advocate for many years. More recently Shelley has developed a Community Interest Company (CIC) with her husband that uses outdoor education as a medium to educate and improve wellbeing/mental health. She also runs a social media group with over 900 members that supports military families who have children with additional needs or with an EHCP.
Shelley is honoured to have been welcomed as a full member of FANDF and is looking forward to giving people a voice. She feels knowledge is key and if we do not voice our opinions things will never change.
Committee Member - Jessica Brown
Jessica is an ex-RAF Regular, now FTRS, working as a regional quality assurance manager for RAF Apprenticeships. She is married to Tom, who is also in the RAF, and mum to Emilie and William. William was born with a rare brain condition called Hemimegalencephaly, which causes developmental, learning and sensory issues.
Jessica joined the FANDF committee in 2025, hoping to help raise awareness of the important work FANDF does for Armed Forces families navigating the challenges of living with additional needs and disabilities alongside military life.
Committee Member - Craig Robinson
Cpl Craig Robinson is currently serving in the Royal Logistic Corps as the Welfare JNCO at the Defence School of Transport. Craig is father to two daughters and a stepdaughter, Brooke (18), Eloise (15), Annabelle (13) and husband to Hannah.
In 2012 Eloise was diagnosed with a chronic kidney condition, Nephrotic syndrome and more recently has been diagnosed with ASD. His spouse Hannah is currently living with a Neurological Disorder, Intercranial Hypertension and living with MH illnesses. Currently serving unaccompanied and leaving the youngest daughter Annabelle with caring responsibilities during the working week.
Craig joined the FANDF committee with the hope to try and push for a change in policies surrounding additional needs and disabilities, giving serving persons and their families a better lived experience while in the Armed Forces.
Committee Member - Emma Trotter
Emma is a new member of the committee with a background in education, working with children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) and their families. In the last few years, she has been supporting young carers in Fife, blending her expertise from education with her experience as a mum to an ASN child.
Emma is married to Michael, a dedicated member of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, who has served for 30 years and plans to continue his work for several more.
Emma is a proud mum of three children and three fur babies, which keeps her busy when her family faces a deployment. One of her sons, who is registered disabled, has complex needs, including ASD, visual impairment, and Poland Syndrome. Despite these challenges, he remains a source of inspiration, determined to take on the world.
Through her role on the committee, Emma hopes to bring a voice from Scotland to the table, ensuring that the needs of families like hers are better supported and represented.