Rollercoaster works alongside a team of experts with lived experience and mental health professionals to deliver projects. The most suitable expert will be involved depending on project needs.
People
Wendy Minhinnett BEM
Founder/ Director
Wendy is Rollercoaster founder and cocreator. As well as developing Rollercoaster, Wendy worked on a range of initiatives to promote the role parents can play in supporting children and young people’s mental health. She worked as the parent lived experience lead at the Charlie Waller Trust for 5 years, developing the PLACE National Network and co-developing the first national parent carer peer support training. Wendy has worked as a carer representative for the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists and held a variety of public and patient involvement roles as well as carrying out commissioned work for NHS England. Wendy worked on projects to develop resources for parents and carers which include: The Getting Through Guides and This May Help Film Project, Wendy was awarded a BEM in 2022 for services to parents of children with mental health needs and continues to be passionate about parent carer support and coproduction in children and young people’s mental health. Wendy also has over 20 years’ experience working in family and community development.
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Associate
Demi Minhinnett
Project Development Officer
Demi has worked with Rollercoaster from the beginning and was supported by her mum Wendy through mental health difficulties. Demi now works behind the scenes at Rollercoaster on project work, flyers and presentations. “I have recovered from mental health with the support of my Mam and feel so fortunate to be able to be involved with Rollercoaster now to help more families”
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Associate
Leanne Walker
Illustrator/ Lived Experience Creator
Leanne designed all of the Rollercoaster images and works alongside Rollercoaster to codesign and deliver a range of projects. Leanne Walker has worked for the last decade, locally, nationally and internationally in the mental health lived experienced field. This followed on from personal experiences of mental health difficulties, including of young people’s services. Leanne has a postgraduate certificate in transformational leadership and last year published a book under Routledge titled ‘Participation in Children and Young People’s Mental Health: An Essential Guide.’ This book involved over 40 people within the field and was the first extensively covering the topic. Leanne has also authored and co-authored a range of other book chapters, journal articles and resources. Committed to sharing and growing out of lived experiences to improve mental health services, Leanne was invited to Buckingham Palace in 2017, to acknowledge those working in the mental health sector. Currently Leanne holds lived experience positions at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and on an advisory basis with NHSE. In the past, Leanne has collaborated and worked with a range of organisations including local universities and is experienced in facilitating and co-leading spaces and projects.
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Associate
Nikki Harmer
Co-Founder / Mental Health Nurse
As well as co-founding Rollercoaster, Nicky is a mental health nurse with over 20 years of experience, in both adult and children’s settings. Nicky has led on participation to ensure young people , families and adults have a voice to improve service delivery and co-creates service improvement. As well as co-developing Rollercoaster, Nicky has co-created and co-delivered training-workshops to both families and professionals on a variety of mental health needs, from practical can-do tips to managing emotional distress. Nicky’s personality is that of a can-do approach , and this has resulted in building up relationships both locally and nationally to share practice. Nicky has been a point of contact for professionals to provide supervision and problem solve how services can work closely with young people , families and adults to ensure their participation is key to improving services.