APLE Collective
Our Trustees
The Roots of Change
Our APLE Trustees are the mighty roots that support and guide our work, combining lived and learned experience together to challenge poverty and amplify the voices of those most affected. Their leadership helps us grow a movement where lived experience voices are nurtured, branches of change spread, and solutions take seed.
Brian Scott
Chair of trustees
I am no longer working after being involved in an accident at work which meant my back was damaged and leading to ongoing conditions and disabilities and am now living on benefits. I was working as a Cardiology Nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary at the time of my accident, before that I worked as a Secretary/PA within Scottish HQ of the British Red Cross. In Glasgow I’m a volunteer/Activist with the Poverty Truth Community, through which I also have interactions with ‘On Road Media’ and ‘The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’. I have campaigned extensively within the Scottish Parliament working with MSPs to bring them the lived experience of what it is like to live in poverty. One of my core beliefs is that every child in the UK should have the same opportunities and development, no matter where they begin on the poverty ladder. I will work continuously to give those trapped in poverty the key to free themselves of the struggles and stigma associated with Poverty.
David Coffin
David Coffin is Head of Participation for an anti-poverty charity and was previously Relationship and Contract Manager working on Ageing Better at BVSC, consulted on participation and engagement at Moseley Road Baths for the National Trust and worked at Birmingham LGBT for nine years, starting as Community Development Officer, then SHOUT Festival Producer and Health and Wellbeing Manager.
Bronny Embleton
I’m Bronny, I’m an APLE Collective External Trustee. I work at the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, a Quaker grant maker which supports people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice. Specifically, I work on the Power & Accountability programme, where we fund groups and projects whose work prioritises corporate accountability, democratic accountability, and responsible media. I became familiar with APLE while working with the Grassroots Poverty Action Group (GPAG) at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and have been a big supporter of their mission ever since.
Lara Groves
I’m Lara, I’m an APLE Collective Trustee and a technology & society researcher based in South East London. I work at the Ada Lovelace Institute, researching how technologies like artificial intelligence can designed to be safe, fair and bring benefits for everyone, not just the privileged and powerful. I’m passionate about participatory research and I got to know APLE through working together on the partnership project on digital health inequalities. I’m most looking forward to supporting APLE take the Taking Voice Seriously campaign far and wide! Outside of research, I also enjoy getting on my bike in the outdoors, and cooking spicy food.
