Making Space announce new chairperson
Press Release: Making Space
Making Space, the national charity which supports people with mental health conditions, 
learning disabilities and dementia, and their carers, is delighted to announce the appointment of new Chair, Professor Bruce Moore, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Bruce takes over from Acting Chair, Mrs Sylvia Kelly who has been involved in the day to day governance of Making Space since former Chair, Mr Bruce Rigby, retired in March 2011.
Bruce has had a long and impactful career in psychiatry having been drawn to his vocation whilst a medical student following the loss of his own brother, David, to suicide owing to mental illness.
Bruce has devoted much of his career to championing care standards and regulation in mental health at a regional and national level. His time as Medical Director of an NHS Mental Health Trust was spent representing NHS Hospitals on the National Provider Advisory Panel – the forerunner of the Care Quality Commission - where his key contribution was to ensure that government targets and outcome measures were made wholly relevant to the quality of patient care.
His family history of mental illness fuelled his interest in cutting-edge research into how interventions and services can be improved. His commitment to research and training have been recognised in his appointment as Visiting Professor of Psychiatry at The University of Chester.
Bruce left the NHS in 2008 and is now also a Medical Director of a Priory Hospital providing specialist services for patients whose needs are not currently met by the NHS.
Elaine Parker-Johnson, CEO of Making Space welcomed Bruce’s appointment;
“As a valued board member Bruce has been adding essential insight into the dynamic field that Making Space works in for more than 4 years now. His appointment to Chair is great recognition of his already considerable contribution and of his ability to unite people to a shared vision and ambitious growth strategy.
In challenging times his clear thought and analytical skills will help us to plot the future direction of Making Space together and I’m looking forward to working closely with him in the months and years ahead.”
On his appointment Bruce has commented;
“I am delighted to be working with Elaine and the Board & Executive Management Team of Making Space to build on the innovative approach to service provision that has enabled us to continue to grow our service provision, despite the background of unprecedented funding cuts, in the last 18 months or so.
Being a Trustee and now Chair of Making Space allows me a unique opportunity to contribute to the crucial agenda of improving the welfare and quality of life of people, and their families, who cope with the various, and often complex, symptoms of mental ill health, learning disabilities and dementia.
I am really looking forward to the challenge.”
