Patrick Toland (he/him)

My experience and dedication can help organisations navigate their complex sectors, provide insight for significant change, and make an impact that lasts. My personal experiences, professional knowledge, and deep understanding of how individual needs can drive system change give me a unique perspective.

My background…

My background encompasses public and private sectors. As a Founding Associate at Auxilium Advocates, I've helped schools, colleges, universities, and social care organisations with project and change management. I'm active with the Institute of Corporate and Social Responsibility and the First International Network of Trust Research. I produce insights to address poverty stigma as a Stigma and Poverty Design Team Member at Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

As a peer researcher at The Young Foundation, I use and leverage my own personal experiences to help learn more about a variety of social issues. Also, as the Director of Story Holders, I encourage organisations to use people's stories of lived experience in an ethical way to make positive change. I also improved Ulster University's outreach to often excluded, marginalised and seldom heard populations as a Community Fellow and Mental Health Mentor.  

Other roles I hold include: CEO of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership, Regional Manager at Triangle Consulting/Outcomes Star Ltd., Partnership and Engagement Lead for the Human Health Project, and Education/Quality Assurance Lead at Edge Hill University. 

The future of mental health and wellbeing…

My work illustrates that I believe in the importance and power of connection and community. I deeply believe and am dedicated to person-centred ideas and support.

I'm a big believer that the most successful services are those that work to empower and enable the people they help, and help them find ways to gain agency and autonomy in their lives. These are the same services that, along with this person-centred approach, also embrace new ways of working or new forms of technology to help them do their jobs.

BA English, PGCE, MA Writing, PhD (in candidacy) Social Capital, Trust, Social Mobility