Our Committee

Rosemary Gorman – Chair Person

Rosemary is a Special Needs teacher with over 30 years’ experience. She has lived abroad for over 10 years and on returning home became involved with Mainstay DRP. She is a founder member and is passionate about supporting Individuals with a Learning Disability to achieve their true potential and be as independent as possible. She is also a member of the Board of Governors of Knockevin Special School. Rosemary has seen Mainstay DRP grow from small beginnings to the great organization it is today.

Paddy Moore – Committee Member

Paddy was brought up near Downpatrick. He has been a committee member of Mainstay DRP since it started in 1992.He has always been interested in supporting individuals with a learning disability. Paddy’s late brother Dismas who had such a disability was an important part of his family. Paddy worked as a family GP and was able to use his knowledge to aid with the creation of the organisation with many others.

“It gives me great satisfaction to contemplate that from such small beginnings with Iniscora and nine residents to we have grown to what Mainstay DRP does now. It is very much a team effort. It would not have been possible without the dedication of our staff over the years.

I have now retired from practice, and I am able to spend more time helping. It is essential to support our clients to ensure that they have choice and as much independence as possible.”

Eoin Gorman – Committee Member

Eoin Gorman is a chartered engineer with broad experience of business and project management in many different countries.

He has been a director of several companies and has been involved with new start-up companies and the dissolution of companies.

He is a founding director and trustee of Mainstay.

Mary McCargo – Committee Member

Mary is a founder member of Mainstay DRP having a lifelong commitment to ensuring that adults with learning disabilities in the Downpatrick area are supported with excellent care services. She was also a member of the Mencap Society for many years. Through this work and other volunteer roles Mary has been involved in many fundraising efforts.

Jayne Caven – Committee Member

Jayne has been a member of the committee of Mainstay DRP for 10 years. During that time she has seen Mainstay flourish and grow through many projects and fundraisers allowing the committee to provide the best experience for the clients.

Jayne worked as a Civil Servant in both Ordnance Survey within Down District Council and in the Department of the Environment Planning Service  as a Senior Professional and Technical officer. Jayne’s qualifications are in Planning, Surveying & Cartography. Jayne spent her working days dealing with Councillors, MP’s and the public, assisting with problems associated with the planning application process.

Jaynes interests are many and varied and include a lifetime involvement with Girl Guiding, working with young girls and women each week encouraging them to acquire necessary life skills.

“My life acquired and professional skills allow me to be motivated and a conscientious part of such a worthwhile organisation as Mainstay DRP.”

Philip Todd – People & Culture Sub Committee

Philip graduated from the University of Ulster with a Biology degree and also obtained a teaching qualification. He taught in a number of schools in Northern Ireland before moving to London in 1986 where he held a number of positions in the public sector, teaching, training and managing a variety of staff including volunteers. Since moving back to Northern Ireland he has spent the last 10 years working as a complimentary therapist ,having completed a two -year diploma course in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

Philip was keen to volunteer and utilise some of his professional knowledge and expertise so he joined the Mainstay committee in 2017. He currently sits on the People and Culture sub – committee.

Niall Farrell  – Finance Sub Committee

Niall, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2009, has over 20 years’ experience within the Accounting Profession.

Through this experience he has first-hand knowledge of the need for resolute financial planning and governance within Mainstay.

Niall is Chair of the Finance Committee and is keen to ensure that Mainstay continue to uphold the qualities and  relationships they have forged over the past number of years.

Jenny Hynds – People and Culture Sub Committee Member

Jenny Hynds qualified as a Social Worker in 1988, worked in several Health and Social Care Trusts and managed a number of multidisciplinary teams providing services to individuals with a learning disability, physical disability and brain injury. The last 15 years of her career was spent as Operations Manager Adult Protection in South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, ensuring a whole system approach to adult protection for all adults at risk of harm. She contributed to the development and implementation of regional strategies and policy, working closely with the DOH and DOJ, for example in the drafting of the new Adult Protection Bill & Statutory Guidance, Review of Joint Protocol Procedures with the PSNI, drafting of N.Ireland Prison Services Adult Protection Policy and NIPEC Safeguarding Adults: A Core Competency Framework for Nurses and Midwives. She has a long career working with adults with a learning disability and upon retirement in 2022 joined the Mainstay and DRP Committee.