Our history
The Outlook Foundation was founded in 1985 as a further education centre for young adults with learning disabilities.
The Foundation was founded by Gaynor Forster, who was the wife of Dennis Forster, the headteacher of St John's School in Brighton, for children with learning disabilities.
Gaynor saw there was nowhere for these pupils to go once they left school. Alongside Jean Marshall, from the Board of St John's, they started The Outlook Foundation to provide further education for these young people, then all aged 18-25.
In 1997, The Foundation won a grant from The National Lottery to buy Outlook House.
Outlook House meant the charity could provide housing for their young people for the first time - all five of them originally!
This safe, supportive home gave the residents somewhere they could learn life skills such as cooking and budgeting, all in their own time.
Over time, the number of residents grew, as did their need for independence. It was clear that different options for living conditions were needed.
Gaynor Forster House was added to The Foundation in 2004, and converted into five self-contained flats with their own private kitchens.
Jean Marshall House was added in 2008, originally providing residential care, but was then converted into supported living en suite rooms in 2012.
The upper age limit of 25 was removed in 2011, meaning our guys can now live with us for as long as they choose to. Some have been with us since the beginning!
In 2021, we supported our first tenants to move into their own flat in the community. We stay in touch through scheduled contact hours and are always at the end of the phone. And in 2024 we added our fourth property, housing four of our residents in a cosy, calm and welcoming house in Hangleton.
Each new setting we add helps us create the right balance between independence and support for every person, making sure everyone can thrive, in the setting best suited to them.
Today, the Foundation supports 32 residents and tenants, living within the four houses, and with six people in their own flats.
Ria, Chief Exec of the Foundation, said: "There is such community amongst our residents, tenants, friends, family and staff. This is our workplace but it is their home, and we are dedicated to the respect and dignity of the people that we work for. Watching the guys and girls grow in confidence and independence is the best feeling in the world."
Our founder, Jean Marshall, died in 2024. It is thanks to her vision and determination that we have been able to go from strength to strength. Ria said: “I know that Jean would have been very proud of what all the residents and tenants have and continue to achieve.” The photo of Jean here is her collecting her MBE for her contribution to supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Our people
Senior management team
Ria Mew
Ria has been CEO of The Outlook Foundation since 2016, ensuring that the independence and wellbeing of the guys is at the heart of everything we do. She originally began as a Support Worker in 1997 and has also worked as a House Manager and a Trustee.
Beth Hemsley
Beth is Director of Training and Quality Assurance, working with staff on their skills and with each tenant on their individual life skills plan. She began at the Foundation in 2002 and has worked with the residents and tenants as a Support Worker and House Manager.
Sarah Wilmshurst
Sarah is Director of Health, Safety and Premises, making each house a safe, welcoming place to live, as well as looking after the health & safety of tenants and staff. Sarah first started at the Foundation in 2007 and has worked as a Support Worker and House Manager.
If you would like to see what staff vacancies are available, click the following button:
Board of Trustees
Stephen Minall
Stephen is Chair of the Outlook Foundation Board, and co-owner of Moving Food Ltd, specialising in food innovation. A successful global entrepreneur and frequent media commentator on food stories, he is also parent to an Outlook resident and has been involved with the Foundation for over 20 years.
Richard Miles
Richard brings expertise in marketing and contracts to the Foundation from financial services management consultancy. His corporate career took in retail, hospitality, automotive and petrochemicals. Now semi-retired, he is an advisor to the biotech industry and chairman of a running club.
Simon Bell
Simon co-runs the Foundation tenants' parents and guardians committee. He has 25 years' experience in food, and now runs a coaching business, mentoring small businesses. Simon joined Outlook through Stephen and has had a fascinating and enjoyable few years working with the team and guys.
Eric Trump
Eric is Foundation secretary and co-runs the guardian committee. He spent 25 years in senior schools, teaching geography then as Pastoral Deputy Head and Safeguarding Lead. He now works part time driving pupils to a special school and giving outdoor learning sessions at a nature reserve.
Janet Tapsell
Janet brings expertise in HR and staff welfare from 35 years in HR at Board level in global blue chip companies, and running her HR consultancy for 12 years. Janet has previously served as a Trustee of a psychotherapy charity and was delighted to join the Outlook Foundation in 2024.
Angelo De Pol
Angelo brings expertise in strategic finance from three decades as a Chartered Management Accountant specialising in financial risk management, with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Finance, and working for international investment banks in trading floor control roles.
Michael O'Mahoney
Mike is the Foundation's Financial Director, bringing three decade's expertise as a Chartered Accountant in the hospitality sector. He is a Board Advisor across hospitality and social enterprise, including Non Executive Director at St Martin in the Fields, supporting the homeless.
Elizabeth Scott-Gliba
Elizabeth brings her expertise in tenants' and staff psychological wellbeing and welfare, having worked as an NHS psychologist for 30 years. She is Head of Psychological Therapies in an acute Hospital Trust in Sussex, working across the county specialising in capacity and consent.
Stephen Minall
Stephen is Chair of the Outlook Foundation Board, and co-owner of Moving Food Ltd, specialising in food innovation. A successful global entrepreneur and frequent media commentator on food stories, he is also parent to an Outlook resident and has been involved with the Foundation for over 20 years.
Richard Miles
Richard brings expertise in marketing and contracts to the Foundation from financial services management consultancy. His corporate career took in retail, hospitality, automotive and petrochemicals. Now semi-retired, he is an advisor to the biotech industry and chairman of a running club.
Simon Bell
Simon co-runs the Foundation tenants' parents and guardians committee. He has 25 years' experience in food, and now runs a coaching business, mentoring small businesses. Simon joined Outlook through Stephen and has had a fascinating and enjoyable few years working with the team and guys.
Eric Trump
Eric is Foundation secretary and co-runs the guardian committee. He spent 25 years in senior schools, teaching geography then as Pastoral Deputy Head and Safeguarding Lead. He now works part time driving pupils to a special school and giving outdoor learning sessions at a nature reserve.
Janet Tapsell
Janet brings expertise in human resources and staff welfare from 35 years in HR at Board level in global blue chip companies, and running her own HR consultancy for 12 years. Janet has previously served as a Trustee of a psychotherapy charity and was delighted to join the Outlook Foundation in 2024.
Angelo De Pol
Angelo brings expertise in strategic finance from three decades as a Chartered Management Accountant specialising in financial risk management, with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Finance, and working for international investment banks in trading floor control roles.
Michael O'Mahoney
Mike is the Foundation's Financial Director, bringing three decade's expertise as a Chartered Accountant in the hospitality sector. He is a Board Advisor across hospitality and social enterprise, including Non Executive Director at St Martin in the Fields, supporting the homeless.
Elizabeth Scott-Gliba
Elizabeth brings her expertise in tenants' and staff psychological wellbeing and welfare, having worked as an NHS psychologist for 30 years. She is Head of Psychological Therapies in an acute Hospital Trust in Sussex, working across the county specialising in capacity and consent.
