My main interest is to support any activity which promotes equality of access and opportunity within our society, because I believe that will strengthen us all. For the last 32 years I have worked within the health and social care system, and have tried to be an effective ally of people who use it. I have learnt much from so many people along the way, and I believe that the principles and values behind Independent Living, as developed by disabled people over the last 40 years, and Recovery, as developed by people who experience mental distress, are now rightly beginning to shape the future for health and social, and wider support.

Community Care marked a significant step away from the institutionally-based system which preceded it. The values and principles behind the goals of Independent Living and Recovery, supported by the complementary approaches of Personalisation and Social Inclusion, mark a far greater step. My most recent experience has been as a member of the Department of Health Putting People First/Personalisation team, working over the last few years on direct payments, mental health, with carers, and as part of the Common Assessment Framework team. That work finished on 31st March 2011, and I have set up this website in order to:

• Advertise my availability for work and the things I can offer
• Be part of and promote the growing movement for greater personal control of health and social services and support
• Provide links and contacts to others who can offer advice and support

STOP PRESS: Promoting equality of access and opportunity is something that Ian Dury did, and in my opinion you simply won’t get a better night out than by going to see the riotous celebration of his music set in a play about trying to get to see an Ian Dury concert that is:

Reasons to be Cheerful
I have already awarded this the SHOW OF THE YEAR 2012!!
Even if I didn’t know the incomparable John Kelly, this would still have been one (well I went thrice in 2010, actually!) of the best things I’ve ever seen. Yes, if you absolutely hate the music of Ian Dury it will be a bit of a trial, but otherwise (and there are lots of other ways!) GO! I’ll make a public apology to anyone who isn’t absolutely delighted. And you can’t say fairer than that!