My initial working background was in engineering. I moved into social care work in 1986During the period of my early working life I was involved in a considerable amount of voluntary work and was active in the Trade Union education system.Voluntary work included working with disadvantaged children (Ynys Mon) Special Olympics(now Para Olympics) working with people with a learning difficulty (Gwynedd SS) to name a few. My trade Union education work included unpaid Education Officer for the white collar union ASTMS where I was either responsible for or delivered TU education on a variety of employment legislation, including the then recent legislation around Race and Equality and the now very often used TUPE work.This led to a career change where I moved into the social care workforce, After going back to full-time education, where I supplemented my engineering qualifications with social care qualifications and later, a Cert Ed. along with a number of vocational qualifications, over the last 20 years. I have been involved in social care work at the highest rung of the ladder and have experience of real 'hands on' social care delivery.In 1999 I moved to South Wales where I have gained further experience in the voluntary sector. My first role in South Wales was as Officer in Charge and Registered Manager of a 90 bedded Nursing & Residential home. I later moved into a position of Development Manager - Wales for a national charity and had a 2 year secondment to the Wales Assembly Government. I also continued my voluntary work with the Workers Education Association - Trustee and Chairperson), Learning Disability Wales (Trustee and Treasurer) amongst other voluntary work.After 20 years experience working within the voluntary sector in a capacity of developing organisational skills,delivering change management and fundraising within and for various charities I believe I am now in a position to offer and share my experiences and expertise.