As a self employed consultant my role embraces a variety of work across communities to create better understanding of different lives and histories recognising that building collaborative teams is an important way of breaking down the social and physical barriers that keep people apart. I provide education, training, project evaluation and mentoring to progressive organisations that want to push boundaries and innovate across entire communities. Recent assignments have included work to open democracy with people at risk of exclusion, reducing loneliness amongst people who have a learning disability and the development of circles of support and personalised planning. I published my first book on Amazon last year. 'Life Nourishment' follows the trajectory of my career and the stories of real people who experience separation. It extracts lessons and places human relationships and exchange at the heart of health, happiness and wellbeing. My second book currently being written is exploring the magical realm of life, the drift to technical rather than human solutions to the worlds problems and the importance of finding peaceful and sustainable solutions to the challenges of our age in relation to those of us seeking support. I use much metaphor and allegory in my writing and speaking in order to bring to life the major shifts needed to rehumanise work in our helping agencies as together we seek a future that is distinctly different from the past.

I started my career in 1981 supporting people with a learning disability living in a long stay hospital. In the late 1980s I was part of the 'Bringing People Back Home' initiative to enable people to live well in the local community. In the 1990s I worked in Lewisham and North Southwark supporting 5 people to live in their own home. We were at the forefront of work to develop community relationships and belonging. I was key in supporting the inroduction of a personalised model of individual planning. After 4 years I moved to Bexley Health Authority as a Training Officer delivering values based training and education. Later with Westminster City Council I led on the development of a life planning approach before spending a few years in Clinical Audit with Parkside Health Trust. I was an award winner with NICE for my work to improve the health of people with a learning disability through general Practice cited in publications. In 2000 I became self employed and acted lead for 'Community for All' a programme of work across the Sevenoaks District to build understanding, welcome and tolerance across the community. I l delivered the first internationally recognised 'Partners in Policymaking' course in London achieving commendation from the US founder. I acted a Co-Chair of the Sevenoaks District Partnership Group and won the Strategic Directors Award in 2007/8. Since that time I have worked with the Avenues Group as Managing Director of Community Futures and then as Head of Community Engagement. I now continue to work as a freelance worker across South West Kent and proud to support local organisations such as 'Arts Without Boundaries' who are developing the arts sector locally to represent different stories and histories. I am signed up to the Social Model of Disability and Asset Based Community Development. I currently sit on the Access Group and Local Strategic Partnership in the District where I live.