:: Community Living

Seán is Chief Executive of the Elfrida Society. Seán has worked with people with learning difficulties for 30 years in many different roles. His early experience, in the mid-1970s, of working for a year in a large residential hospital fuelled a commitment to moving services for people with learning difficulties away from institutionalisation.

Elinor launched Community Living in 1987 with the late David Brandon as editor. Over the last 18 years she has developed the magazine to reflect the many changes that have taken place in the lives of people with learning difficulties. Elinor's career has included editorial roles on Community Care, World Medicine, the Remedial Therapist and The Professional Nurse.

Peter consults extensively across the UK, and in Europe
and the USA in developing better community services for people with learning difficulties. He is on the editorial board of Community Living.

Richard has worked as a counsellor, psychotherapist and manager in the sexual abuse field for the last 9 years and Richard is particularly interested in the issues of abuse and violence and what can be done to make people safer. Richard is on the editorial board of Community Living.

Gill qualified as a social worker, and has worked with children and adults with learning difficulties for over 20 years. At RNIB she has developed an information service for people with learning difficulties and their supporters.

She writes leaflets and articles about eye care, and also about blind and partially sighted people with learning difficulties.

Simon was an Assistant Director at the Elfrida Society, and had been responsible over the last 4 years for developing a partnership between The Elfrida Society and Community Living magazine. Simon has encouraged staff and service users at Elfrida to write for Community Living from their experiences, work and interests.

Karyn is the Chief Executive of Keyring.

Jane had developed services for people with learning difficulties in Richmond for ten years prior to joining Generate in August 2007. She was ready to take up a new challeng and happy to be back in the voluntary sector where her enthusiasm for working with people with learning difficulties took root 16 years ago.

Simone is the Parliamentary Correspondent for Community Living.

Jo Clare has been Chief Executive of Three Cs since July 2008. Three Cs stands for ‘Control and Choice in the Community for people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems’. The charity supports people to have control over and choice about their lives and to contribute to the community as equal citizens. It provides supported living, outreach, transitions and social inclusion services in London and the South East.

Sheridan Lynch is Director of Learning Disability Services at Southdown Housing Association. The Association provides a range of housing, support, volunteering and employment services to 1800 people in Sussex, the majority of whom have learning difficulties or mental health needs. Southdown supports the band Heavy Load – all the members of the band are Southdown tenants or employees. The band is active in the ‘Stay Up Late’ campaign to enable people to choose what time they go home or go to bed.