I have been a carer for well over 30 years and have a particular interest in mental health issues. In 1996 I joined with a small group of community-minded people to develop, fund and operate a Village Centre for Gt Eccleston and the surrounding area. Over the next 18 years that experience reinforced my belief that community involvement plays a crucial role in shaping the successful development and operation of a broad range of locally accessible services as a response to clearly identified local needs.

I initially became involved with n-Compass over 9 years ago as one of the inaugural volunteer members of the Carers Feedback Forum. Additionally, in those early days, I also helped maintain the website and organise and deliver several Carers Conferences. Following an internal reorganisation I became a volunteer member of the Citizen Involvement Board and more recently have begun volunteering with both the Sitting In Service and the Carers Chat Line.  Apart from my n-Compass involvement, I remain an active volunteer skipper with the Kensington Foundation Boat Project operating a widebeam boat on the Lancaster Canal providing short-break holidays or day trips for families with additional needs.