CITIZEN NETWORK - Key Persons

Aarne Rajalahti

aa..@kvps.fi

Job Titles:

Finland / Property Director at KVPS
Property Director at KVPS

Aarne has been working with the Service Foundation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (KVPS) in Finland since 2002 and is currently their Development Manager. Aarne has been working for independent living, person-centered planning and self-autonomy for people with intellectual disabilities. He works with people with disabilities, families, staff members, leaders and legislators to improve the rights and services for people with disabilities. In recent years Aarne has been leading a pilot project together with FAIDD to develop and try out self-directed support in Finland. Co-operation with In Control and now with the Centre for Welfare Reform has played a big part in its development. Aarne is very interested in people's abilities and was a co-founder of Vimmart, a school for equal arts, in 2005 and has been leading the school since. Vimmart provides high standard music training for people with different needs, but works for inclusion so is open for everybody. Currently Vimmart has 60 students. Aarne lives in the city of Tampere with his two little children, who matter very much to him.

Alain Catzeflis

Job Titles:

England / Retired Foreign Correspondent and News Editor of the Financial Times
Retired Foreign Correspondent and News Editor of the Financial Times

Alain is a retired foreign correspondent and News Editor of the Financial Times. He believes that without social justice in a society you cannot have a stable or prosperous one. Categorising people either as ‘strivers or scroungers', the prevailing view of neo-liberalism - is responsible for much of the injustice and waste we experience. Alain believes that lasting change can only come when citizens engage at a local level while others push to influence change at the top. Ultimately all our actions are political. Alain has a particular interest in ensuring that people with a learning disability can live as they choose. His interest stems from caring for his ward Jo who has autism and complex learning difficulties. Jo lives in a life-sharing Camphill community where people of all abilities live and work together free of the ‘them and us' culture that Alain believes blights our care system. In his 22 years at the FT Alain covered the Middle East and Asia. He has a particular interest in developing countries. The paper won several awards for its news coverage in his time as News Editor (1989-1996). He speaks French, Greek, some Arabic and Spanish. Alain is married with two children, four wards and nine grandchildren. He lives with his wife and their Catalan sheepdog Chica in the Chilterns. He is a private pilot. In 2011 he circumnavigated Africa in his single engine Piper Archer.

Alastair Minty

al..@gmail.com

Job Titles:

Independent Consultant
Trainer
Scotland / Independent Consultant and Trainer

Alastair has had a long-term commitment to tackle inequality, and support people to achieve their potential has always been one of my driving forces. A career that began with supporting people with Learning Disabilities moving to the community from long stay institutions, has led to a focus on positive change through disruptive innovation from both within and out-with organisations and with a wide range of people. Alastair is someone who asks "What would it take for this to happen?" and then does his best to support that change to become reality. He is sometimes told he overestimates people's abilities; but in his experience it tends to be existing structures and power imbalances that are the limiting factor. Alastair believes in bringing people with you and working together to make positive change - supporting people to let go of the fear of change. In 2013 Alastair was introduced to the work of an organisation called Manavodaya by Pete Richmond, and following a residential course facilitated by it's founder Varun Vidyarthi, he has been involved in a small way in supporting it and using its principles in the work he does. In 2017 Alastair began working on a self-employed basis, Positively Minty, to build on the work he had been doing on a range of activities supporting sustainable change.

Alex Leeder

Job Titles:

England / Social Worker, Teacher and Author
Social Worker, Teacher and Author

Alex lives and works in England with his wife and two daughters. He has practiced as a social worker for several years, qualifying in 2013. Alex worked for over 4 years in a learning disabilities team and his since worked in mental health services, a young adults transitions team, generic community social work team, and most recently a hospital social work team. Alex has lived in Stoke-on-Trent, Aberystwyth and Worcester, and attended Keele University, Aberystwyth University and Worcester University. After having completed a Law degree and the Legal Practice Course, he was later able to complete an MA in Social Work and embark on his social work career. Alex has lectured at Worcester University and the Heart of Worcestershire College (HOW) in relation to The Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and learning disabilities. He is a qualified Practice Educator, supporting social work students during their placements, and has written for the "National Elf Service", reviewing research in areas of interest such as direct payments and mental capacity. Alex values equality, social justice, inclusion, citizenship and anti-oppressive practice. He has a keen interest in changing systems to work better for citizens, and wants to challenge systems that work in the interests of ‘the system' rather than for the people. He is developing his knowledge of self-directed support and has spoken at self-advocacy group meetings to develop community networks and promote empowerment. Alex is a vocal supporter of anti-racism, has been advocating for this in his local community, and is looking at ways to incorporate anti-racism philosophy into local authority policies. Alex also has an interest in ideas of community and citizenship and how this can be developed and promoted. He has a continued interest in how Central Government decisions and political ideologies influence the direction of health and social care. Alex's other interests include sport, music, comedy, nature and conservation.

Alfred Richter

al..@kvalitavpraxi.cz

Job Titles:

Coordinator of Citizen Network Czech Republic

Alfred grew up in Povazska Bystrica, a small town in the former Czechoslovakia, moving to Prague in 1986. After graduating from the Prague School of Economics (Faculty of Commerce) Alfred worked in the banking sector as credit analyst for ING Bank in Prague and in Amsterdam. Alfred also founded and managed Zephiros a.s, a printing company in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Alfred first joined Quip in 2006 as financial and project manager, taking a sabbatical in 2011 to work for Zephiros and the NGO Poradna pro integraci in Prague, which focuses on the integration of foreigners. In 2017 Alfred returned to Quip, becoming Director of the organisation. Quip was founded in 2003 and is active primarily in the Czech Republic and is a member of the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL).

Alison Chalmers

Job Titles:

Health and Well Being Co - Ordinator

Amanda Frost

am..@peoplefirstforum.co.uk

Job Titles:

Assistant Manager of People First Forum
England / Assistant Manager of People First Forum

Amanda is passionate about equality and helping people to speak up for their rights. She has spent the last fifteen years working to get the voice of people with a learning disability heard both locally and nationally. Amanda has a mild learning disability and when she was young, professionals told her parents not to have high expectations of her working or living an independent life. She has gone on to prove doctors and education authorities wrong, by having a paid job and living independently. Amanda works as Assistant Manager for People First Forum (previously Bournemouth People First and Poole Forum). She was also the Accessibility Officer for their successful LifeLink project. Amanda organises groups and events, designs and delivers training, and supports others to speak up. Her varied role also includes being part of People First's Citizen Checkers Service, being a Person Centred Planning facilitator and co-chairing the Bournemouth and Poole Learning Disability Partnership Board, and much more! Amanda always works to improve her skills and knowledge and training she has attended includes Training for Change and Tomorrow's Leaders and Project Management. Amanda's colleagues know her as the Networking Queen! She is very good at working with other people and talking to them at events and meetings. She has worked with self-advocacy organisations locally, regionally and nationally.

Amanda Topps

am..@hotmail.com

Job Titles:

Independent Health and Social Care Consultant, Researcher

Amy-Grace Whillans-Welldrake

Job Titles:

Project Officer
Director for the Community Group Ancoats Dispensary Trust

Amy-Grace is a Masters student at the University of Southern Denmark and is studying Comparative Public Policy and Welfare Studies. She has previously worked as a policy Researcher at the Centre for Local Economics where her interests included community development, devolution and public service reform. In her spare time Amy-Grace is a Director for the community group Ancoats Dispensary Trust where she developed a passion for community activism and heritage. Amy-Grace is currently working with the Centre on a project entitled A new settlement for local welfare: a grassroots perspective on re-designing the welfare state. The project aims to gain a citizen perspective as to how people experience public services and asks what would the welfare state look like if it was designed by citizens and what would the role of national, local and community look like? Could a new settlement between the national and the local help address some of the challenges currently facing the welfare state? The project intends to provide a radical alternative and to challenge the current welfare and devolution reform agenda from a grassroots perspective.

Anna Chalachanová

an..@vid.no

Job Titles:

Coordinator
Coordinator of Citizen Network Norway
Norway / Coordinator of Citizen Network Norway

Anna Chalachanová is a coordinator for Citizen Network Norway. Anna is a member of the VID Specialized University research group Citizenship and has experience in research in the area of citizenship and intellectual disability.

Anna Harris

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England / Postgraduate Social Work Student

Anna-Carin Fagerlind Ståhl

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Sweden / Psychologist, PhD, Work Environment Researcher

Annick Janson

an..@egl.ac.nz

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New Zealand / Researcher & Psychologist Developing Leadership Within Vulnerable Families

Ashleigh Fox

as..@ldnetwork.org

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England / RNLD and Director of Transforming Care - LD Network

Ben Drew

be..@openfuturelearning.org

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USA / Founder of Open Future Learning

Bevin Croft

bc..@hsri.org

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USA / Senior Research Associate and Director of the Behavioral Health Team at the Human Services Research Institute

Bob Rhodes

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England / Co - Director of LivesthroughFriends CIC

Brian Fisher

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England / GP and Chair of Reclaim Social Care

Brian Salisbury

bs..@shaw.ca

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Video & Photo Coordinator

Carol Blessing

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USA / Coordinator of Citizen Network USA

Catherine Hale

ca..@cii.org.uk

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England / Founder of Chronic Illness Inclusion Project

Chris Howells

ch..@koruservices.com

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England / Managing Director of Koru Consulting Ltd

Chris Watson

ch..@selfdirectedfutures.co.uk

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England / Founder of Self Directed Futures

Christopher Nwafor

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Community Empowerment Activist

Clare E Jones

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England / Trainer and Consultant Improving Lives of Women and Families

Clare Hyde

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England / Director of Foundation for Families

Clare Tarling

cl..@gmail.com

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England / Freelance Easy Read Designer and Development Manager at Dorset Advocacy

Clive Tuck

cl..@me.com

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England / Founder and Ex - CEO of the Hub

Colin Newton

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England / Director at Inclusive Solutions

Damian Bridgeman

da..@executivecoaching365.co.uk

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Wales / Social and Business Entrepreneur and Government Advisor

Dave Goswell

dg..@hotmail.com

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England / Business Analyst & Tableau Certified Professional

David Towell

da..@inclusivefutures.uk

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England / Director of the Centre for Inclusive Futures

Dominic Lodge

do..@btinternet.com

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England / Community Development Lead of Southern Health

Dr Anita Gjermestad

Job Titles:

Coordinator
Coordinator of Citizen Network Norway

Dr Anita Gjermestad is a coordinator of Citizen Network Norway. Anita is a member of the VID Specialized University research group Citizenship and has experience in research in the area of citizenship and intellectual disability. For more information about the research group visit: https://www.vid.no/forskning/forskningsgrupper/