Our office is based in The Public, West Bromwich and our team is made up of the following people:
Jayne Leeson is the Chief Executive of Changing Our Lives. In 2002 Jayne supported a group of self advocates with learning disabilities to establish the charity. Since then, Jayne has worked alongside self advocates to develop Changing Our Lives into an organisation that is recognised locally and nationally for its best practise. Jayne is committed to the equal citizenship of all people with disabilities and ensures that this is a core value which underpins all of the work Changing Our Lives undertakes.
Claire Johnson - Claire works as a Project Development Officer supporting self-advocates to lead on various work streams. Claire works on Making Our Voices Heard where she supports Auditors with disabilities and mental health issues to check the quality of in-patient services within the Black Country Partnership Foundation Trust. Claire also supports a Patient Council in a local low secure unit for men with learning disabilities and mental health issues, as well as supporting Auditors with disabilities to audit residential homes, supported living, day services and health services.
Sarah Horton - Sarah is a Project Development Officer who works alongside the young people in Changing Young Lives. She supports the young people to run the Young Voices Network, she also supports young people in the Quality Crew Audit Team and the Rights Squad Training Team. Sarah has worked for Changing Our Lives for 2 years, prior to this she worked for 5 years in both short break and long term residential services which provided care and support for young people with severe learning disabilities and profound and multiple learning disabilities. As a result, she is an active champion for the rights of people with PMLD and believes everyone has a right to be heard and that with creative thinking people's lives can be socially inclusive.
Lucy Dunstan - Lucy works across Sandwell People's Parliament and Changing Young Lives. She supports MPs to run the Parliament, enabling them to have a powerful voice to change policy and help improve services in Sandwell. She also supports young people to challenge policy and existing services in areas like participation and adolescent health and teenage pregnancy. Prior to working with Changing Our Lives, Lucy worked for Mencap in community development and consultation. She is driven by an ambition of equality and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities and fairness.
Mark Humphries - Mark works on the Wolverhampton People's Parliament, supporting people with learning disabilities from across the city to achieve equal citizenship. Mark also supports Auditors with disabilities to check the quality of service and supports the Patient's Council within a local low secure unit for men with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Mark has worked within education and the third sector for 20 years. He began teaching in secondary schools and has since lectured in colleges, community settings and has taught people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Mark's ethos throughout his career has been to support people to increase their life chances, be equal citizens and to achieve their personal goals.
Subtan Mahmood - Subtan is a Project Development Officer who works with people on the autistic spectrum. Subtan also works with with Quality Auditors to inspect Residential / Supported Living Homes, Day Services, mental health in-patient services and health services. Subtan has been working with people onthe autistic spectrum to raise the profile of autism supporting them to make short films about themselves and share their experiences. He has also been involve in developing innovative multimedia and web resources for people with learning disabilities. You will also see Subtan working with people behind the mixing desks at our Open Mic nights.
Carol Clarke - Carol is the Business Support Officer. As well as providing Business Suport for the organisation, Carol manages the website to make sure that all the information is up to date and accessible. She also makes sure that people know about Changing Our Lives by looking after publicity and marketing and taking lots of photographs at our events! Carol is the first person you will speak to if you call Changing Our Lives.
Changing Our Lives