Penny Collard – Chairperson

My involvement with Penderels Trust began many years before the Trust was even thought of! My Parents were founder members of Coventry & Warwickshire Scope. (Formerly the Spastics society) The group consisted of parents with children who had Cerebral Palsy. My brother, eight years my senior, was severely disabled with a learning disability. Scope’s main aim in the 1950’s was to provide a family type home for disabled children, as a safety net, as they reached adulthood and when parents could no longer cope. At this time, the only choice for an adult with a disability, who could not remain at home, was a long stay in hospital. After many years of fundraising and hard work, a large house called Penderels was purchased in Meridan. This became home for about 20 young people, the majority of whom had Cerebral Palsy. My parents remained active members of Scope and so as a family we had long periods of living at Penderels when my parents took over the running of the home due to staffing problems. Eventually Penderels was considered out of date and too remote and so the Trust was born. The proceeds from the sale of the home were used to set up independent living services for the former residents. I led, on behalf of Scope, the negotiations with Coventry City Council to set up the Trust and the rest, as they say, is history. I have remained as a Trustee since the inception of Penderels Trust, committed to working to improve choices facing disabled people. On a personal note, I am married with two lovely daughters and one very beautiful grand daughter. My ‘day’ job is as Chief Executive of Crossroads, Coventry and Warwickshire, a charity which provides support to carers. I enjoy swimming, when I have the time, reading and visiting France.

Peter Collard MBE

I became involved with Penderels home as a result of my brother in law living there. I was on the Board of Governors until the homes closure; I then because Trustee of the newly formed Penderels Trust. I served for twenty five years as Chairman of Scope, Coventry & Warwickshire and was also a director of Scope (the national organisation) and was governor of several special schools. I have continued my interest in working with and for disabled people and have been fortunate that in my ‘day’ job part of my responsibility as Head of City Management in Coventry was the setting up of the Coventry Shopmobility scheme and the Disable Advisory Group with which I am still involved on a consultancy basis since my early retirement two years ago.I enjoy golf and gardening, including growing much of our food in our allotment, I also enjoy wood turning, a hobby I have developed since my retirement. 

Peter Henson

Peter lives just outside of Worcester. He was seriously injured in a car accident in 1997. He spent 2 years in hospital followed by 5 years in a nursing home. He came home with the help of Penderels Trust. Prior to this he had been a successful Sales Director for Renault Trucks in Birmingham for 20 years. Peter feels he has a great deal to offer from various aspects, not least of which is the experience as a direct payment user.  He employs between 5-6 carers and to date has been pleased with the service he receives from the Worcester Office. 

John Finnie

John had previously been in the Queens Household Cavalry. Due to a number of medical operations in 2004 his health deteriorated and subsequently required assistance via a Direct Payment. He is involved in two charities, one in the United States, which is about to close, and the other as a founder and Director. He sits on two boards, one in Westminster and the other in Wembley. He gives a number of presentations about Direct Payments and often comments on the positive service he receives from the Trust – he feels he is an advocate of the company. He added he finds it scary that many people are frightened of operating a Direct Payment, but he likes the peace of mind this offers.

Jan Pugh

Jan began to use Penderels Trust when she first developed fibromyalgia. She is in the support group as well as the peer support group. Jan likes helping people. She also gives talks about Direct Payments and mentions Penderels Trust, often advising people how easy it is to accept a Direct Payment if support is available. Jan considered that by being a trustee she would bring her positive experiences to the Trust in addition to being an ambassador for the Company. 

James Moraghen

James has worked in industry as well as the NHS. He was forced to retire on ill health and subsequently became a service user of Direct Payments. He finds it difficult to undertake physical tasks but he feels has something to offer and is currently on the Executive Board of a health insurance company and is a local Councilor in Shrewsbury.

Sarah Henson

I spent my early years training horses as well as being a busy housewife and mother. In 1995 I had a riding accident and became a permanent wheelchair user and was treated and rehabilitated at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. I live at home with my husband, three nearly grown-up children and two dogs and have been on direct payments for several years now. This has worked out very well for me and as I have always found Penderels staff to be extremely helpful, I was delighted to become a trustee. My involvement with the Trust has highlighted my admiration for Penderels and their staff.

John Deutsch

I have been a trustee of Penderels Trust since 2001. I live in London , and I had a sister who lived in Westminster and was one of Penderels earliest clients there. Through organising my sisters' care over many years I had already become involved with other charities, and I have been chair of trustees of Westminster Carers Service since 1994. Well actually I have just retires from the post of chair this month (November 2006). I've reached the age of 70, and after 12 years I think its someone else's turn.

We arranged to get direct payments for my sister because she had a wonderful live in carer who was not treated well by the agency through which she was employed by Westminster social services. She wished to leave the agency but wanted to go on working for my sister. Around that time (mid – 2000) I heard about direct payments, and suggested that we should try to get them and employ Jennie directly. It took several months to get it all sorted out, but eventually my sisters direct payments started just before Christmas 2000.

Westminster social services introduced us to Penderels, and I found the ILA's to be very helpful and knowledgeable. When we received a user survey from Penderels it included requests for users to volunteer to become trustees. My sister was too badly disabled by her MS, and could not volunteer herself. But I offered my services. The organisation had been so helpful to us that I felt I'd like to offer something in return. So Jackie invited me to Coventry and I met her and the trustees, and I was delighted that the trustees asked me to join them.

In addition to being a trustee of Westminster Carers Service and Penderels Trust, I have been a trustee of Age Concern, Westminster , and I am an active volunteer with the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Marie Foster Home League of Friends in Barnet, where I live.