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) with other parents who all had a child with 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 Eventually Penderels was considered out of date and too remote and so the trust was born, with the proceeds from the sale of the home used to set up Independent Living for the former residents.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.

DICK HARRIS – Vice Chair

I have lived in Coventry since 1987 with my wife and two children, both now adults and living away.I have been actively involved with Penderels Trust since its inception and have been vice-chair for many years.I have cerebral palsy, use a wheelchair and need extensive support with my personal care and daily tasks. I have lived independently since 1980 after 27 years living in residential school/college and homes.I now use Direct Payments to employ my own personal assistants, having used young volunteers from all walks of life and countries through Community Services Volunteers for over 8 years.I am employed by Leonard Cheshire, a major disability charity, as an Independent Living Advisor in their Central Region.Previously I worked for Scope for 19 years in various roles but mainly in service development and as a Community Fieldworker supporting individuals, families and local groups.For many years I was an active Trustee/Board Member for several national and local organisations, holding office as chair/Vice Chair in a number of them but have recently cut back on these. This experience has given me a good foundation in budgeting, finances, personnel issues and other relevant areas that charities and companies need.

DAVID TITCOMBE

I am a service user of over ten years and have experienced all types of care from the home help to employing my own staff. I have spinal injuries, which were sustained whilst working on the ambulance service, as well as MS. Although a wheelchair user I do manage standing and walking short distances with aids on good days.I am a father of three children and grandfather to three also. My family are the world to me and if it hadn’t been for my eldest daughter and son, I really do not know how I would have managed in the early days of my disability. Both children were young carers and missed out a great deal of their childhood.I have many interests, including gardening; I have raised beds built which allows me to do all my own planting and gardening. I got rid of the grass years ago, being unable to care for it and relying on others to cut it. I also have a greenhouse that has been adapted so I can get into it and grow most of my own bedding plants.Although I have a disability that gets me down at times, I enjoy life and have a great team of carers that allow me to lead as normal life as possible.

JOHN DEUTSCH

I became 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 from 1994 until 2006. We arranged to have 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. We had heard about direct payments and although it took us a while to set it up, my sister was eventually able to employ her carer directly.Westminster social services introduced us to Penderels. 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 badly disabled with MS to volunteer, so I decided to offer my services. The organisation had been so helpful to us that I felt I would like to offer something in return. I travelled to Coventry to meet Jackie and the other Trustees and was delighted when they 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 and am an active volunteer with the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Marie Foster league of Friends in Barnet, where I live.

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 DP’s and often comments on the 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 DP, but he likes the peace of mind this offers. 

JAN PUGH

Jan began to use Penderels Trust when she first developed fibromyalgae. She is in the support group as well as the peer support group. Jan likes helping people. She also gives talks about DP’s and mentions Penderels Trust, often advising people how easy it is to accept a DP 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 DP’s. 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.

If you would like more information about becoming a Trustee at Penderels Trust, please contact Jackie Wakelin - Chief Executive Officer, for further information.  

Tel: 02476 511611          Fax & Minicom: 02476 511761