Key Personnel

Board of Trustees

Paul Clarkson, RNLD, RCNT, RNT, B.Ed (Hons), MSc, Chairman of the Board

Paul became a Trustee in 1999 and Chairman of the Board in 2005. He has 20 years- experience in managing service in both the statutory and independent sectors of health service. Previous appointments include Clinical Development Manager for a community trust, Development Manager with a strong emphasis on service improvement, Senior Manager in higher education, Registered Manager of a nursing home, Registered Manager of a hospital provision organisation, and General Manager for specialist services. Paul has also been on secondment to oversee health development services overseas.

Jon Middleton, BSc (Hons), ACIB

Jon is Finance Director and principal shareholder in an education company that operates a preparatory school and three nurseries with a total of 500 children between the ages of 3 months and 13 years. The company employs 120 people. Jon-s principal responsibility is the development of company strategy, financial management, health and safety, regulatory compliance, property and grounds maintenance and marketing. Previously, Jon worked for a FTSE 250 financial services company where he provided direct support to the CEO, with responsibility for corporate public relations, process change, consumer complaints, and in the development of training and competence regimes. Early in his career, Jon trained as a commercial lending specialist and became a manager operating at local and regional levels. Jon has an adult daughter with severe learning disabilities.

Nigel Coles, ACIB, CeFA, Cert. PFS, Company Secretary

Nigel became a Trustee in 2004, and has been employed by HSBC for 23 years. Currently, Nigel is an Independent Financial Advisor working with the bank-s -High Net Worth- clients, specialising in investments and inheritance tax planning. Nigel has family connections with special needs, which have motivated him to become involved with the charity.

Mike Warne, BSc (Hons)

Mike became a Trustee in 1999. Although now retired, Mike spent 35 years working in the chemical industry for Imperial Chemical Industries and Nalco. Thereafter, he was Executive Business Manager concerned with service and products to the European Oil Companies, turning over in excess of £100M annually. Mike also acts as a business mentor for the Prince-s Trust.

Lifeworks Business Team

Richard Hanlon, B.Ed. M.Ed. Chief Executive Officer

Richard was one of the founding members of the charity and Chair of Trustees from 1996 to 2005. He has 30 years- teaching experience in main stream schools, boarding schools, and in university, and for the past 20 years, in special education as a deputy and head teacher. Prior to teaching, Richard worked in social work and overseas aid, as well as built and developed a school in East Africa. Richard started the charity to address the needs of learning disabled children and young adults. In 2006, he relinquished his career in education to focus full time on implementing a further education and career programme for students with learning disabilities.

Jo Parsons, Business Manager & Fundraising Executive

Jo has been with the Foundation since its inception. As a founding member, she is passionate about the mission, projects and ambitions of the charity. Jo has been crucial in the charity's financial and business success, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds, steering project managers in business and budgetary matters, and team-leading on a charity-wide scale.

Elisabeth (Lis) Leader, BA, MSc Marketing & Fundraising Executive

Lis wears a number of hats and always has. Coming from a documentary film background, she brings with her unsurpassed organisational skills and the ability to multi-task like nobody's business. Although once-upon-a-time she would be persuading broadcast organisations to part with money for a commission, today she uses her written and verbal abilities to wrestle funds out of grant-making trusts and corporate sponsors. Her way with words is impressive and makes our marketing materials clear, concise and quite potent.

Mike Balmforth Marketing Executive

Having run his own graphic design company for over 30-years, Mike brings to the table not just an inordinate amount of experience, but a wealth of creativity and talent. His designs have transformed the look of the charity into a dynamic, attention-getting masterpiece, and through his work, we continue to evolve. Not only adept with freehand and computer designs, Mike is an accomplished photographer and videographer, which will prod the charity into a more interactive role with its beneficiaries and service users.

Robins Respite and Life Skills Centre

Urban Tom Andrew, Robins Centre Manager

Tom has worked as a care professional throughout his career, which spans some 40 years, from Naval Paramedic and Medical Administrator to General Nurse, Residential Social Worker, Deputy Care Manager, Relationship Counsellor, and Adult Tutor. His passion lies in supporting and enabling young people and their families and he guides the staff at Robins to achieve the highest standards in the care of its resident young people. Tom welcomes contact from families wanting advice or support and also from people interested in working in the care field.

Tina Sharp, Team Leader, Robins

Anne Gallon, Team Leader, Robins

Emma Quaintance, Team Leader, Robins

Life Skills Academy

Mary Dodson, Cert. Ed. Coordinator, Life Skills Academy

Mary has over 30 years' experience teaching students with learning disabilities. She has taught children from their birth to age 19, and has worked as a pre-school advisor for Devon Education Authority. At present, Mary is head of the Post-16 Department at the Bidwell Brook Special School in Dartington. Mary has also fostered a child with learning disabilities.