Meet the Core Group

Terry Taylor-Vice Chair

I have been involved with the residents of Darlington for 10 years now and I try to make the quality of life better for people in Darlington. I am involved with several community groups’ including GOLD, tenant’s board, resident’s panel, Bank Top Partnership and now the LINk.

Jean Thurkettle

I am a qualified teacher. I taught at the girl’s high school, which became Hummersknott Comprehensive, for 28 years. I was deputy head. After, I became a member of the CHC, then PPIF and now LINk. I am a volunteer at the memorial hospital and work on a Monday afternoon. I am secretary of the ladies fellowship at All Saints’ Church, Blackwell. I am an ‘expert by experience’ and work with the Care Quality Commision, a member of Age Concern/Help the Aged and a QOF assessor.

Bill Morehead

I have spent much of my life involved with student centred learning in the Navy and comprehensive schooling. I jointly ran the National Development Programme Lifelong Learning in the Workplace for the Government, the TUC and the TECs out of which came UNIONLEARN.  I was elected chair of the Acute Trust for the final year of the PPI Forum.

Betty Hoy

I live in Darlington, divorced with two grown-up children. After retiring from teaching I did some voluntary work for Citizens Advice Bureau and became a member of GOLD. When the PPI Forum was formed, I became a member of the hospital forum and as such was involved with local and hospital health issues. I am a Governor for the Darlington area on the Foundation Trust’s Governing Council. The committees on which I sit are the Strategic and Governance and Risk and they are principally concerned with the areas that effect older patients and their welfare.

Mark Cran

I am a service user of Mencap and attend meetings of the Supporting People Group. I aim to improve services for people with learning difficulties and make sure they have an equal say in how services are planned and run.  I have volunteered for SCOPE for many years.

Diane Collins

I live in Darlington and am a wife, mother and grandmother with over 23 years experience of health and social care issues. I am physically disabled and my husband has severe brain damage so I am familiar with many of the local support groups and understand the vital role they play for families and carers alike. I wanted to become a volunteer to give something back to my local community and help similar people.

I am involved with a number of local groups focusing on mental health, disability and the elderly including, Darlington Mental Health Forum, GOLD and Darlington Association for Disability (DAD)

Peter Freitag

I was elected to the Council on the 3rd May, 2007, to represent the Park East Ward. I am also a governor of the Darlington Foundation Trust. I currently serve on the Health and Well Being Scrutiny Committee and Darlington Planning, Application and Forums. Having served as ex chair of MIND, CVS, Friends of the 6th Form College, I am very interested in helping people with learning difficulties (like my daughter Wendy) and those with mental health issues, which I have done for over 20 years.

Audrey Lax

I was a former Patient and Public Involvment Forum Member. I am an active member of GOLD and Banktop Partnership. I’m involved in many groups across Darlington. I am interested in all aspects of health especially older peoples issues and I’m a dignity Champion.

Doug Cowley

I am a lone parent carer for Emma, who was born in 1992.  She has severe learning difficulties caused by her intellectual disability.

I am involved with many voluntary groups in the town and embrace the Valuing People Now philosophy.

I am a core-group member of LINk and participate in the communication and GP task groups.

Core Group Also Includes

Alizon Robson-WRVS

I currently work as the Project Manager for WRVS Community Support Project. I provide community based support to clients who require low level support. This help can range from befriending to assisted shopping – rather like the tasks that family members would normally offer. I am passionate about ensuring that they have the choices and freedom that they are entitled to and will continue to work to improve the provision of services.

Darlington Association on Disability (D.A.D)

Established in 1986 as a voluntary and charitable organisation led by disabled people. DAD exists to promote independence and choice, and supports disabled people and carers through the provision of services, support and information and by tackling issues locally and nationally.

Mental Health Matters

Is one of the UK's most innovative organisations working with people with mental health needs. Mental Health Matters' ultimate aim is to strengthen the voice, rights and independence of service users, carers and family and friends.

Age Concern

We work with and for older people (50plus) in Darlington. Our vision is to promote quality of life and create contentment. Our activities are organised into three divisions: 1. "50plus Lifestyle" 2. provision of day care and domiciliary care services, lunch clubs, and health promotion and awareness 3. Provision of information and advice services, including benefits advice and assistance

UBU

Is an independent company that provides care, enablement and support to adults, children and young people with learning disabilities and complex behavioural needs. We currently provide person centred services to nearly 400 adults, children and young people and employ over 900 team members, across 95 supports in the North of England.