Steering Group

Steering Group Members

The Steering Group members have all been nominated by the community to represent their interests and direct the work of the LINk.

Members of the Steering Group are listed below.

• Ted Gates - Chair, Representative for Disabled People
  I was the CEN Representative for Disabled People for 4 years. I have first hand knowledge of disability and was awarded the MBE for services to disabled people “in surrey”. Chairman of Shopmobility and also of SCILL, Chairman of the Sutton Voluntary Sector Forum, Non Executive Director of both the PCT and Health Authority for six years until 2006/7. Served on various committees of the London Borough of Sutton including the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.
  
• Wendy Ferrell - Vice Chair, Carers
  
• Doris Richards - Vice Chair
  
• Barry Todman - Representative for Older People
  Since taking early retirement 9 years ago, I have tried to utilise the skills I developed as a Union Official. I Chair the London region National Pensioners Convention and the Clockhouse Residents Association. I have been involved with Sutton Housing Partnership in the development of their new Compact which assists Residents in getting involved in improving their homes and neighbourhoods. I also regularly attend the Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee meetings so that local issues or concerns can be raised, and progressed.
  
• David Jones - Representative for Mental Health
  I have been chairman of Sutton Mental Health Foundation since April last year. In that capacity I am committed to working with people who have direct experience of mental distress and treatment to overcome the barriers to their involvement in society and to enable them to live fully the lives they wish to lead. I want to work with people who use services and with carers to achieve the same goals within the framework of LINk. I have established contacts with SCVS, Sutton Council, and the PCT and the SW London and St Georges Mental Health Trust. I have lived in Sutton for twelve years, am a member of Trinity Church and have two grown up children and one in a local school.
  
• Derek Yeo - Representative for Carers
  I was a registered carer for my wife for a number of years until her death 9 years ago, I received much help from the Carers Centre before and after her death which made me realise what an essential service is offered by them and I am now a trustee of the organisation. I have served as a Sutton Borough Councillor, and sat on major committees including Health Scrutiny. I am a School governor for Stanley Park Junior School and Chair of Clockhouse Youth Project.
  
• Hine Prescott
  
• Joan Alexander
  
• Sylvia Aslangul - Representative for Older People
  I have been an active member of organisations and committees locally representing the interests of older people for the last 12 years. I am a Board member of the Carers Centre and SCVS. I am particularly concerned about the links between the borough adult social services and the hospital when patients are admitted for falls and other problems and the difficulties many patients and carers experience following their discharge from hospital.
  
• Val Benn
  Val is a Committee Member of Parkinson’s UK Sutton, Kingston & Epsom Branch and Organiser of Active Parkinson’s People an informal support group for those who have Parkinson’s and their carers. She is also the local champion for Parkinson’s UK and is on the Steering Group for the Parkinson’s Nurse. She has a special interest in long term conditions and its impact on the lives of people, their carers and families, particularly as she has Parkinson’s. A keen advocate of keeping fit and exercise, she would like to see more inclusiveness in leisure activities especially when there is capacity and under-utilisation of such facilities. She is fairly new to Sutton LINk which currently is in transition to becoming Healthwatch Sutton and on which Board she is a Director.
  
• Ken Fish - Mental Health
  I am the Chair of the Carers Action Group (CAG) for Mental Health issues. I am also the Chair of the Carers Partnership Board. I and the members of CAG attend bi-monthly meetings with the Service Director of the Mental Health Trust for Sutton and Merton. I and the members of CAG meet bi-monthly with the General Manager for local mental health services to discuss services and issues relevant to the residents of Sutton. As a Carer I have had knowledge and experience of the mental health services, both inpatients and outpatients available in Sutton and the adjourning boroughs serviced by the Mental Health Trust, since 1982. I appreciate the need for adequate and good mental health services for the residents of Sutton in Sutton. I have lived in the London Borough of Sutton since 1975. I am retired. I can usually attend meetings at short notice. I am in regular contact with the Carers Centre.