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.
Roy Prytherch - Vice-Chair, Representative for the PCT
I have worked as a pharmacist since 1962. I have always enjoyed talking to the patients / customers and hearing their views on how the NHS can be made more patient friendly. I took early retirement in 1997 and became a locum pharmacist in private pharmacies and Boots branches. I was a member of the PPI forums before they were abolished, attending meetings on their behalf.
Seren Razak - , Representative for BAME Communities
I have been involved within community works for more than a year sitting as a chair of Sutton Babylon Association, Vice chair off Sensory & Physical Disability Board and as a member of the Executive Committee for Sutton Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF). . This experience with my medical background as a health professional will give me the chance and the skills to serve the whole community in general and the BME community in particular.
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.
Barry Todman - Representative for Developing Neighbourhoods
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.
Mark Tomlinson - Representative for Faith and Belief
I believe Faith and Belief groups play a valuable part in the community of Sutton often representing a broad cross section of people. My role is to articulate and communicate these concerns and to increase the engagement of those communities in our borough. As a Christian leader I am well placed to connect with the Christian community and my relationships as chair of the Sutton Faith and Belief Forum enable me to have two way communications with other faith & belief groups.
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.
Dave Lunn - Representative for Young People
I am the former CEN rep for young people and have an extensive background of work with young people, going back over 20 years. My work as the Community Development Manager at the Riverside Centre continues to bring me into contact with young people. I believe that young people have an equal and valued contribution to make to our community and are often misrepresented within society and the media. In Sutton, there are many groups working with young people and I see it as my role to make sure that their needs are included on the agenda, as we all seek to improve the lives of those young people.
Coopted Members
Sally Brearley
Sally lives in Sutton and used to be a member of Merton and Sutton Community Health Council, then Sutton and Merton PCT Patient and Public Involvement Forum. In one way or another, she has been a supporter of the NHS for over 30 years.
Miriam Hunt
Miriam is a qualified registered nurse and midwife working part-time at St Helier Hospital.
Substitute Members
Wendy Ferrell - Carers
Terry Haswell - Developing Neighbourhoods
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.
Sylvia Aslangul - 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 currently vice chair of Age Concern Sutton Borough, and I am also 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.
Judith Smith - Young People
I have been involved with young people all of my life – and even produced two of my own! I am a qualified secondary school teacher and have worked as a Youth Leader. I am the Associate Minister of Sutton Christian Centre where I still serve on the Youth Leadership Team. I also Chair Sutton Ramp Events (working with young people involved in extreme urban sports) – a voluntary sector organisation which has really grown in the last year.
