Changes

Meet our team

changes’ adopts network principles, offering value for money by drawing on expertise from specialists in specific work areas. We have an extensive range of contacts to complement and enhance our own experience and expertise, ensuring that we are up to date with relevant social and policy contexts.

changes’ partners

Jill Bedford

Jill has over 25 years experience of working within the not for profit and public sectors; from small self help groups and political and campaigning groups, through to larger organisations which deliver services to communities. She has extensive experience in writing training handbooks, publications, training courses and course materials. Her publications include ‘Everywoman’s Heath; a resource book for working with groups’, 1993, Health Education Authority (with Linda Pepper) and ‘Women Together: a health education training handbook’, 1992, Health Education Authority (with Linda Pepper). Her latest publication is the Take Part National Learning Framework for active citizenship learning, written with London Civic Forum. Jill represents the Take Part Network on the National Empowerment Partnership, is a member of the Community Development Journal Editorial Board (Oxford University Press) and has been a Board member of several local and national charities. She has supported voluntary and community organisations in developing and improving their governance structures and has over 30 years experience of local voluntary/community activity and campaigning. Jill is an Associate Lecturer for the Open University introduction to Health and Social Care course. Jill has a B.A. Hons in Geography, a B.A. Hons in Psychology and an M.A. in Education.

Sue Gorbing

Sue has extensive experience of working in the community, voluntary and public sectors, including local government. She has a particular interest in interagency working and community engagement and the gap between policy and practice. Sue has worked around women and equality issues for many years and currently focuses upon women and citizenship. She has developed training on ‘dealing with aggression in the workplace’, team building, conflict resolution, coaching skills, assertiveness skills and personal development. Sue has a B.A. Hons in Social Sciences, an M.Soc.Sci. in Local Government Studies and an M.Jur. in Socio Legal Research. Sue has also been an Associate of the Community Development Foundation and has delivered courses in their National Training Programme, including: Achieving Better Community Development (planning & evaluation framework) and Community Engagement (core principles and introductory practice).

Sal Hampson

Sal has over 15 years experience in community development, community engagement, partnership working, infrastructure development and facilitation of public/voluntary sector interface. Sal has extensive experience of managing and delivering contracts, working with public, voluntary and community sectors. Sal is currently occupied part-time as Interim Chief Executive of CDX (Community Development Exchange), a post which she was pleased to accept on invitation. Sal is Vice-Chair of Urban Forum and this, together with her position as Trustee of a local Age Concern Organisation contributes to her particular interest in the relationship between Board and organisation. Before teaming up with Jill and Sue, Sal was Training & Consultancy Manager for Community Development Foundation followed by a brief spell as Head Of Regional Fieldwork (North) for Age Concern England. Sal has a Diploma in Education, a B.A. Hons in Community Studies and an M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies.

Jill and Sue have been working together since 1996 (known as Working for Change), during which time they pioneered a number of accredited training courses, including ‘Women working in communities’ and more recently, ‘Impact: Women active in community and public life’, funded by the Civil Renewal Unit as part of the Active Learning for Active Citizenship national initiative. They have undertaken training and consultancy contracts in the fields of community development, criminal justice, training the trainers and group skills, health, community education, social enterprise development, social/community research and evaluation, and voluntary sector development work. They have also written: Community Research: Getting Started for ARVAC (Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community sectors) ; a postgraduate distance learning module around Leadership in the NHS for the Open University Business School; an online distance learning course for managers of Social Firms. They also offer facilitation around team building, action planning and dealing with difference.

Sal joined up with Jill and Sue in October 2005 to form changes.