Experience

Yes to Life

• United Kingdom
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Wigwam Coordinator

  • Jun 2020 - Present

  Helping to establish the Wigwam community of cancer support groups with the national charity Yes to Life - to provide spaces where people can come together and share what they are learning about lifestyle changes that support their health and well-being and to receive support and inspiration from others when times are tough. Work includes establising online Forums with expert speakers and supporting the groundbreaking Integrative Health conference, 'Your Life and Cancer'. https://www.wigwam.org.uk



Freelance Video Professional

• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Independent Filmmaker

  • Mar 2007 - Present

  Most of my freelance work involves enabling others to tell their stories. I have run workshops for young people and people with disabilities and worked alongside many people to help them make their own films. I have also made films about many local projects and events, some of which have won local Awards. Most of my freelance work involves enabling others to tell their stories. I have run workshops for young people and people with disabilities and worked alongside many people to help them make their own films. I have also made films about many local projects and events, some of which have won local Awards.



Barnwood Trust

• United Kingdom
• Funds and Trusts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lead Community Building Guide

  • Jun 2014 - Jan 2021

  Barnwood Trust are using an Asset Based Community Development approach (ABCD) to work with individuals and groups of residents in Gloucestershire to build more welcoming and inclusive communities. My role has been to work alongside and mentor community builders, work with local residents and run workshops to support others to explore and develop an ABCD approach to working with communities. I was fortunate for over a year to have been seconded to Nurture Development and have also worked closely with organisations like Gloucestershire Constabulary, the Popeldag (Netherlands) and Gloucester City Council to develop their community building approaches.See more: http://www.barnwoodtrust.org/A useful blog about our work: https://nickmaisey.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/power-to-the-people/

• Community Inclusion Worker (Learning Disabilities)

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2014

  My role was to lead for Gloucestershire’s Learning Disability Partnership Board on inclusion; influencing change so people with learning disabilities feel part of the community. This was funded by the Partnership Board and based with Barnwood Trust in partnership with BasicNeeds. This role included supporting leadership building with people with learning disabilities and facilitating services to think differently. As part of the role I chaired the Community Inclusion Action Group, made up of people with a learning disability, parents/carers, service providers and health and Adult Social Care workers. I worked primarily alongside people with a learning disability in a host of successful projects including working with transport providers, seeking easier to understand information and influencing staff training. The work led to a Certification of Appreciation by the Partnership Board for outstanding contribution to the lives of people with learning disabilities.Barnwood Trust is a charitable foundation dedicated to creating the potential in Gloucestershire for people with disabilities and mental health challenges to make the most of their lives. BasicNeeds is an international development organization working with people with mental illness and epilepsy; in Gloucestershire their Community Animation Programme was part of Barnwood Trusts’ ten-year ‘You’re Welcome’ plan. See more: www.basicneeds.org/ and www.barnwoodtrust.org/



Stroud Community TV

• Director

  • Nov 2011 - Mar 2018

  Co-founded, created and built Stroud Community TV; launched March 2012 as a not-for-profit internet TV channel 'By Stroud people, for Stroud people'. Stroud Community TV is run by volunteers and is a place to promote the diversity of Stroud; to support our local economy; to raise awareness and help inspire us to take actions that secure a sustainable and resilient future for our community; to create a space for voices who are less often heard, and to encourage and develop media skills and creative talent in Stroud. Over 3,000 films on the site. I had a particular interest in supporting people to tell their own stories using film. This has involved workshops and an annual Award evening that was one of the highlights of Stroud Film Festival.



Stroud District Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 100 - 200 Employee

• District Councillor

  • May 2006 - Jun 2014

  I was elected in 2006 as a Green Party Stroud District Councillor with 56% of the vote (52% turnout). In May 2010 I was reelected with 68.5% (77.4% turnout). I stood down in June 2014. With support from the community and other councilors I was able to deliver all key pledges made in election manifestos. These included the first ward-wide 20 mph in Gloucestershire, relining of local sewers, key sites protected from development and work to tackle climate change and fuel poverty. I have chaired two scrutiny inquiries which have led to significant changes including developing an Energy Strategy for the Council, Council tenants being involved in developing the Stroud Council Housing Standard and over £12 million to be spent in two years on Council housing to increase energy efficiency and generate an income for the Council from renewables. I have also sought to create a fairer, more just society. For example chairing a Housing Committee group to reduce evictions and lessen the impact of the so-called 'Bedroom Tax', supporting the introduction of a Living Wage and initiating and working to develop a new allotment site. I worked hard to represent all parts of the community and was actively involved in community events, community campaigns, local planning issues, Parish Council meetings and many local organizations. See more in sections below.I delivered ward newsletters, but also I started a blog, Ruscombe Green, in 2006 to engage with local residents and share some of my activities. This blog, was regularly voted nationally in the Total Politics poll as being in the top 10 of councillors blogs and top 10 of Green blogs. It averaged over 500 posts per year and 20,000 page views a month.



Gloucestershire Voices

• United Kingdom
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • Dec 2010 - Jan 2013

  Gloucestershire Voices, launched in December 2010, was a user led self-advocacy organisation for adults with a learning disability. My unpaid role as a Director was to help set up the organization, which in addition to the self advocacy work included a Theatre Company, Travel Buddies project and a Quality Checkers scheme where people with a learning disability check the quality of residential homes. Gloucestershire Voices have now developed into Inclusion Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire Voices, launched in December 2010, was a user led self-advocacy organisation for adults with a learning disability. My unpaid role as a Director was to help set up the organization, which in addition to the self advocacy work included a Theatre Company, Travel Buddies project and a Quality Checkers scheme where people with a learning disability check the quality of residential homes. Gloucestershire Voices have now developed into Inclusion Gloucestershire.



Guideposts Trust

• 1 - 100 Employee

• Team Leader and Service User Participation Coordinator

  • May 2008 - Aug 2012

  Guideposts Trust provided a range of services in the community for people with or recovering from mental health issues and for people with a learning disability. In my initial role I led a team of staff in assessing and delivering regular housing-related support to people living in Gloucestershire. From June 2010, my role was to involve people who used Guideposts services, in the delivery, review and improvement of those services. This included establishing a forum with training for people to participate more effectively, developing a newsletter, improved complaints procedures and ways to move towards more co-production of services.



Cardiff University

• United Kingdom

• Guest Lecturer

  • Sep 2007 - Oct 2010

  About 4 lecture sessions each year on the MSc course in Sustainability. About 4 lecture sessions each year on the MSc course in Sustainability.



Rethink Mental Illness

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Advocacy Officer and Community Support Worker

  • Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

  Supporting and enabling people to express their views, access information and services, defend and promote their rights and responsibilities and explore options. Supporting and enabling people to express their views, access information and services, defend and promote their rights and responsibilities and explore options.



Stroud District Green Party

• Press Officer

  • Sep 2001 - Sep 2009

  Press work with local media and undertook several small research projects. Press work with local media and undertook several small research projects.



due to illness

• Employment gap

  • Sep 1995 - Apr 2006

  For over 7 years I did not work due to chronic illness. As my health improved I worked a few hours in a bookshop, participated in community projects (eg establishing local Credit Union branch and Fairtrade status for local town) and also helped establish and run the Expert Patient Programme locally where people with chronic illness facilitated courses for others with chronic illness. For 18 months I worked some hours each week for Vision 21, a sustainability charity; this included organising a climate change conference and supporting a Parish Plan.This experience was significant in helping me further understand, how it feels to be disempowered, excluded and receive inappropriate services - but also the importance and life-changing powers of good support.



Various

• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance trainer and consultant

  • Jan 1992 - Sep 1995

  Mainly training around relationships and sexuality for staff working with adults with learning difficulties for local authorities, universities and charities across the UK. Mainly training around relationships and sexuality for staff working with adults with learning difficulties for local authorities, universities and charities across the UK.



Avon Social Services

• Service Manager and deputy roles

  • Sep 1988 - Sep 1993

  Managing a staff team and services at a local authority day services for adults with learning difficulties in North Somerset. I was fortunate to be part of a team where there were opportunities to develop more creative ways of support. I also worked as the Manager of a centre (covering Maternity) where I was able to significantly improve the service and support. Managing a staff team and services at a local authority day services for adults with learning difficulties in North Somerset. I was fortunate to be part of a team where there were opportunities to develop more creative ways of support. I also worked as the Manager of a centre (covering Maternity) where I was able to significantly improve the service and support.



London Borough of Merton

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Social Worker

  • Jul 1987 - Aug 1988

  Case and crisis work in the London Borough of Merton. Case and crisis work in the London Borough of Merton.

• Travel and voluntary work overseas

  • Sep 1985 - Sep 1987

  I travelled through India, Bangladesh, SE Asia, China, Tibet, Australia and New Zealand. I visited many development projects in Asia and worked for a short time on an alternative tourism project in India. Work included Community Aid Abroad - see seperate entry. I travelled through India, Bangladesh, SE Asia, China, Tibet, Australia and New Zealand. I visited many development projects in Asia and worked for a short time on an alternative tourism project in India. Work included Community Aid Abroad - see seperate entry.



Community Aid Abroad (Australian Oxfam)

• Field Officer

  • Aug 1986 - Jan 1987

  Work included managing the Sydney Office, bringing together aid agencies for the first time in Sydney, organising Australia’s largest ‘walkathon’ and initiating Sydney’s largest foreign film festival. Work included managing the Sydney Office, bringing together aid agencies for the first time in Sydney, organising Australia’s largest ‘walkathon’ and initiating Sydney’s largest foreign film festival.



Brunel and Southampton Universities

• Student placements

  • Sep 1980 - Jul 1985

  I had placements that were each about 5 months (part or full time): a charity for speech impaired children, Westminister Social Services research department, Hillingdon Social Work team, Southampton Psychiatry department and Dorset Probation service. I had placements that were each about 5 months (part or full time): a charity for speech impaired children, Westminister Social Services research department, Hillingdon Social Work team, Southampton Psychiatry department and Dorset Probation service.