I was brought up in Ruislip, NW London . I moved to Nottingham in 1966 after university to join Boots. During my retirement after a career in production and personnel management I took up a number of voluntary rolls including Young Enterprise and The Princes Trust both giving business experience to young people. People's College ( as it was then) as a Governor and Citizens Advice Nottingham as a Trustee. I joined Open Minds some 10 years ago again hoping that my work experience would be
useful. Having an affinity with numbers I took up the role of Treasurer.

Although a small organisation it makes a positive difference for its members and is served by a friendly committed and enthusiastic staff and volunteers.

My name is Pip short for Phillipa, I am originally from Germany. I have been a volunteer with Open Minds for many years! I help out at our weekend sessions and enjoy it a lot. Recently I joined the board of trustees to be more involved in the running of the charity. I attend meetings every two months and use my perspective as a volunteer to help shape the decisions we make.

I have been a member of Open Minds for many years and am also on the board of Trustees. I like going to Open Minds because I enjoyed making and meeting new friends and going to the new places that I have never been before such as Trent Lock, Chatsworth House and some beautiful places.

Throughout my working life I have worked with people: as a General Nurse,
Residential Social Worker offering short term care for adults with varying
disabilities. As a Senior Officer in Elderly person’s home.
I’ve taught, assessed and verified N.V.Q’s in Care.
Also sat on Investors In People panel.
As both Named Manager and Executive Director, I’ve co-owned a 39 bedded
Residential Home for the Elderly.
Lastly, as onsite Warden I worked 15 years for a Charity assessing and meeting
the needs of up to 100 residents who occupied 63 dwellings.
I thoroughly enjoy working alongside people.
I have a bubbly personality and the skill to communicate on various levels.
I love seeing people achieve and having fun.
Open Minds gives me the opportunity to further my own personal
development but also those of all members, by going out and about, meeting,
seeing, doing and achieving new things which otherwise they would not have
the opportunity to do.

Hello, my name is Sue and I am one of the facilitators for Open Minds. I have been with Open Minds for nearly 20 years now running groups and workshops. During this time the members and volunteers and everyone else who has come through our doors have made it a really, really, most enjoyable job to do. Delivering craft sessions once a month feeds into my love of all things crafty.

My craft room at home has almost everything for every craft you could think of and bringing all this to our sessions and encouraging and sharing this with others makes my hobby even more exciting. I love making things – sewing is my main love – it’s about giving things a go and producing something you love and feel proud of even if no one else sees it.

I also do a lot of 1 to 1 meetings with members – this goes along with my other love in life, cake and coffee as most of the meetings are around cafes. There is an aim though - to help people get out and about in their community and enjoy what is around them and support them with their isolation.