Background

Derek Close has over 30 years experience working as a facilitator, trainer and consultant. His focus is on people first, helping them to gain and develop the skills and qualities necessary for effective communication and relationships within teams, organisations and partnerships. He encourages the development of strategic thinking through visioning and the clarifying of values and beliefs. He provides one to one and team coaching and supervision. Other areas of expertise include emotional intelligence, dealing with difficult behaviour and conflict, working with change and gender issues.

Julie Snelling has 20 years experience working in both statutory and voluntary sector organisations. Her focus is on bringing people together to create sustainable partnerships and networks. She works with communities of interest to find local solutions to local issues. In particular she encourages service users to gains skills and experience that enable them to participate more fully in community affairs. She has worked as Director of a Third Sector Organisation delivering a range of community services including family support, crime prevention projects, youth provision, heritage initiatives and community development

Together we create a dynamic partnership that enables the people and organisations we work with to face challenges, listen, deal with difficult issues and develop action strategies to make a difference. We have a passion for and a commitment to the development of strong, sustainable communities and have researched different models of working that are making a difference across the world.

Our experience has shown us the need for communities to be engaged at both grass root and strategic levels if long-term change is to be achieved. Too often large amounts of funding have been invested into strategic and capital projects within disadvantaged communities. Frequently no attention has been given to effectively working at the grassroots level to build confidence and capacity. Structures and agencies have come and gone, resulting in short lived benefits and communities feeling let down and disillusioned.

Through Make the Difference we know we can break that cycle