Experienced CEO in the UK Charitable and NGO Sector supporting disabled people and their families Qualified Trainer in a range of Health and Social Welfare subjects including: Project and Change Management, Quality Assurance, Governance and Client & Customer Participation Freelance Consultant in Health and Social Welfare Clients included: UK Department of Health; Local Government Social Services & Health Service Departments; National and International NGOs Other Appointments held: Family Carer Advisor to UK Valuing People Government Department Chairman of Valuing People Learning Disability Board Trustee National Mencap Society 13 years Chairman of Board of Governors for Mencap National Further Education Colleges Appointed member of Health Authority Ethics Committee Appointed member of County(State) Community Development Committee Came to India following death of husband wanting to find a new life!! Worked with the local community to set up the Varanasi Welfare Foundation (VWF). An NGO which is a fully registered private limited company with 12A and 80g Tax Exemption Certificates. VWF has been set up for the Empowerment of Women and the support of vulnerable children. We do not receive any government or international funds. The NGO has been mainly funded by Linda Cooper through the sale of her house in the UK. VWF works mainly through its Education and Training Centre in the Cantonment area of Varanasi. At the Centre there is a small school for children who live in the slums and Vocational and Work Skills classes for young women from very poor families. Here they can learn, English, Computers, Beauty Therapy, Art, Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Sewing and Tailoring.