Board members – Leanne Yeo, Michael McLachlan, Matthew Leadbeater, Emma Jane Levallee, Robert Stronge, Jade Vallance, Edward Cooke, Helen Guest
Robert is a very busy member of the Pro-Active Community, always taking part in events and helping with the planning as well as the organising. Robert enjoys long walks and is a very involved member of his local parish.
Edward has had a very varied career as a mgt. consultant working in tv, leisure, ports, shipping, mobile phones, food and drink, health and many other areas, in a number of different countries. Nowadays he is happy to take life easy, looking after his garden and bees, doing some volunteering, and enjoying relaxing with a good cup of coffee.
Helen is Board Secretary and has worked with the Pro-Active Community over the past 9 years from campaigns winning National Awards to raising awareness of the inequalities people with Learning Disability face and highlighting environmental concerns. “To me, working as part of the Community I want to support everyone to have their voices heard and the services provided designed by those they are intended for. I love all things nature, gardening and animals – you’ll find me out walking in all weather!
I’m Leanne and I was the Chair of the Pro-Active Community, 2023/24. I want to make a difference and to help everyone be included in decisions about them. Cycling is very important to me and I like walking too for my good mental health, being out with family or friends, or my support staff is what is best for me. I have a dog called Luna and she is my best fur friend she calms me down when I am anxious. My plans are to speak out for members whenever we can to make changes better for people like me with learning disabilities.
As Co-Chair 2023/24, Michael brings so much experience to the Pro Active Community, he has been a member since before it became a charity in its own right. He has enjoyed fund raising, including a 100km walk along the South Coast, and volunteering for the Salvation Army for 10 years. He is looking forward to the coming year as Chair “I’m going to make sure all members have the best support and leadership from me with campaigns and meetings”
Jade was a founder member of the Pro Active Community bringing many years of experience working in Social Care. As Board Treasurer the allocation of grants and funding is of great importance, to ensure campaigns and awareness training are possible. We strive for equity for all the members working hard to achieve extraordinary, as well as ordinary lives. Jade loves to cook, travel and walk, her ambition is to climb to Everest base Camp one day.
My name is Matt, I was the Chair for 2022/23 and achieved so much in that year. From walking over the O2 where I raised £1,000, climbing Snowdon in 2022, and some of the South Coast Challenge in 2023 too. Leading on the Disability Taxi Charter, presenting at the LDE Conference in 2023, and sharing insights for the Surrey Heartlands training films were things I am most proud of, as well as setting up the PACpod, being a DJ for MOTHS mashup, and a presenter for Ridge Radio. Being a member of the Pro Active Community is very important to me and I am the Fund Raising Assistant.
Emma Jane was Chair for 2026 and brought lots of creative ideas to the Community members. She loves arts & crafts, makes her own celebration cards and enjoys socialising with friends and other members. The community get togethers around a cup of coffee have been an important aspect of tackling loneliness or isolation.