My Website Launch

My website was built by Mr Morgan Gleave who lives in the same village as me. Morgan specialises in building and design of websites.

My website has three purposes.
1. To provide information for people who are thinking of moving to direct payments.
2. To provide answers to questions that current users of direct payments may have.
3. You can also read the story of my journey from residential care, out into the community and on to direct payments.

The official launch of my website was at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire on Tuesday 12 February and what a memorable occasion it was too! Most of my 42 guests were from the East and West Midlands apart from 2 members of my family, my mum and sister who came from Chester and Lancashire.

Ian Retson from CareOnLine gave the welcome and introduction, to the event and there were speeches from Councillor David Sprason (The Lead for Adult Social Care Services), Philip Douglas (from Care Services Improvement Partnership - CSIP), Maggie Tedd from Market Harborough Social Services and myself Sue Lavender.

After the speeches there was a chance to view my website and the display stands from Age Concern, Direct payments support services, CareOnLine and Vista. The County Council photographer took photographs of all the visitors; you can see some of them on my gallery pages.

The launch finished with refreshments and the staff at County Hall put on a lovely spread for us.

Thank you everyone for all you did to make the launch of my personal website such a wonderful occasion, you all did me proud!!! See the Gallery page 5 for more pictures of the launch.

Speakers and some of the audience at the launch.
Front Row (left to right): Philip Douglas (CSIP), Mick Connell (Director of Adult Social Care and Health), Councillor David Sprason, Maggie Tedd (Social Worker).
Second Row: Morgan Gleave (web designer)
Third Row: Sandra Salmon and Dave Clayton (Direct Payments team)

Sue showing the website to her mother, sister and social worker (Maggie Tedd).