Meet The Team
Founder & CEO
Lorraine Stanley
Training and Development
Even before I acquired my own health conditions, I had an internal barometer of “fairness” when it came to equality and diversity issues. Within my family and friends circle, growing up, I had some brilliant role models of people living with different physicalities – yet cracking on with life!
My professional background includes; Training and Development within the NHS and Local Government; a Certificate in Training Practice awarded by Institute of Personnel and Development (now CIPD). I also hold qualifications in Facilitation Skills, One to One Counselling, BSL Stage 1 certificate, and Peer Support training. I ran a successful Diet and Fitness franchise for 3 years, before ME and Fibromyalgia forced me to stop trading.
My lived experience includes being a young carer, parent carer and family carer of loved ones with conditions ranging from diabetes to dementia. As a mature (!) adult I was diagnosed with autism, and have lived with managing bouts of clinical depression since I was a teenager.
In recent years I have discovered a passion for naturism, which led me to meeting my husband Mike in a Jacuzzi. He has been part of my SWAD journey for 15 years (and counting), and together we continue to be passionate about access to passion for people with disabilities, and long term health conditions.
Co-Founder & Director
Mike Stanley
IT, Product Development, Engineering, Carers Champion.
I have over 25 years’ experience in a caring role to a wheelchair user, and also have many years of experience with supporting young adults on the autistic spectrum, people that may suffer from anaphylactic shock (including use of Epipens) and epilepsy. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, IT Hardware, and Customer Service, I have many skills to contribute to the design and development of sex aids for disabled use.
My lived experience includes that of being a partner carer – so I appreciate the shifting roles from being a carer, to a partner/lover. I can relate to thoughts like: When are you supposed to be Intimate? How do you differentiate between washing your naked partner’s body, and caressing it intimately? And if you find being intimate physically difficult, how do you overcome this problem?
There is a significant lack of training for health professionals in the support and training required by carers; both for the carer and the "cared for". This is why I am so excited to be involved with SWAD.
Mike has endless patience in handling what some would see as difficult situations. Any topic can be discussed without fear of causing alarm and discomfort, in the same way decorators say 'No job too big, or too small' Mike and SWAD believe there is no question too silly or too rude. If a question is thought of, it deserves asking. And if we do not know the answer we will endeavour to find out who does.
Fran
Hi, I'm Fran and I've been working with SWAD since the start of 2020. I wanted to use my spare time doing more than watching A-Team reruns and munching Doritos; so when I came across a social media volunteering role with a cause that I believe in, I leapt at the chance.
It's been brilliant to learn how SWAD helps to educate the community and I am enjoying the challenge of watching our online presence grow.
When I am not scrolling through social media, I can be found watching films at the cinema and going to live events (when that was allowed).