![Photo of an elderly women laughing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1a359_701edf59eaf14d3e81467634d3f43dd5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_332,h_271,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/e1a359_701edf59eaf14d3e81467634d3f43dd5~mv2.jpg)
Karen Block
I worked for 10 years in social care, supporting people to employ their own Personal Care Assistants at Richmond’s Personalisation Support Service. I had the privilege of making some small difference to the lives of the wonderful families I met and it gave me an insight into the challenges in social care – both from the professional side and for users.
I commenced working for a small charity in 2016 in fundraising, marketing & PR, working with vulnerable single parent families. As a single mum of two teenagers, this is a cause close to my heart and I am passionate about the power of the local community coming together to bring about change and provide a support network. I am actively involved in my local church, Holy Trinity Richmond, where I am a trustee.
I love reading, walking and spending time with family and friends – even more so now that my mother has Alzheimer’s. I also have a lifelong interest in politics. Accepting each day as it comes and valuing people and experiences more than ‘things’ has been a humbling and enlightening journey. I also try to be thankful for what I have.