Voluntary Sector
Jon worked for most of his career in the community, voluntary and charity sector, and for over 17 years at NAVO in Nottinghamshire (see retirement event photos here).
Our move to France has brought us into contact with a whole new world of voluntary associations and a culture of voluntary action which is as rich and varied but wuite different in character, from the UK voluntary and charitable sector. It also leaves us with many British and international interests in charities and voluntary organisations:
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Jon was until 2007 a Trustee and Treasurer of MoMo Helps, the national charity started by Mo Mowlam in 2003. It provides small cash grants with minimum bureaucracy to both recovering drug misusers, and to families of disabled people - in both cases, people who find it difficult to obtain the practical help they need to lead normal lives.
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This arose from his work through NAVO with the Nottinghamshire County Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) which has had outstanding and nationally acknowledged success in making the national Drugs Strategy a reality in Notts.
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He was also for many years a Trustee of Hetty's, a Charity and service linked to Nottinghamshire DAAT supporting the families of drug misusers which pioneered the importance of family support in the national drugs scene.
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Previously in Derbyshire he helped to found (and was President until 2004) of the Federation of Mental Health Support Groups ,which developed community-based services in the rural area of West Derbyshire from the 1980s onwards and has continued successfully to the present day.
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In Derbyshire he also Chaired for many years the local Crossroads scheme, part of an excellent national network championing support for carers across Britain.
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His background and upbringing were in the Society of Friends (Quakers). Although he is no longer a Member the values and activities of the Society are a continuing source of inspiration. Since arriving in Lunel we have discovered that an important and ancient centre of the small French Quaker movement (Société des Amis) is only a few km for Lunel, at Congénies - see website for its fascinating background and current activities. Quakers in France also have a website nationally.
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Both of us are concerned for international human rights and peace - Mary has had a particular interest in the independence of Tibet and its people - she has followed the work there of Rokpa UK in particular.
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We have both taken an interest in the welfare of people in areas of violence and oppression, and particularly their health and medical care - in France this is championed by Médecins sans Frontières, and recently the plight of Palestinian people in particular has led us to support Medical Aid to Palestinians too.
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In Nottinghamshire, Jon's interests and links (apart from those listed above) can be traced through the NAVO website (see above). In addition, he has been closely associated with the support of gay and lesbian people through the North Nottinghamshire Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Development Group.
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With this group he assisted the National Holocaust Centre (an outstanding UK national resource located in rural, central Nottinghamshire), in commemorating the suffering and death of homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps.
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His interests in Nottinghamshire were also in improving the position and championing the equality of black and minority ethnic people in the communities of the county. The leading organisation with this specialist role is the Nottinghamshire Black Partnership.
We shall welcome suggestions from our friends and readers of other charities which deserve wider publicity and support on these pages.
