Our Trainers

We have a number of Trainers with varied backgrounds and experiences and draw upon these to give participants insightful, interesting and exciting training.  Below are example profiles of some of our trainers.

 

photo of andy crowe Andy Crowe
Essex Coalition of Disabled People

Andy Crowe has been a service user for over twenty years. Through his training he passes on his experience from a user’s perspective, empathising and empowering fellow service users, and enlightening those new to the disability movement.

Andy has studied Business and Finance at BTEC level and went on to achieve a 2:1 BSC (Hons) in Multimedia Systems at Anglia Polytechnic University. Through his studies, he has become very interested in Assistive Technology and has a detailed knowledge of how technology can assist disabled people.

Andy has been involved with ecdp for a number of years and is currently a Direct Payment Support Service Advisor.

 

 
photo of Natalie and her son OscarNatalie Meadows
Essex Coalition of Disabled People

Natalie has been disabled all her life and has been working within the disability arena for many years.

She came to Colchester in 1990 to do a BA in Politics at Essex University. She began working for ECDP as a Disability Equality Trainer in 1999. In August 2000 she began work as the Coordinator for the newly formed Essex PASS and then from 2002 worked as the Equalities Development Training Officer where she was involved in securing various training commissions including Disability Equality in Education. She has been involved in training for the Protection Of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) policy and also Disability Equality in Education. She is also involved in empowerment work with the residents of SCOPE residential homes in North Essex.

In 2006 she left ecdp to become a full time parent and is now taking on small pieces of work on behalf of the Coalition. In her spare time she enjoys surfing (the internet) and caring for her retired Assistance Dog.