March 16, 2011

About

Clenton sitting at desk

The Official Stuff

In June 2014, I was awarded the MBE for services to disabled people, and the Community of West Midlands.

Clenton Farquharson is Co-Chair of the Think Local Act Personal Partnership, a cross-sector leadership partnership focused on driving forward work with personalisation, community-based health and social care. Their unique strength is bringing together people who use services and family carers with central and local government, major providers from the private, third and voluntary sector and other key groups. Clenton is named in Disability News Services’ List of influential disabled people.

Over about twenty years, I have become an expert in accessibility issues working in a variety of sectors and disciplines. I have theoretical knowledge and training combined with personal experience and practical insights.

I work as consultant, auditor, trainer, and coach on inclusion, equality, disability, and related subjects.

I was a major contributor to the creation of the Access Auditor Practitioner Level 4 (NCFE) programme.

I have become actively involved in a number of projects and initiatives.  These include:

  • National Co Production Advirsory Group member (currently)
  • Co chair of Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) partnership (currently)
  • Member of The Coalition for Collaborative Care (C4CC) is a group of organisations who have agreed to work together to improve support for people with long-term conditions. The aim is to ensure that people living with long-term conditions can access healthcare which focuses on the whole person, and where different organisations and communities work together with each individual, carer and/or family to achieve the best possible outcome. (February 2015 – currently)
  • Board member of The College of Social Work TCSW (currently)
  • Non executive director of HealthWatch Birmingham (currently)
  • Director of Community Navigator Services CiC (currently)
  • Treasurer of the Birmingham Access Committee also member of Planning Sub-Committee focusing on New Build and change of use occupancy, providing advice to local authority and companies on good practice and British standards. e.g. the new Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham.  (currently)
  • Board member of Ethnic Minority Business Forum – Advantage West Midlands ( 2007 – 2010)
  • Board member of Equality 2025 (2006-2010)
  • Advirsory  member of Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) Disability (2007 – 2010)

Qualifications

  • 7307 City and Guilds part 1 and 2 – adult training
  • Disability Equality Specialist – Level 4
  • Managing Diversity Level 3
  • NVQ level 3 – coaching
  • Certificate in Equality and Diversity Level 2
  • HND in Construction
  • NLP practitioner
  • Examiner Access Audit Practitioner

Training

  • Disability Equality Training
  • Disability Theory and practice
  • Social Inclusion
  • Plans Appraisal
  • NCFE  Exam Invigilator and Assessor training
  • Accreditation and assessment training
  • Facilities management
  • Legal Framework of Equality and HR
  • Urban Design
  • PEEPs Training
  • Access Auditing
  • Management Committee Advocacy training
  • Financial training
  • Children ‘and disabilities’
  • Web accessibility
  • Inclusive design

Personal Statement

I am a black, disabled man. Black, as you might expect, from birth; disabled unexpectedly overnight when attacked in the street outside my home. This forced me to re-evaluate my life and principles, and to look closely at what I wanted from my life, for my family, for the society in which I live.

Over the years, I have developed three strands that now inform my life and work:

  • Practical experience in what it is like to combat inequality and exclusion.
  • Studying how to take the academic models and research work and translate those into real-life action. On the one hand, I believe it is essential that I learn from the thought-leaders in my field; on the other hand, I subscribe to Mark Twain’s dictum, “I never let my schooling get in the way of my education.”
  • And thirdly, I have a mission: never to discount the inequalities around us, but always to look unflinchingly at the evidence, and, in so doing, to seek to understand where, and how, we need to focus our efforts so that we can make progress towards being a fairer society.

If this sounds to good to be true, don’t worry. There is a less attractive side to me. I confess I am also an ardent Birmingham City Football supporter.

Disclaimer

Farquharson Training and Consultancy may use links to other websites. Farquharson Training and Consultancy is not responsible for the contents, nor does it warrant the accuracy or reliability of any linked website. Farquharson Training and Consultancy, to the extent permissible by law, excludes all liability which may arise from your use or reliance on the information or contents contained in the linked site.