After working for a number of years as a paid employee, Diane decided to set up her own business as a law costs draftsman specialising in the preparation and management of legal costs, which she ran for almost 20 years. Her main job was to work with lawyers and clients to calculate and draft detailed bills for legal services rendered, negotiating the costs between parties, and preparing documents for court where there was a need to assess the fairness of legal costs.

Diane later moved into the health and social care sector, beginning from the ground up as an administrator for Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This primarily focussed on the development of Community Integrated Teams. At the end of a fixed term, Diane joined Warrington Borough Council as a Programme Officer to continue this work and support the development of Community Led Support across the Borough.

One of Diane’s favourite projects was the introduction of Talking Points, which are drop in sessions based in community venues across the town offering information, support and advice to the town’s residents on any matters which they might be concerned about or need help with. For example, loneliness and isolation, food and fuel poverty, debt and supporting with online services.

The role evolved over time to include working on multiple projects across adult social care, preparation for adulthood, carers, and with the learning disability and autism partnerships. A large focus of these projects included engaging with the community to obtain their views and feedback about what improvements were needed to enable them to live independently and well.

As a Community Catalyst for Warrington, Diane most looks forward to engaging with people, listening to their stories and working together with a ‘doing with’ attitude (rather than ‘doing to).

In her spare time, Diane enjoy walking, trips to the theatre and spending time with her family and closest friends.