I’m very pleased to be joining the Friendly Communities team at LOPF. I’ll be working part-time with Elizabeth and Sarah on the Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly initiatives running across Leeds. My role will involve raising awareness about what and how – people, communities and organisations – can be age and dementia friendly. I’m really looking forward to working with older adults and making Leeds a friendlier place for them.

My previous work has included working for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and Action for Blind People (since merged with RNIB). More recently I was at Age UK Leeds, where I started as a Community Development worker on a Time to Shine Digital Inclusion project, then became the Ageing Well Manager, overseeing a team delivering projects and support to improve the quality of life of older adults. 

I am from Halifax, West Yorkshire and have a family of six including four wonderful children aged from 2 to 14, so home life is as busy as can be, with a house move on the horizon! In my spare time I enjoy trail and road running – with my husband and my club, Halifax Harriers. I love being outdoors and spending time on walks with my family and black cocker spaniel pup, Monty. I also really enjoy anything arty and creative. 

Please get in touch if you’d like a chat about our Friendly Communities work.

Rachel Standish
Friendly Communities Officer
rachels@opforum.org.uk