Jo is proud to be the guest speaker at the Inaugural Nick Baxter Memorial Lecture for Cornerstone at the Robert Gordon University tonight, 20th May 2014
What follows is the Cornerstone press release
CORNERSTONE REMEMBERS SOCIAL CARE PIONEER NICK BAXTER
AT PUBLIC LECTURE
The first lecture in memory of Nick Baxter, the founder and former Chief Executive of Scottish social care charity Cornerstone, is to be held at Robert Gordon University this Tuesday, May 20.
The Nick Baxter Memorial Lecture, which is open to the public is being held in recognition of his ground-breaking work and entrepreneurial spirit.
Nick, who passed away in 2013 after a short illness, set up Cornerstone Community Care (as it was then known) in 1982 in Aberdeen, when he brought together a small group of people to campaign for services to be based in the community for people with a learning disability.
Hundreds of people are set to attend the inaugural lecture, which will be delivered by award-winning entrepreneur, business woman and author, Jo Haigh.
Jo is a partner with fds Corporate Finance and will speak to the audience about her life, highlighting the many hurdles she has overcome on the path to success, from childhood through to present day.
She has recently won the Sunday Times Non-Executive Director of the year, been named as a finalist in the CBI Woman of the Year Awards and has written five best-selling books with a sixth on the way.
The evening will close with a Q&A session hosted by Cornerstone Chief Executive, Edel Harris, followed by a drinks reception.
Now one of Scotland’s largest charities, Cornerstone is a leading provider of services for more than 2,000 adults, young people and children with learning and physical disabilities, mental health problems and other support needs – underpinned by its aim of enabling the people it supports to enjoy a valued life.
“As founder of Cornerstone Nick was always a strong advocate for people with learning disabilities and did so much to change attitudes and improve the lives of so many,” said Edel.
“Nick was an inspiration to so many and by holding these annual lectures we want to ensure Nick’s legacy and his commitment to ensuring that everyone in society had a chance to live a valued life won’t be forgotten.”
Jo added: “I am honoured and thrilled to be asked to speak at such a prestigious event. I hope that my story provides an insight into the possibilities available to anyone based on the fact that if I can achieve something, so can anyone.”
For more information on Cornerstone please visit www.cornerstone.org.uk
Ends
Issued on behalf of Cornerstone by The BIG Partnership. For more information please contact Rob Smith on 01224 253816 / rob.smith@bigpartnership.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
- Cornerstone provides care and support services for adults, young people and children across Scotland who live with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health problems and other support needs. Since 1980, it has grown to become a leading charity and now generates annual incomes in excess of £30 million and employs 1,700 staff. Supporting over 2,000 people each year, Cornerstone delivers services in 20 local authority areas throughout Scotland.