Early Life
Liz was born in 1946 in Devon. Her parents divorced when she was just 18 months old, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother - both remarkable women.
As there was no school nearby in Croyde, Liz’s mother started a small school for primary-aged children, including Liz herself. The school operated from a house close to the beach, which quickly became the children’s playground.
The school was registered with the PNEU (Parents’ National Education Union), an organisation often used to home school children abroad. Many of the children who attended went on to become exceptional individuals and great characters - much like Liz. Liz later attended boarding school before studying French at the University of St Andrews and then her Social Work training at the University of Exeter.
A Life in Cornwall
Liz moved to Cornwall over 40 years ago, initially living in a caravan in Downderry, later moving to Truro and then Malpas. Cats, dogs, and Morris Minors were always part of her life. Liz spent her entire professional career working for Cornwall Council as a Social Worker. Despite being encouraged to take promotions, she chose to remain a frontline social worker, as she believed working directly with people and families was the most important part of her job.
Liz died aged 69, of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in her brain, in February 2016. She was only ill for about 4 months, leaving behind 2 dogs, very many friends, few family members and her civil partner Felicity Gibbins.. now an Active8 Trustee.
The Beginning of Active8
Before founding Active 8, Liz worked as the Social Worker supporting children with disabilities. She was based at the Assessment Unit at the old City Hospital in Truro, where she worked with families from across Cornwall. Liz travelled the length and breadth of the county visiting babies and young children with disabilities who attended the multidisciplinary services at the Assessment Unit.
The idea for Active 8 began when Liz visited a young man with Muscular Dystrophy. Like most children with physical disabilities in Cornwall, he attended a mainstream school and had limited opportunities to meet others facing similar challenges. He asked Liz if she could arrange for him to meet other young people like himself.
This simple request sparked an idea.
Liz soon realised that many young people in similar situations wanted opportunities to meet others, build friendships, and develop independence. However, traditional after-school clubs wouldn’t work - many of them were already too exhausted after a full day at school to think about going out in the evening too! Also they all lived in different parts of Cornwall.
Instead, Liz began developing the idea of regular weekend residentials, where the young people could meet together, start to become more independent, learn new skills and nurture aspirations for their lives outside of and after school all in a supportive environment. The idea of Active8 was forming...
The Early Years
Active 8 began at Churchtown Farm in Lanlivery, a centre already known for providing outdoor adventure experiences for people with disabilities. The site was fully accessible and equipped with hoists, specialist equipment, and a swimming pool. Monthly residential weekends were held there, allowing young people to take part in outdoor adventures, swimming, field studies, and a wide range of other activities.
The Director of Churchtown Farm at the time, David Owens, supported the programme by allocating one of his instructors to help with the weekends - Josey Spencer, who was also a Duke of Edinburgh Award instructor. Josey went on to work with Active 8 for many years. She also helped adapt the Duke of Edinburgh Award so that young people involved in Active 8 could take part in the programme.
Growing the Charity
When Churchtown Farm changed ownership and direction, it became clear that Active8 needed to become independent. Liz and Josey began running weekends at Cornwall outdoor activity centres, including Maker Heights (Rame), Delaware Outdoor Education Centre near Callington, and later the Roseland Centre. At the same time, Liz worked tirelessly to secure funding so the weekends could remain completely free for the young people attending.
She established Active8 as a registered charity, bringing together a group of trustees, volunteers, youth workers, and support staff who helped deliver the programme. Liz also worked closely with Cornwall Council to ensure that funding was available to pay for appropriate personal care for the young people who attended.
Liz’s Dedication
For more than twenty years, Liz attended almost every Active8 weekend as a volunteer. She threw herself into every part of the experience - helping with cooking, driving minibuses, organising activities, and supporting the young people as they tried new things including surfing, kite flying, archery, camping weekends, music festivals, woodwork and animation workshops, trips to Centre Parcs, the Paralympics and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
Liz also made sure the young people were involved in planning and shaping the weekends themselves. She was a natural problem-solver and a trusted friend to everyone involved. Many weekends followed the same pattern. Liz would finish a full week of social work on Friday afternoon, go shopping for supplies, and head straight to the activity centre to welcome the young people and their families. She would return home late on Sunday evening - exhausted but happy before starting work again on Monday morning.
When she eventually retired from social work, well into her sixties, it simply gave her more time to devote to Active8.
A Lasting Impact
Liz was a Quaker, and when she died in February 2016, the impact she had on people’s lives was clear to see. There was standing room only at her funeral at Penmount Crematorium. Many of the young people involved with Active8 attended and spoke during the service - something that is traditional in a Quaker funeral, where anyone may share a tribute. It was amazing how confidently they spoke and wanted to do so - all with the same theme...how Active8 and Liz had changed their lives for the better.
Continuing the Legacy
After Liz’s death, there were understandable questions about whether Active 8 could continue without the person who had held so much of it together. However, a group of dedicated people were determined that Liz’s vision would
continue.
Sarah Lynham, who had come up through Active8, became Chair of Trustees, a role Liz had encouraged her to take. Along with Josey Spencer (staff member), volunteers and trustees worked tirelessly together to ensure the charity survived and then continued to thrive.
Now, ten years after Liz's parting, Active8 continues to grow and support young people with physical disabilities across Cornwall.
Liz would be incredibly proud of what Active8 has become today.
Liz's story doesn't end here. Every act of support helps carry her vision forward. Help us continue Liz's legacy for generations to come by donating to Active8 today.
