All UF members and staff posing outside our office in a group shot

ABOUT US

LEADING THE WAY TO INDEPENDENCE

Uniting Friends is a social inclusion project for adults with a learning disability.

Our services cover Redbridge, Newham, Havering, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham and Essex.

We are a user-led service, which ensures that adults with a learning disability take a leading role in defining and running their own provision.

OUR SERVICES

Our Mission

Our mission is to enable people with a learning disability to live full and equal lives with independence, freedom and pride.

Our vision

is for a world which recognises values and celebrates the lives and equal participation of people with a learning disability in society.

Our purpose

is to provide opportunities for people to take part in social and educational activities in order to express their unique identities and develop their skills to reach their full potential in the wider community.

Our work

is about taking part, learning and developing skills. We do this through a wide range of activities that engage and support our members. But most importantly, everything we do is built around having fun.

Our values

Kindness - Caring about each other.

Innovation - Creating and trying new things.

Quality - Aiming for high standards.

Fun - Making sure we enjoy everything we do.

Integrity - Sticking to what we believe in.

ANNUAL REVIEWS

Download our beautiful annual reviews, including accounts

Members' Stories

Hear from some of our members and their families about the profound improvements that our service has brought to their lives

HISTORY

Uniting Friends has come a long way since its inception in 1996

Our Places

We have a variety of locations that we run our projects and services from.

Our HQ

Our HQ contains our offices.

The Hive

Our community hub next door to our HQ - training cafe, independent living training flat and state of the art I.T. suite!

UF Creative Hub

The UF Creative Hub is our arts venue used by our daytime service, Out There! Daytime.

Our Allotment

We love our allotment! We grow all kinds of vegetables, herbs and plants which we then make products from or cook in our training cafe!

In the Community

We run many of our activities in Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham, Central London and further afield. We are the community and we ensure you are part of it!

Our People

Chief Executive Officer

Russell Lerner

Russell launched Uniting Friends in 1996 whilst working for Barnardos. In 2001, UF became an independent charity. He has overseen growth from just 3 members of staff to over 32 today.

Head of Service

Jo Shone

Hi, I’m Jo and have been working at Uniting Friends since September 2022. Prior to this I worked for 30 years at Norwood in various positions. The majority of my career there was providing and managing clubs and holiday play schemes for both children and young people with disabilities. This then led me into adult services at Norwood and managing some of their supported living homes.

HR and Finance Manager

Ana Moreira

I joined UF in 2018 as Finance Manager and was later promoted to Director of Admin, Finance and HR. I currently work as the HR and Finance Manager, ensuring operations run smoothly and effectively. I genuinely love being part of UF. Working for the charity is incredibly rewarding because, even working behind the scenes, I know that my work contributes indirectly to supporting vulnerable people and making a positive difference in their lives. The people we support hold a very special place in my heart, and being able to contribute to a cause I truly believe in makes my work so meaningful.

Client Support Officer

Clare Haywood

I have been working in Social Care since 1995 and began my journey working for Redbridge Local Authority as a Senior Activity/Support Worker. I also worked for Crossroads Care Redbridge and in 2015 found my ideal job at Uniting Friends. My current role as Client Support Officer is one that I enjoy as it brings me in direct contact with members and their families. I’m all out to enrich lives and if I can do that, it makes me very happy.

My personal life involves a passion for Gran Canaria, Ibiza and felines, and very often bring back to my Redbridge home a stray needing some love.

Service Manager

Elamin Elyas

I’ve worked at Uniting Friends since 2018 and came to the organisation with a background in adult social care, leadership, youth work and community development. I hold a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care. Outside work, I enjoy volunteering in the community, travelling, and connecting with people from different cultures.

Assistant Service Manager

Jana Koflanovicova

Sprout There! Coordinator

Deborah Williams

Transport Manager

Asim Butt

Cafe Manager

Joanne Banfield

High Support Team Leader

Keith Hiscock

Office Manager

Neil Gandhi

Trustee: Chairman

Allan Brett

Allan was vice chairman since UF's formation and in 2023 became Chairman. He works as an Insurance Broker since 1967 and was also one of Her Majesty's Justice of the Peace from 1992 until retirement in 2016. As a Trustee, Allan is responsible for oversight and to support the CEO of UF in their endeavours to promote and maintain the Daytime and Evening Services on behalf of the Service Users of UF.