Meet Lisa
Lisa has lived in Harborne, Birmingham for 23 years. She has been involved with the council for many years as a public participant, helping shape how services for adults are designed and delivered.
Lisa has Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. She employs a team of personal assistants (PAs) to help with her daily needs and has been actively involved in co-producing services with council officers through the People for Public Services Citizen group.
Despite her challenges, Lisa is determined to live life on her own terms. She recruits and manages her own personal assistants (PAs), emphasising the importance of having fun. Lisa has been employing PAs since 1992 and is skilled at organising and managing her direct payments, although she finds the process with the council frustrating at times.
Managing direct payments comes with its challenges
Lisa said:
"I’ve been employing personal assistants (PAs) since 1992 so am quite used to organising and juggling my direct payments money– the frustrating bit about the Council is having to fight for funding updates because people’s needs change. I try to plan not just for this month but for the next six to twelve months.
It’s all the rules and regulations you have to go through, just get an award, then its implementing it as things change. This is one of my bug bears and I may be wrong, but the decision makers at the council just don’t understand what it’s like to have to rely on that money and the PA workers, and the length of time it takes to sort something out – and then you get social workers who leave or not understanding how life works".
How Lisa got involved with shaping council services
Lisa has been deeply involved in public participation through her work with the People for Public Services Citizen group. Her journey began when she faced challenges organising her direct payments and lokked for ways to improve the service for everyone. This led her to collaborate with council officers to co-produce services, ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard and their needs are met.
Lisa’s first-hand experience with disability and direct payments has provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals relying on these services and 
has helped shape how these services are delivered to citizens.
Lisa's dedication to public participation has made a significant impact, helping to create more inclusive and responsive services in Birmingham.
This picture shows Lisa in her latest role on a citizen panel interviewing for the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.
Lisa's true passion is dancing
Lisa's passion is dancing, and she is a dedicated member of the dance group Freewheelin, which performs across the country.
Dancing has brought Lisa immense joy and a sense of accomplishment. She discovered her love for dance 7 years ago and has participated in numerous competitions and performances across the country, won countless medals, and performed at the closing ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics alongside the Sugarbabes and Craig David.
Lisa said:
"I found my passion for dancing when I saw a poster advertising a taster session, I thought I’m going to go there and see what it’s like and go from there. So, I gave it a week, I’m thinking, give it a couple of sessions and that was 7 years ago! I really liked the way Helen the dance tutor interacted with the group and how the teaching is different.
The group’s called Freewheelin and we do four competitions and performances across the country each year. Freewheelin is a dance group, but it’s also a support group and is really inclusive. Friday nights when everyone is normally just winding down, we start dancing!
It gives you that get up and go, you’ve got to get ready and get there, it gives you a purpose, it’s for your mental health and your fitness too, the whole concept of wellbeing".
Page last updated: 12 March 2025
