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After founding the organisation and leading the development of Real Life Options for 18 years, David Wandless retired at the end of July 2009.

As Chairman and Chief Executive, David had been the driving force and the inspirational leader of Real Life Options. The little company that started off in his conservatory has grown into a national organisation, providing support for 600 people, with 1500 staff and a £30m turnover!

David has played an important part in delivering a step change in support services for people with learning disabilities. Firstly in turning the Care in the Community legislation into a meaningful reality for people accustomed to long-term institutional living; and later in taking the concept to the next stage - rights, independence, control and inclusion, which was embodied in Real Life Options Individualism and Citizenship initiative.

A long-term Board member of the Association for Real Change, member of both the European Association of Service providers for People with Disabilities and the European Coalition for Community Living, co-founder of the Kingsholm Group (provider benchmarking club) and more recently a member of the Learning Disability Coalition, David has been active in campaigning for the rights of people with learning disabilities.

The RLO Charitable Trust was founded by David in 1994, supported by Real Life Options and by staff contributions from salaries. In recent years the Trust has helped families in Northern Bulgaria to purchase and equip properties, to provide desperately needed supported living services for children and young adults with learning disabilities, who previously languished in large, soul-destroying, state institutions. David met Bulgarian government ministers, to inform and persuade them of the need to close down institutions and provide people with better quality services.

Back at the office, David established a culture of excellence, steering RLO through Investors In People, CHAS (Contractors Health & safety Assessment Scheme) and other more specialist accreditations. He established and has overseen the development, maintenance and implementation of the robust policies and procedures that ensure the quality of RLO services.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Real Life Options and wish the service users, families, staff, purchasers and other professional colleagues all the best for the future" says David.

We are grateful for his inspiration and for all of his hard work over the years, and wish him a long and happy retirement.