Lynda Bowen
Board Member of Longhurst Group Board since 2003
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies; Certificate of Qualification in
Social Work; Diploma in Management Studies;
MBA (Health and Social Care) Leeds University 2003.
Current Public Appointments
Trustee/ Non-executive Director Locksley Christian School,
Louth
Town Councillor, Market Rasen Town Council
Having grown up in Lincolnshire, and having
lived and worked in Devon for many years, Lynda returned to this
area with her husband and 3 young children 15 years ago. She now
lives with her family on a smallholding in the Wolds with sheep,
ducks, chickens, geese, dogs, and two llamas.
Currently a Director of her own
consultancy company, Lynda undertakes interim work in Housing &
Social Care. She is also a Yorkshire and Humber Local
Representative for the National Landlords Association.
Previously a Chief Officer in Adult Social
Care at Leeds City Council; and a senior Adult Social Care manager
at Hull, North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire councils, Lynda has
also workedin the voluntary sector as National Contracts Manager
for Guide Dogs, including working with central government
where she has co-authored, presented and published policy
documents and programmes relating to sensory disability.
Lynda moved to the Board of Havelok Homes in
2002 from Wolds Housing because of Havelok’s unique continuum
of social housing and care services. A registered social
worker, Lynda is passionate about care, support and housing for
older people and takes a special interest on the Longhurst
Group Board in Care and Support.
Lynda would like to see, at a national level,
better acceptance, and greater value being attributed to the
pivotal role that housing providers undertake in bringing
prosperity, and potential community enhancement and regeneration
to a local area. She would also like to see more collaboration
and less competition between the private rented sector and social
housing.
Lynda believes one of the current
challenges for housing providers will be staying focused and
positive whilst established funding streams, central government
policy, and established ways of working within communities and
partner organisations are all changing. Lynda’s concern is that
housing providers need to engage enthusiastically and sufficiently
in the emerging Big Society opportunities whilst remaining
alert and balanced in judging appropriate ventures and
partnerships.
When not working, Lynda loves to travel. Lynda's favourite holiday
destination is a cottage she and her family are renovating in
southern Ireland. A 400-year-old Irish longhouse which housed
cattle until recently, it doesn’t yet have water, plumbing or
electricity, although it does have a rather smart newly tiled roof
complete with some newly installed solar panels and some
traditional sash windows!
When it comes to music, Lynda enjoys
listening to folk and Celtic music (especially the Churchfitters)
but her main interest is choral singing and world
music. Other hobbies included skiing and
reading.