The Survivor & Author - 1968
Born in 1968 David is a brain injury and abuse survivor (sexual, physical and mental abuse). David’s motto ‘To triumph over adversity is my greatest strength’ is reflective of his resilience. David has kept diaries all throughout his life, the intricate and invaluable diaries detailing his experiences surviving; epilepsy, abuse in all forms, a brain injury and being an Independent Politician. Abusers were aware of David’s diaries and frequently searched for them in an attempt to locate and destroy the intricate works and catalogued evidence. David always tried to stay one-step ahead of the abusers by continually changing his hiding places and by producing back-up copies of everything. From a young boy, David was threatened to keep quiet about the abuse, David focussed on trying to protect his mother and sisters from the abusers and focussed on being a better person than his abusers were. David, the Survivor could so easily have taken an alternative path as many others have done, instead he committed his life to focus on supporting others through difficult times. The physical abuse David endured caused his first brain injury which caused epilepsy. Educated in mainstream schools, David left school at the age of sixteen; determined to improve his circumstances, determined to overcome the power and control the abusers had over him and to continue to support others David returned to higher educational establishments and studied Information Technology and Law. David, In later years, David, further continued upon his vocational educational path by securing a grade of Distinction in Inspecting Housing Services and further progressed to a higher level, by studying for Managing Housing Services, with the Chartered Institute of Housing, becoming a Housing Practitioner.
Award Winning Book - 2006 -
David’s writing career began in 2006 with
the award-winning book - True Warrior. With the desire to inspire and encourage other
survivors to excel in their endeavours, David wanted to share his story and he
wrote his maiden title entitled True Warrior. True Warrior, focused on
surviving epilepsy, corrective brain surgery, memory loss and abuse. Within the
book he significantly understated the extent and severity of the abuse, because,
at the time of the publication, some of the abusers were still involved with
David’s life, therefore, David, remained at high risk of harm should he speak
out. David went on to complete a follow-up book (2010) with further books being
works in progress (2020). Now the main threat of the abusers has
diminished, but not completely disappeared, David reveals all about the true
extent of the abuse endured and the difficulties, including, the perpetrators.
The forthcoming books are due for publication in 2020.
The Independent Politician – 2010
With the increasing desire to support many more people and to raise
awareness of the difficulties people face on a much wider scale, David’s Independent Political Career began in 2010. David was frustrated
with mainstream politicians from all political parties, with them not
understanding the most vulnerable members of society and their needs. David, not
one for sitting about doing nothing about it, set out on a mission to become
elected and to ensure underrepresented groups are proportionately represented
at every level of government and for reasonable adjustments to be made in
accordance with legislation. In 2011 David secured his first victory when he was
co-opted onto Glenfield Parish Council by his peers. Four years later at the
Local Elections of 2015 David was elected to Glenfield Parish Council and to
Braunstone Town Council in addition to nominated and appointed the candidate at
Croft Hill (Blaby District Council); coming second to the blue candidate. In
the Local Elections of May 2019 David was nominated and appointed the Independent
Candidate for Winstanley Ward, Braunstone Town (Blaby District Council) defeating
the Braunstone Town Mayor in the election and was elected to Leicester Forest
East Parish Council and Braunstone Town Council respectively. To this day David
continues to campaign to ensure that all councillors, regardless of political party
membership, are given equal opportunities to make contributions and to
represent their communities. Disappointingly the attitudes of some councillors in
respect of equal opportunities is more challenging to overcome compared with
other councils due to their lack of willingness to work with people with
different viewpoints, different political persuasions, and different
backgrounds.
The Community Campaigner &
Equality Rights Activist – 2014 to Present
In 2014
David identified the greater need to support the community at local, regional,
and national level on important subjects including Housing, Disability Rights,
Equal Opportunities, and Diversity. With his own personal funds, David
established a Campaign Group, Radford United (Community Action Group). The Campaign group worked predominantly with
senior citizens and hard-to-reach groups from a cross section of the community
throughout Braunstone Town, Leicester Forest East, and across the District Of
Blaby. Early successes included;
securing positive changes to a housing development, a refund of service charges
for residents of a Sheltered Housing Scheme, Improving Services for the
Community and working with a number of agencies and Community Stakeholders
including Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, Leicestershire
Scouts, Age UK and many more on initiatives including crime prevention, health,
safety, physical and mental wellbeing, community development, running
charitable events, social inclusion and community cohesion. In addition, Radford United established a
Community Newsletter and Community Darts and Ten Pin Bowling Teams with the
emphasis on Community Cohesion, Tackling Social Isolation and the promotion of
Diversity, Equality and Freedom of Expression. Understanding the need to
support the local community in the times of continuing financial cuts to local
services and using the vast experiences gained from his varied roles.
2017 – Outstanding Achievement Awards In
2017, with the support of his Social Worker and Support Team David progressed
and established Radford United (LE3) Ltd, a Private Limited Company. From his
unique perspective David fully understands the impact of financial cuts to
vital services such as Social Care, Housing, GP and Health Services, Community
Transport and Supporting Vulnerable Adults. At the time of the Radford United
Community Action Group Restructure, Radford United Community Action Group had
been twice nominated for the Blaby District Council Prestigious Annual Community
Awards in the category of Outstanding Achievement for a Community Group. The
nominations were a recognition of the contributions to the community of David
and his team.
2019 - I am a Survivor & Proud In
2017 David sought professional help with First Step (Leicester). First Step is
a counselling service for male survivors of abuse. David attended the counselling
sessions in a bid to overcome the lifetime of abuse and to better understand the
impact of the abuse on his life. Unprompted, David travelled alone and
revisited scenes of crime in the UK and Italy to try and come to terms with the
past. David concluded counselling on 1/7/19 and now primarily focusses on inspiring
other people to improve their personal and professional circumstances, and to
further develop his potential.
2019 Di Palma (UK) Ltd (Independent Consultancy Services) Established.
2019 to present. Radford United (LE3) Ltd & Di Palma (UK) Ltd, with David and
his Personal Support Team at the forefront, work with a diverse range of
housing and service providers, community stakeholders, individuals,
organisations, community groups and service users. Collectively they work with
individuals and organisations in encouraging and supporting survivors and
service providers to improve their personal and professional circumstances and
the services they offer. They achieve these goals through different channels
including and not restricted to –
Awareness Raising – Raising awareness of hidden disabilities and
mental health problems and how they can
be better understood through appropriate support, constructive dialogue and
equal opportunities.
Through Education - Educating; service providers, community
stakeholders and service users, improving relations between representatives of
different political persuasions, working with hard-to-reach groups, in addition
to sharing personal and professional experiences through open dialogue. In 2020
David’s goals as an elected representative and community campaigner are to
support and develop the community at local, regional, and national level. To
campaign for better opportunities for disabled people and to actively encourage service providers,
community stakeholders , service users and individuals to better understand and
improve their professional and personal circumstances, by embracing different
techniques including S.W.O.T. Analysis, Reflective Practice and Personal
Empowerment Processes.
Our combined professional services
include and are not restricted to the following-
•
Advisory and Advocacy
•
Complaints Management and
Conflict Resolution
•
SWOT Analysis
•
Engagement through open
dialogue and presentations.
·
Report Writing, Production &
Distribution Services. Including and not restricted to; Diversity,
Equality, Inclusivity &
Disability Awareness.
•
Campaign Management and
Promotions.
•
Strategic; Reviews, Planning
& Implementation
•
Production and Distribution of Electronic
and Paper Based Reading Products (inc. Books, Newsletters and much more)
•
Promotional Services
