We are a profit-for-purpose, employee-owned co-operative. Our permanent employees can choose to become shareholder members and co-owners of the business, and many do. This means the people who deliver and support our services have a real voice in how Leading Lives is run and share responsibility for the quality of care and support we provide.
Our elected Board includes employee members from different parts of the business, alongside two non-executive directors who bring independent experience and challenge. The Board oversees our governance, helps set our strategic direction, safeguards our values and makes sure we stay focused on quality, people and impact.
Our non-executive directors are Scott Darraugh, our first external Chair, and Sue Putters, who advises on finance and technology.
This structure gives employees a meaningful voice while also bringing in independent oversight. It helps us balance our co-operative values with strong governance, sound decision-making and accountability.
Our employee Board members for 2025–26 are Charlene McKechnie, Phil Montanjees, Nicky Lawrence, Sarah Williams, Lucy Humphrey and Paul Attrill.
Our officer roles are: Chair – Scott Darraugh; Vice Chair – Sue Putters; Secretary – Lucy Humphrey; Treasurer – Sue Putters
Our Membership Bodies
We are proud to be part of the co-operative and social enterprise movements and, as such, we are members of the organisations shown below.
Learn more about them by clicking the pictures.
Other Affiliations
We are proud to be a provider of Social Care Services to Suffolk County Council. Our association with the council goes back to before we became Leading Lives as we were originally a part of the council’s offering. We are also a Trusted Provider Organisation for Suffolk County Council, drawing on our knowledge, experience and extensive community networks to conduct Care Act reviews and assessments, and develop more creative approaches to care and support plans.
Our AGM
On the 25th September 2025 we held our AGM in Bury St Edmunds alongside our Making the Leading Lives Difference Awards.
As with previous years the Board was really pleased that the AGM was supported by a significant number of colleagues. We celebrated our successes from the last year and looked towards the year ahead.
To see more about our Awards, click here.
Public Service Mutual 2019
We were delighted to win the 2019 Public Service Mutual of the Year Award in the Employee Owned Association Awards. This national award celebrates a business that has spun out from the public sector to become employee-led and is driving great impacts within the business and the communities it serves.
Gender Pay Gap Report
Please click below to see our latest Gender Pay Gap Report.
Modern Slavery Statement
Leading Lives is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all areas of our organisation and supply chain, promoting ethical working practices, safeguarding, and respect for human rights throughout everything we do.
Please click here to see our latest Modern Slavery Statement
