What a loss to the community and her family! The wonderful Lynn Bailey, who has died after a short illness, has left a lasting legacy to the people of Beeston and in particular the learning disabled community for which she fought for justice for so many years.
One legacy is Beeston Village Community Centre which now hosts 18 groups and enables over 500 people each week to receive practical help and support. Lynn and her charity BAFF, now Better Action for Families but originally Beeston Action for Families) was a key driver to save the original building, an old library which was earmarked for demolition.
Along with Beeston Community Forum, we at Health for All, supported by local councillors, secured a lease and the funding to transform the space into a much loved, well used community centre. When the original building neared the end of its useful life, we worked together to secure over a million pounds in grants for the new build, two storey facility, opened in 2019. The BAFF charity is based in the Centre, running life and health enhancing groups for learning disabled adults, families and their carers – yet another legacy.
Lynn reminded me last time I visited her that our friendship had spanned 26 years, from when she first joined Health for All as a Trainee and volunteer. She then secured a post with the HFA Bridge Learning disabilities service when in 2015, the Council transferred day services from large, council run Training Centres into smaller, welcoming, accessible spaces within local communities. It was Lynn who first alerted me to the opportunity for HFA to host a day service in south Leeds, leading to our current facilities in Holbeck Community centre and subsequently Watsonia Café In Cross Flatts Park. Further examples of her legacy.
Lynn then went on to found her own charity, BAFF, with first a small grant then more substantial funding to support parents and carers of learning disabled adults, using her own lived experience of caring for her daughter Leanne, much loved sister of Philippa and Stephan.
Lynn and her team of volunteers have improved the lives and wellbeing of many people both in Beeston and across the city. She was a strong advocate for learning disabled people to be respected and have their many skills and talents recognised. She was a key voice in the Carers Reference Group, again advocating for increased support and resources for her beneficiaries, organising training and wellbeing residentials for carers and running regular support and wellbeing groups for learning disabled children, adults, families.
She was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of so many of us, inspiring, educating and ensuring we joined her on her campaign for justice for people most in need – a journey we will most definitely continue in her memory.
Lynn’s funeral will be held at Cottingley Crematorium on Thursday 4 December at 10:45am with a celebration of her life afterwards at Beeston Village Community Centre.
This post was written by Pat McGeever
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Thank you Pat for a wonderful article. She will be sadly missed but cherished in our hearts for a lifetime.
Bless you, thank you for wonderful words and highlighting how incredible Lynn was to many.
Lynn was an absolute diamond. She inspired so many of us through her work. She will be missed by so many people. Goodnight Godbless Lynn xxxxx
A wonderful tribute Pat to a lady who was indeed remarkable. It’s very many years since I worked in South Leeds, but I still remember Lynn’s vibrancy and energy.
Lovely tribute Pat! Thank you Xx
Lynn Bailey was a beautiful kind soul who advocated for the most marginalised. Lynn worked tirelessly to make a difference for others!
I had the great pleasure of knowing her and working with her. I have so many fond memories of Lynn and she leaves a wonderful legacy. . ❤️
I volunteer for this amazing charity as their secretary. I met Lynn 16 years when she showed me how to set up a group and run it in the local community. Lynn always listened to you, encouraged you to try new things, you would never would I have tried, eg. Being a Good Lives Leader for Leeds City Council. Lynn would be the first to message you when you was ill and she became a true friend. I still cant believe she in not here anymore, we are all losted for words.
You have been always been a fighter when you believed in something, you fought wright to the end. Leeds/West Yorkshire and the learning disability world have lost a true warrior. RIP my friend love Jackie Hartley