Making a Difference: Reflections on Founding Elmbridge Community Link

When I look back on the history of Elmbridge Community Link (ECL), I am reminded that to make a difference does not always mean to act on a grand scale. Often, it is the small and persistent contributions, the refusal to give up, and the willingness to respond to a community’s needs that truly endure.

This year, as ECL marks more than 30 years of service, I feel honoured that our work has been recognised through my nomination for a BBC Make a Difference Award. For me, the recognition is not personal; it belongs to the many people who have given their time, their skills, and their care to ensure that ECL could survive and flourish.

Terri Collins, second from the left, receives her Make a Difference Award on stage at

The Beginning of Our Journey

ECL began life as Elmbridge Advocacy Link (EAL), established in the early 1990s by the late David Brooke, the first Liberal Mayor of Elmbridge. He was moved to act because of his granddaughter’s learning disability, and he used the Mayor’s Fund to set up a charity that would provide advocacy for people with learning disabilities.

With my own background in Liberal politics, I was invited to assist. We were fortunate to have the expertise of David Bellchamber, a local solicitor, who guided us through the complex legalities of establishing a charity. Those early years demonstrated the good intentions of advocacy, yet they also revealed the deeper truth: what people valued most was not advocacy in the formal sense, but companionship and friendship.

We responded by creating a weekly drop-in centre at the Methodist Church on Terrace Road and launching a monthly music project. These initiatives gave people a place to belong, to share, and to grow. When initial funding diminished and many of the original directors stepped aside, those of us who remained faced a stark choice: close the charity or adapt. We chose to continue. In recognition of this shift, we changed our name to Elmbridge Community Link - a name that reflected our evolving mission to foster connection and inclusion.

Overcoming Early Challenges

Funding remained our most significant challenge. We survived through strong partnerships: the generosity of the Methodist community, support from The Rosebriars Trust for our music workshops, and grants from Walton Charity and other small funds. Above all, the unwavering commitment of volunteers, staff, and directors sustained us. Their energy was immeasurable, and their belief in our purpose gave us the resilience to continue.

The Power of Music and Community

Our music projects became a defining feature of ECL. A turning point came with our concert “What a Wonderful World,” which celebrated the talents of our members and brought them before the community as performers rather than simply recipients of support. This success led to the establishment of our annual Christmas Concerts, which until the Covid pandemic were a highlight of every year.

Moments like these captured the spirit of ECL. I recall Eddie, one of our early participants, whose perfect pitch and love for musical theatre inspired us all. Experiences such as his showed that, given the opportunity, every individual can flourish and enrich the lives of those around them.

Three Decades of Making a Difference

Perhaps the greatest achievement is that ECL continues today, more than 30 years after those tentative first steps. Over this time, I have seen countless examples of our members’ abilities, our volunteers’ generosity, and our staff’s dedication. Together, they have built something that is recognised and valued across Elmbridge.

While I am grateful for formal recognition, including the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, it is the quieter moments that have stayed with me most vividly. Sitting with young members in a sharing group during an indoor sports session, listening as they encouraged one another, celebrated their achievements, and set new goals. These are the moments that embody what it truly means to make a difference.

Recognising the Individual

At ECL, we have always sought to see the person, not the label. Our members are not defined by disability but by their individuality: their voices, their talents, their aspirations. Elmbridge has been supportive of this vision, but challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that people with learning disabilities and autism are recognised first and foremost for who they are, not simply their diagnosis.

How the Journey Shaped Me

My involvement with ECL changed the direction of my life. Inspired by my early advocacy role, I trained as a counsellor and later helped to establish The Counselling Partnership, offering affordable counselling in the community. I have learned that when we give, we also receive - not in material ways, but in the enrichment of our own lives.

From my youth in politics, I hoped to change the world. With time, I discovered that we cannot alter the world in its entirety, but we can make small but lasting differences to the communities in which we live.

Lessons Learned

The survival and growth of ECL have been rooted in resilience and faith. I have often said to myself: “Never give up. If it is right, it will work out.” For anyone seeking to establish a charity or community organisation, I would offer this advice:

• Build a strong community of supporters who share your aims.

• Ensure the legal and administrative foundations are sound.

• Develop a clear business plan.

• And recognise that perseverance, faith, and a measure of good fortune all play their part.

Although I may have been the one to sign the papers, ECL’s endurance is owed to the incredible long standing members of staff, volunteers and members who gave it life. It is they who have ensured that the charity continues to make a difference.

Looking Ahead

As I reflect on this journey in the light of winning the BBC Make a Difference Award I am grateful for the recognition it brings not to me personally, but to ECL and to The Counselling Partnership. My hope is that our story will inspire others to believe in the value of persistence, of community, and of seeing the person behind the label.

For those who wish to support us - whether through volunteering, donations, or by simply attending our events - your involvement ensures that we can continue to build on this legacy. Together, we can keep making Elmbridge a place where everyone has the opportunity to belong and to flourish.

Terri's interview was broadcast on BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Radio Sussex throughout the day on Thursday 18 September. You can take a listen on BBC Sounds from 2hrs 46 mins into the programme by clicking the button below.

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