By investing time, resources and friendship in our partners, we have developed a strong foundation of people around the world who really care, which enables us to unite and empower local communities and watch them grow. Lives are transformed throughout the Network by real connections that cross cultural and language barriers.
We have an enormous wealth of resources in our partners, of which we are extremely proud. Our partners’ individuality and experience shapes the work they do, which impacts the network as a whole and provides a bank of knowledge and best practice that we frequently draw from.
The UK based team:
John Singleton – Founder and Chair of Lifeline Network International
LEADERSHIP – TRAINING – CONSULTING
Background
John Singleton is the founding father of LifeLine Church and over the last 37 years has established 3 additional UK charities; LifeLine Network International, LifeLine Projects and Community Resources. Through his work, John has pioneered new expressions of ‘community’ both in the UK and internationally through local church and social enterprise initiatives and NGO activity. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, LifeLine Church set aside a pool resources with the particular aim of helping other nations. Relationships with partners working overseas developed, and one relationship connected with another, growing into the Network that operates today.
Vision
John’s vision has always been to train and equip people to become active change agents in their communities. Enabling people to make a difference in systems that are unjust, raising them up into leaders and releasing them as champions for their communities, has been at the heart of all of John’s work.
Involvement with LNI
As the father figure of our network of international partners, John sets the direction for the network. The focus of the network has always been relationship over programme, and Lifeline are always looking to equip and release people, rather than to have control over their work. John has a genuine care for all members of the network which extends beyond any particular project to the individual at the heart, and seeks to help the people we work with to resolve challenges in their lives in order to reach their potential.
Current Work
As founder and chair of Lifeline Network, John sets the direction of the work we do and spends much of his time visiting our international partners. John has a passion for all network members and is able to offer advice, guidance and direction on strategy, leadership and projects. John supports our network members to influence oppressive or damaging systems and cultures that they live within, in order to bring about justice, look after the less fortunate, and genuinely engage with communities in a way that brings about positive change.
Jamie Singleton – International Director
STRATEGY AND PROGRAMMES – COMMUNICATION AND TEACHING – RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Background
Jamie received a degree from University of Essex in Business Management. Since then, he spent 3.5 years working for Lifeline Projects, in contract management and service delivery. Jamie has been working for LNI for 7 years. His role as International Director involves visiting, supporting and working with partners to develop social programmes catered to their communities that meet their specific needs and aim to help local people out of poverty. Outside of LNI, Jamie has worked as a youth worker for over 15 years. His experience allows him to mentor young people and other youth workers, and he provided training for youth work in the UK and other nations.
Vision
Jamie has a passion for seeing people realise their true value and being able to contribute to the advancement of their society. He envisions the vulnerable of society being restored and empowered to be leaders of hope and change, creating a new narrative where unjust systems aren’t merely criticised, but dedicated people rise up to challenge them and demonstrate an alternative.
Involvement within LNI
Jamie’s father founded Lifeline Church, and heads the overseas work which began in the 1970’s. Many network members used to stay in his house when he was growing up, so he had early exposure to the network and got to know and love the people involved.
Current Work
Jamie’s current role sees him managing relationships with Network members, supporting, teaching, empowering, encouraging, strategizing and caring for our partners, through visiting, running conferences, call and emails. He supports network members to access resources (knowledge, funding, personnel) from within or from outside the Network, needed for partners to pursue their vision. Jamie participates in LNI strategy and current direction of Network, also leading the UK team.