Community Living’s launch in 1987 followed the first closure of a long-stay institution for people with a learning disability, Starcross Hospital in Devon.
History of Community Living
This new era of “community care” services almost 40 years ago was the backdrop to magazine founder Elinor Harbridge’s aim to champion the rights of people with learning disabilities.
It was a groundbreaking concept. Harbridge, a social affairs journalist, appointed social worker, academic and advocate David Brandon as editor.
Since then, more long-stay hospitals have been closed down. But institutional approaches remain, and full citizenship for people with learning disabilities is still not a reality.
Editorial development
Our past editors have upheld our drive for equality: David Brandon, Elinor Harbridge, Andrew Holman and Simon Jarrett, the latter developing our digital presence.
Saba Salman took over in late 2022, our fifth editor since launch, with a remit to develop the title. Changes include new contributors – national newspaper journalists, leading experts and writers with lived experience – and a major redesign with production editor Christy Lawrance. Salman recruited digital producer Steph Gray for a website relaunch and to progress our online strategy. The addition of editorial administrator Christine Mottley in 2022 further boosted development plans.
New contributors
Writers include columnists Professor Chris Hatton, campaigner Shalim Ali and parent advocate Ian Goldsworthy. Author and ex-Guardian journalist Mary O’Hara joined as a freelance columnist in 2023, winning a prestigious journalism award for her Community Living articles. Open justice expert George Julian became our court reporter in 2024.
Publishing progress
Charity Elfrida Society was our publisher in the early 2000s before independent publisher and campaigner Rose Trustam took on the role. Today, we’re published by a charitable board, CL Initiatives, boosted in 2025 with three new trustees. In 2025, Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), became chair of the trustee board. We’re also supported by an editorial advisory board
We’ve been fully digital since January 2024; individual articles are free for anyone to read on our website, and we have a free newsletter too. The latest digital magazine is accessible only to subscribers and sponsors. We’re funded by our sponsors, individual supporters and subscribers.
The founding principles of inclusion and equality remain at the core of our editorial ethos.
