National Foundation for Giving Voice

Biographies: Jill Rakusen

Jill is a professional health educator whose work is respected throughout Britain as well as abroad. Her acclaimed publications include the UK edition of the classic Our Bodies Ourselves, of which she is co-author. She has been promoting health in its widest sense for over two decades - in the NHS and the Voluntary Sector. In her time she has run sex education classes at a boy's borstal, taught music appreciation to agricultural students (after which she felt she could do anything!), has been a speaker at numerous national conferences, run events for a wide range of local and national organisations.

Described as an enabler extraordinare, with a great voice and an even greater spirit, her work reflects her long-standing interest in the nature of holism. Having originally trained as a musician, Jill has spent the last 16 years fusing her inspirational talents and expertise around music and health, aided by her own experience of illness. Through this, Giving Voice was born. She lives in awe and gratefulness for what it teaches her - and others.

Giving Voice is informed by her rigorous training and supervision in Unitive Awareness with Pamela Corin. Jill herself offers supervision and training for professionals of all kinds truly wishing to promote whole health. Increasingly, she is developing her capacities as a Griot, and she is now training others (the first being Rachel Healey) in facilitating GV. Two of Jill's songs are currently being distributed world-wide as peace-promoting tools.

Books by Jill

OUR BODIES OURSELVES:
"Every woman in the country should be given a copy free of charge' (Mother & Baby magazine);
'If there's only one book you ever buy, this should be it' (Nineteen).
Frequently referred to as 'The Bible' on women's health, (including by the Health Education Journal), and that 'It changed my life'.

MENOPAUSE: A GUIDE FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES:
'Unrivalled as a health promotion publication (District Medical Officer, North Manchester Health Authority;
'An invaluable publication' (publishing editor, MIND);
'excellent' (British Medical Journal)
'No woman should leave home without one!' (Health Visitor).
Currently sold out; new edition planned.

Reg Charity number 1140266