Margaret has a history of community work stretching back 40 years and this long standing interest became a full-time occupation in 1994 when, driven by strong values around advocating for undervalued or vulnerable people, she left her career as a solicitor in the private sector and joined a local Age UK organisation where in 1995 she became Chief Executive. Margaret's initial interest in tai chi started in 1997 and came from her work with older people where she saw first hand the many benefits, but there was a shortage of trainers. She attended a workshop run by Dr Paul Lam in Oxford in 2001 and offered to organise a workshop to bring the training North and particularly to get more people trained for offering classes to local older people. Margaret has been involved in organising many workshops around the country since and also has taught and supported other trainers locally.