"My life has shown me that past or current circumstances do not have to dictate your future opportunities, destinations, and happiness; it has been my life’s work to spread this aspirational message to those who believe otherwise.

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Summary

Barry Ingleton: A Commitment to Community, Education, and Mental Health

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Barry Ingleton is a lifelong advocate for community-driven change, education reform, and mental health awareness, believing that true progress comes from empowering individuals with the right support, opportunities, and environment to thrive. His work has been shaped by a deep understanding of social inequality, resilience, and the need for practical solutions over political rhetoric.

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A firm believer in the power of community, Barry has dedicated his life to creating opportunities for others, particularly those who have been overlooked or underserved by traditional systems. As the founder and CEO of Synolos CIC, he has worked tirelessly to support some of the most disadvantaged young people in West Oxfordshire, helping them develop skills, confidence, and the ability to build a brighter future. Through Synolos, Barry has created an alternative learning environment where young people struggling in mainstream education can gain qualifications, work experience, and emotional support, equipping them with the tools they need to transition successfully into employment, further education, or self-sufficiency.

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His approach is rooted in compassion and pragmatism. Having experienced firsthand the barriers that financial hardship and social instability can create, Barry has dedicated his career to breaking down these barriers for others. His educationalist mindset has driven him to advocate for a more inclusive and practical education system, ensuring that vocational training is valued equally alongside academic pathways. He firmly believes that education should be adaptable, accessible, and focused on real-world outcomes.

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Beyond education, Barry has been a vocal mental health advocate, ensuring that emotional well-being is prioritised alongside academic and vocational achievement. In 2018, his viral Facebook post on mental health awareness received over 800 direct messages from individuals struggling in silence, sparking a powerful conversation about breaking the stigma of mental illness. He has since used radio, public speaking, and grassroots initiatives to push for greater awareness and community-led mental health solutions.

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Barry is also deeply committed to his children, creativity, and personal growth. His two children mean the world to him, teaching him something new every day. A lover of all things handcrafted and artistic, a wannabe chef, and a loyal Liverpool FC fan since 1989, he embraces both tradition and innovation in all areas of his life.

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His belief in stronger communities, better education, and a more supportive mental health system has driven him to challenge outdated systems and ineffective policies, always striving for real, impactful change that puts people first. Whether through education, advocacy, or politics, Barry remains committed to building a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

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Standing in the 2024 General Election

In 2024, Barry stood as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Witney and the surrounding towns and villages, challenging the traditional party system and advocating for a pragmatic, people-first approach to politics.

His campaign was built on:
✅ Breaking free from party control – ensuring that local issues, not party loyalty, dictated political decisions.
✅ Fighting for NHS and mental health reform – increasing funding, GP access, and long-term mental health support.
✅ Education reform – pushing for a balanced vocational and academic curriculum, stronger SEN support, and an overhaul of Ofsted.
✅ Tackling the cost-of-living crisis – backing small businesses, promoting local economic growth, and ensuring fairer business rates.
✅ Fixing local infrastructure – advocating for better transport, affordable housing, and responsible development.

Barry’s campaign message was simple: Real change, not old, tired change. While the challenge of running as an independent against major party machines was immense, his commitment to listening, engaging, and standing up for West Oxfordshire remains as strong as ever.

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Early Life

Born in 1980 in Margate, Kent, Barry’s early life was shaped by frequent moves, financial hardship, and resilience. In the mid-1980s, his family relocated to Christchurch, Dorset, where he enjoyed the beauty of the south coast. However, tough times meant he spent much of his childhood in temporary accommodation, bedsits without basic facilities, and a constant search for stability.

Despite these challenges, Barry was raised by parents who instilled in him a strong work ethic, resilience, and the importance of fairness and community spirit. Moving schools more than a dozen times before settling in Petersfield, Hampshire, in 1990, these early experiences shaped his understanding of social inequality, financial responsibility, and the power of opportunity.

At 18, Barry left home to study furniture design at Rycotewood College in Thame, Oxfordshire. Though his early career began in bespoke furniture making and design, it was Oxfordshire that would become his lifelong home.

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A Move to West Oxfordshire

In 2002, Barry got married and moved to Witney from Didcot in 2003, later settling in Carterton in 2019. After a childhood filled with housing instability, West Oxfordshire became the place where he put down roots, raised his children, and built his life’s work—an alternative educational pathway for disadvantaged young people.

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A Career Dedicated to Education and Social Impact

Barry transitioned from furniture making into education and youth work in his early 20s. Over the past two decades, he has worked tirelessly to support some of the most disadvantaged young people in Oxfordshire. Since 2012, he has dedicated his career to building Synolos, an organisation designed to help young people gain skills, confidence, and employment opportunities.

His passion lies in creating meaningful opportunities for those overlooked by traditional systems—ensuring that education and mental health support are accessible to all, not just those who fit the mold.

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2018: A Bold Advocate for Mental Health

Barry has been open about his own mental health struggles, using his experiences to encourage honest conversations. In 2018, he made a viral Facebook post about mental health awareness, which led to:

• Over 800 direct messages from people worldwide sharing their struggles.

• A wave of conversations about breaking down the stigma of mental illness.

• Multiple interviews on BBC Oxford Radio, advocating for mental health awareness and support.

His commitment to mental health advocacy remains one of his most personal and impactful missions.

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2019: A Vision for Long-Term Mental Health Support

In response to the overwhelming mental health struggles in the community, Barry developed a community-based support model through Synolos. The initiative was scheduled to launch in October 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed. Now, the project is set to fully launch by September 2024, establishing a preventative and long-term mental health support centre for people of all ages in West Oxfordshire.

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Barry’s Political Home: A Commitment to Pragmatism Over Ideology

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Barry’s political background has always been hard to define. Raised in a Labour-leaning, anti-Conservative household, his early years were shaped by the hardships of the 1980s and 1990s. However, rather than embracing party loyalty, Barry has always been a pragmatic, evidence-driven voter, believing in:
✅ Policies that work for the people, not just party agendas.
✅ A balance of capitalism and socialism—recognising their strengths but rejecting their rigid ideologies.
✅ Compassionate, community-first politics that empower individuals to thrive.

Barry firmly believes that modern politics needs a fresh, centre-ground approach—one that moves beyond the 100-year Conservative vs. Labour cycle and focuses on real solutions for real people.

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