In 1990, our friend and colleague Carl Poll, who has died aged 63 after complications following a lung transplant, formed the organisation KeyRing, which creates supported living networks comprising 10 homes. People who need support live in nine of the homes, while a volunteer supporter lives in the 10th. KeyRing demonstrated that people with learning disabilities could live independently and support each other. The organisation bore the hallmarks of all of Carl's work – combining inventiveness with empowerment of disadvantaged people. KeyRing continues to thrive and its approach has been adopted internationally.
Born in Leicester, Carl spent his early years living above a fish and chip shop run by his parents, Tony and Joan. He was educated at Wyggeston grammar school and took bachelor's and master's degrees in German from Newcastle University (1973) and Bristol University (1975). He later obtained further qualifications in education, printing and voluntary sector management.
After a short time living in Paris teaching English, Carl moved to London in 1979. He met Caroline Scott in 1983. They had two sons, Freddy and Billy, and married in 2002.
He worked for a time in printing in the early 80s and joined the Elfrida Society, supporting people with learning disabilities. The experience prompted the realisation that the one thing that would most improve the lives of people with learning disabilities was support to live independently. This led Carl to form KeyRing.
Carl was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in 2000 and left KeyRing three years later, embarking on a productive freelance career. From 2003 to 2008, he was a pivotal figure at the charity In Control, which aims to give people needing additional support more control over that support. His work there contributed to a radical change in UK public policy towards self-directed support, with more than 400,000 people now having their own personal budgets.
His other achievements included pioneering high-quality accessible information for people with learning disabilities; creating the Small Sparks programme (in 2003), which enables people with learning difficulties to lead community development projects; and co-founding the charity Manavodaya International (in 2010) to share the teachings of Varun Vidyarthi about social change.
In 2011, Carl co-founded the Campaign for a Fair Society, editing its manifesto and producing its website and newsletter. He was also a fellow of the Centre for Welfare Reform. Carl was an innovative social activist whose modesty belied the range of his achievements. Thousands of disadvantaged people continue to benefit from his vision, energy and intelligence.
He is survived by Caroline, Freddy and Billy and by his brother, Roger, and sister, Jacqui.