Elaine Kinsella

Elaine is an Educational Psychologist working with children, families and schools within the Merseyside area.  

She was born in London but spent most of her childhood in Sheffield. Elaine came to Liverpool when she was 18 in 1982 to study and complete her initial degree in Psychology at the University of Liverpool. During her early career in the 80s and 90s, she worked for Mencap Homes Foundation supporting people with learning difficulties. This was innovative work which involved moving people out of long stay hospitals back into their local communities within small group homes in Liverpool. The work Mencap Homes Foundation in Liverpool was doing at this time was cutting edge and leading the way in the field of community care. Elaine felt very privileged to be part of this. 

She then trained as a primary school teacher and after seven years of teaching, went on to study for her professional qualification in Educational Psychology at the University of Manchester – something she had always wanted to do since she was 14 years old. She then worked for Wirral Borough Council for 10 years as an Educational Psychologist. 

During the pandemic, Elaine received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer and, consequently had half her thyroid removed. Soon after this, she received a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma (a blood cancer). Treatment for this latter cancer included chemotherapy and a Stem Cell Transplant. Elaine is now in remission and on maintenance treatment. Although Multiple Myeloma is currently incurable, it is treatable and with ongoing research and clinical trials, more and more treatments are being developed each year. This gives her and others hope for the future. Since her diagnosis Elaine now works part time as an Educational Psychologist mainly within schools in Wirral. Returning back to this work after intense treatment has been really important to her. 

Elaine is also co-founder, along with her husband Peter Kinsella, of Lunya and Lunyalita – two Catalan restaurants and a deli in Liverpool. Since opening the restaurants in 2010, Elaine and Peter have been passionate about supporting local charities. In particular since Elaine’s diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, they started a pound on the bill scheme within the restaurants, to raise money for local and national cancer charities. This, as well as other personal fundraising efforts, has meant they and their loyal customers have managed to raise over £150,000 during the last three and a half years. This money has gone to local and national cancer charities including an amazing local blood cancer charity called Merseyside Against Blood Cancers. Elaine is proud to be a trustee and the Vice Chair for this charity. She has also been recognised for her achievements in fundraising, being awarded Fundraiser of the Year twice for Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK, and receiving the prestigious BBC Radio Merseyside Fundraiser of the Year 2023.

Elaine lives in Oxton in Wirral with her husband Peter and Churros their Cockerpoo. They have three children Louis, Sophie and Ted. They also have three grandchildren Luke, Brody and Alex with another one on the way. Elaine is happiest when she is spending time with her family, walking their dog Churros, playing tennis and racketball, running, eating out in lovely restaurants and travelling.