Resident Biographies
Mary McSweeney
The Potteries
Mary has lived in the Potteries for 23 years.
Mary listed the top 2 things she likes most about the area she lives in as:
- 1. Her house
- 2. The closeness to town, especially as she doesn’t drive
Mary is now retired but keeps herself active by having computer lessons, going to the gym and getting out and about to do different things.
Mary joined the Neighbourhood Management Board because she wanted something different to do once retired. Mary also thought that the work looked interesting.
Mary hopes that Neighbourhood Management will help to make South Ward a more Cleaner, Greener, Safer and better place to live.
Roseana Warwick
The Bournville
Rose is Chair of the Neighbourhood Management Board.
Rose has lived on the Bournville for 20 years. Prior to this she lived on the Oldmixon for 15 years.
Rose listed the top 3 things she likes most about the area she lives in as:
- 1. The people (most of them!)
- 2. Community spirit
- 3. My friends
Since leaving school at the age of 16, Rose has devoted herself to her children and family. Rose is a qualified hairdresser and is currently undertaking a computer course.
This year, Rose became a Town Councillor as she is interested in local issues and helping people of all ages.
Rose joined the Board because she wanted to have some input into the area where she lives as there is room for improvement which will help to raise the quality of life for everyone. Rose has a great interest in Children and Young People and is a member of the sub group which reports to the Neighbourhood Management Board.
Rose hopes that the 4 Estates will feel equal with each other and that Neighbourhood Management will help to improve the quality of life for all ages. It would be great if the area could become Safer, Cleaner and Greener so that people will be proud to live here.
Cyril King
The Oldmixon
Cyril is a resident from the Oldmixon Estate. As well as being a member of the Neighbourhood Management Board he is also a Councillor on Weston’s Town Council.
Simon Kerrigan
Simon has been a resident on the Coronation estate for eleven years. His top three things he likes about living in the area:
- On the whole the community does respect the area we live in
- It is close to lots of open spaces
- I feel safe in this community
Simon was the area supervisor for a construction company responsible for health and safety until a car accident left him with a badly damaged spine
He says:
I do have a very positive outlook on life and although the accident has left me in a lot of pain and severely limits what I can do, becoming a stay at home dad has meant that I have been able to spend lots of time with my three boys and see them grow up.
I still belong to Weston Rugby club and am a part time coach, I also volunteer to help at the school and get involved in lots of the work of Neighbourhood Management. I chair the steering group for Weston works, the one stop skills and job shop, and the monthly community meetings in the Coronation as well as attending joint tasking meetings where residents are actively involved in problem solving with local agencies such as the police, the council and the local social landlord.
Initially I applied for the job of community warden but was unsuccessful. Following on from this I was invited to join the Neighbourhood Management Board. I enjoy working with the community and supporting local people to have a voice, and I hope to build a career as a community worker. Those who are supposed to be providing services to local people are too often just there to pick up a pay check, and will get away with doing the least possible and it is not good enough. South Ward residents deserve better.
I would love to see a SouthWard Forum develop from all the area meetings that would bring together representatives from all four areas, and build the confidence of the community to work together.
Carole Fryer
Carole has been a resident on the Coronation for 44 years.
Here’s how Carole describes herself:
I am a people person, I worked as a manager in Woolworths for many years and now I am the captain of a skittles team that plays once or twice a week. Apart from the skittles I like gardening and cross stitch.
The three things that Carole likes best about living in her area are:
- Having good neighbours. I have been friends with my neighbours for years and we look out for each other and have a really good relationship.
- Our local shops on Loxton Road are so convenient and since Neighbourhood Management refurbished them, the whole area looks much better.
- There is a very good, regular bus service that takes you right into the centre of town.
Carole joined the Neighbourhood Management Board because she was asked to, as she had been going to the Coronation Coffee morning regularly and is always happy to speak up about issues that affect herself and neighbours. Carole believes in practical solutions to problems.
Carole hopes that together we are able to encourage other residents to take pride in their area and to take and active part in keeping this neighbourhood clean.
Agency Biographies
Liz Keogh
Neighbourhood Inspector, Weston-super-Mare
Liz works at the Police station in Weston town centre.
In South Ward, Liz and her team have been working on some long-term strategies with the Neighbourhood Management Board as well as being pro-active with drugs warrants and setting up and attending resident meetings to hear views from the local community.
The team are currently working on looking at Anti-social behaviour and trying to develop long-term solutions to the problem with Partner organisations. Liz is also keen to develop confidence in the Police with the community.
Liz hopes that Neighbourhood Management will leave behind communities that feel empowered to influence the areas in which they live. Liz and the team will contribute to this by acting on public feedback and doing their best to deliver a quality service to the South Ward area.
Liz can be contacted via the main Police HQ number: 0845 456 7000
The South Ward Neighbourhood Policing Team can be contacted on: 01934 638 165.
In an emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact the Police on 999.
Lyn Winter
Project Manager, Full Service Extended Schools, Wyvern School
Lynn works at Bournville and Wyvern schools. She is responsible for managing the extended schools provision locally.
In South Ward, holiday activities and after school clubs are run for children aged 5 – 16yrs at Bournville and Wyvern Schools and at Weston Youth Centre. Adult IT courses, healthy eating courses and sporting activities are also available in South Ward. There are plans for more holiday, after school and adult activities in South Ward following consultation with service users.
Lynn hopes that Neighbourhood Management will work towards providing a safer, more welcoming community where people are valued, feel secure and have opportunities to improve their personal wellbeing.
As an organisation, extended schools would like to continue to provide and develop access to safe and affordable activities for the local community.
Steve Chinn
Steve is the Director of Operations for North Somerset Housing. He is responsible for all areas offices, supported housing and floating support services provided by the Housing Association. This also includes all estate management, sheltered housing and support staff.
North Somerset Housing manage approximately 2000 dwellings in the South Ward area. They are continually looking at new initiatives for the area and are keen to work with other organisations.
He hopes that Neighbourhood Management will help focus the activities of a number of agencies working in South Ward and act as a catalyst to generate ongoing improvements to the environment for people living in the area.
Steve can be contacted in the following ways:
Steve Chinn
Director of Operations
NSHousing
40 Martingale Way
Portishead
BS20 7AW
Phone: 01275 398 120
Email: steve.chinn@nshousing.org.uk
Dr Paul Phillips
Paul is the Principal at Weston College. The College delivers both Further Education and Higher Education to students from 14 years upwards. He is responsible for the management of the Organisation including approximately 500 staff, 30,000 students and a budget circa £20,000,000.
Paul has been involved in bidding for funding for the area; this has included the active promotion of Further Education, Higher Education and Skills for Life courses in the South Ward area and a new University Campus opening in September 2007, located on the Coronation estate.
Further funding bids will be submitted to increase Skills for Life provision and training for the future. There is also the possibility of joint bidding to create playing fields for Community use at the University Campus.
Paul hopes that aspirations and prosperity will be raised in the South Ward through the University Campus and associated educational projects.
Paul can be contacted in the following ways:
Phone: 01934 411 447
Email: paul.phillips@weston.ac.uk
Councillor Ian Parker
Ian works as a Councillor for North Somerset Council and Weston-super-Mare Town Council.
He is primarily responsible to the electorate of South Ward and generally to the whole of North Somerset.
As a Councillor, Ian’s work on behalf of the Community is many and varied, ranging from dealing with a constant stream of individual cases on behalf of residents to collective decision making on behalf of the Council.
Ian hopes to continue to serve the Community to the best of his ability on the one hand together with assisting the Neighbourhood Management Board in achieving some of the exciting proposals that are beginning to emerge, which will hopefully begin to improve the environment of people living in South Ward.
The Government has given a substantial sum of money in order to finance various improvements to South Ward. As indicated above, the Neighbourhood Management Board consisting of Residents and Partners, are working together in exploring various ways of achieving this objective. Personally, what Ian would like to see, is a visual and lasting legacy so that people will say “that was money well spent”. He believes that the most important consideration should be that of sustainability in the long-term.
Ian also hopes that other responsible bodies will recognise the initiatives which Neighbourhood Management will put in place and continue to support these after the project ceases in 2009/10.
Jenny Hendy
Jenny is the Director of the Healthy Living Company which runs the For All Healthy Living Centre on the Bournville. Jenny works with local people and local services to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.
Previously, Jenny has worked with local residents to set up the Healthy Living Company, Centre and Partnership, design and raise funding for Coniston Green and develop services, activities and facilities offered from the Centre.
In the future there are plans to develop work to improve mental health in the area, community arts and health work and a community garden. A 5 year plan is available to view at the Centre.
Jenny hopes that Neighbourhood Management will achieve a long lasting shift in the way environmental and community safety services are provided; an improved environment which residents enjoy and are proud of; a greater feeling of opportunity and safety in the area.
Jenny can be contacted in the following ways:
Phone: 01934 427 426
Email: info@forallhlc.org
Jane Smith
Jane works for North Somerset Council in the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare. She is responsible for Housing and Adult Social Services which includes services for older people, people with learning disabilities, mental health services, support for carers and the Community Learning Team.
Jane’s directorate were very involved in the plans for the For All Healthy Living Centre and represent the Council on the Management Board. Working together to tackle inequality has been a priority for partner agencies. The Community Learning Team are working with partners to support people into training and employment. Adult Social Services initiated the Community Café programme which is linking with other community events in order to improve contact and information with a range of services.
The Partnerships for Older People’s Project is established across North Somerset and is working with older people in South Ward and other areas to improve access to information and services. They work very closely with Health partners and one of the key priorities is to develop local panels of older people to ensure they have a voice in planning future developments. They are also committed toiomproving integration of services across health and social care to improve access to services.
Jane hopes that Neighbourhood Management will continue to work with local people and partner agencies in strengthening support networks and relationships within the area so that positive changes can continue into the future.
Jane can be contacted by:
Email: jane.smith@n-somerset.gov.ukBob Snow
Chief Executive Officer of Voluntary Action North Somerset and Chair of the Voluntary Sector Forum
VANS provides a range of services and support for Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups in North Somerset including South Ward. We also provide a volunteer placement service matching individuals who seek a volunteering opportunity with VCS organisations who are need of volunteers. Details of our services can be found on our website www.vansweb.org.uk
VANS maintains a keen interest in the Neighbourhood Management project in South Ward. There are many positive outcomes from the work that has taken place and elements of good practice that potentially we could share with our membership and/or through the Voluntary Sector Forum.
In turn I hope that we are able to bring a measure of expertise gained from VANS involvement across the sector in North Somerset and to contribute to the 'succession' discussions and opportunities.
Voluntary Action North Somerset 01934 410191
The Badger Centre, Wadham Street, Weston super Mare BS23 1JY