Economy, Work Skills & Learning
Seth Pearson - Co-ordinator, Tel: 0191 211 5336, seth.pearson@newcastle.gov.uk
Community Voices - Board Members
Warren Hardy - I've been involved in the community for almost 15 years and with a range of projects over the years, these projects now include the Association of Part Time Tutors (APTT), OCNNER (formally known as NEOCN), Lifestile, CWACNEE and others. This also includes being a community voie with the CEN and recently becoming Deputy Chair of the Learning Partnership theme. I am also involved with helping community groups, training, education and have a keen interest in community development and computers (helping to set up an ICT support club). I also have an interest in Science Fiction - I think the CEN is a worthwhile project for which I give 100% support.
Muan'a Kalaba Mbikayi is involved with Newcastle African Association (NAFRA), the International Mission Centre and Nexus. He has been working in his current role as Chairman of NAFRA since 2003. In this capacity, he facilitates board meetings, supports representation to strategic and other decision making bodies and organises events targeting social inclusion and participation of people of African origin living in the area. Muan'a is keen that NAFRA continues to work in partnership with volunteer and public sector in achieving its aims of promoting African values and culture in the North East. He joined Nexus in 2005 in the role of Equality and Diversity Adviser and is proud with the way the organisation is delivering focused projects which make a difference in the provision of public transport in Tyne and Wear. As leader of the International Mission Centre, Newcastle Love Tabernacle, Muan'a is grateful that the Almighty God is granting the faith group the opportunities to communce in peac around the true Word of God in the Christian faith and to share true love, friendship and understanding that wonderfully contribute to the spiritual growth and development of the believers.
Violet Rook is involved with the Newcastle Governors Association, 'Soul-Food' Community Education Information Newsletter/Magazine and is a Governor at two primary schools. She says 'I have delivered quite a few babies, having a background in Midwifery. I also studied with the Open University gaining an OU degree in Psychology subjects. I also have a Post graduate certificate from Sunderland University. I also hold a licentiateship of the City and Guilds in Learning and Development. I am strongly in favour of 'Lifelong Learning' and have been involved in teaching literacy and food hygiene in the community. I live in the north of the city with my husband and enjoy gardening and helping my brother with his allotment, maintaining a family tradition, my grandmother being involved in market gardening. I have worked in the voluntary sector and charity sectors in the community and believe individual participation is important for all of society'.
Community Voices - Deputies
Ronnie Forster is involved with Ouseburn Festival Association, Ouseburn Community Centre, East End News & Views, Heaton Music Collective, Ouseburn City Farm and the Studios at the Biscuit Factory. He say 'If I can play a small part in helping to bridge the cultural and social differences between the diverse communities who live in my city, then it will improve the quality of life for everyone affected.
Glenn Rose - I have worked variously as neighbourhood worker, action/researcher, policy analyst, community work manager (all, almost exclusively for voluntary or community organisations) over the course of 30 years - in most of the larger citiies from Birmingham northwards. I now expect not to move onwards from Newcastle! I have worked in 'regeneration' since before it was called regeneration ... and have experience and a particular interest in economic/social economic activity - eg social and community enterprise - as well as culture and arts. I believe that processes of planning and urban regeneration should be fitted to people, rather than people and organisations fitted into structures; and that residents have a part to play in putting together the ideas and plans that become 'programmes'. Putting them together, not simply choosing from ready-prepared packages.
