Safe Newcastle
Robyn Thomas - Co-ordinator, Tel: 0191 277 7835, robyn.thomas@newcastle.gov.uk
Community Voices - Board Members
Patrice Kertho Agenonga is involved with the Thomas Gaughan Community Centre. I have been an active volunteer within the centre for two years. He is a member of the centre's management committee actively promoting the centre and the services it provides to the local community. He is a valuable link between the centre and the minority ethnic community who use the centre especially asylum seekers and refugees.
Statement by Sergeant Steve Kirby, Community Engagement Department
Patrice A. Kertho has been of valuable assistance in delivering a community engagement input to student police officers from Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary on their Initial Police Learning and DevelopmentProgramme at the North East Centre for Policing Skills.
This input is delivered at an early stage in the career of the student officers, identifying to them the community perspective of operational policing, how it impacts upon minority communities, and the benefits to community cohesion that engagement can bring. It facilitates officers to understand the needs of minority communities, such that later learning about law and procedure can be assimilated into the service required by diverse groups.
Patrice is the ideal community voice to assist with my input, being able to share his experience and expertise as a resident of Newcastle, asylum seeker and minority ethnic community member, with vast experience in dealing with local statutory and voluntary agencies at a tactical and strategic level. He speaks on behalf of those whom he supports, commenting upon the quality of service provided, tactfully and constructively tackling areas for improvement, whilst promoting the positive image of Northumbria Police.
Student officers are most appreciative of the contribution Patrice makes to their learning and I am confident that this input will develop their knowledge, understanding, skills, attitude and behaviour in policing diverse communities.
I know that Patrice works tirelessly to support all communities of Newcastle and is a valued member of the Safe Newcastle Strategic Partnership. He has acted as a community contributor to police critical incident independent advisory groups.
Evette Callender is involved with Belmont Area Residents Association, Enslin Street Focus group, Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Tenants Federation, African Women Support Network, The Walker Network and the Local Network Fund.
Hazel Rutherford is involved with Together We Can Manager, Lemington over 60's club, North East Council of Community Organisations, the Lemington Centre, Going 4 Gold, West Denton over 60's club and West Denton Partnership.
Stephen Watson is involved with Better Days, Museums & Art Galleries Access group, the Millennium club, Friends Action North east and the Learning Disability Forum.
Community Voices - Deputies
Jenny Cavanagh is involved with New Blakelaw Tenants & Residents Association and Blakelaw Community Network. I am secretary of our tenants association and chair of the Blakelaw Network but wanted to become more involved so I became a community voice. I had to have some training and am now an voice on children & young people and also on the board of Safe Newcastle.
