Steering Group Members
Alison Blackburn is currently the Chair of Newcastle Disability Forum. She lives in the west of Newcastle and trained as a nurse. Alison has been an activist on disability issues for a number of years amongst others, on behalf of people suffering from diabetes and people with visual impairment, particularly in relation to access to services. Alison is also a Director of Newcastle Healthy City Project.
Jenny Cavanagh - I was nominated by my own group to become a steering group member and was elected at the general meeting. I am looking forward to the challenges I will face in the future, but feel privileged to have come so far as a community volunteer, this is down to the CEN and all the training and support that the staff have offered. I can bring to the steering group my experience of being trained in staff liaison work, also human resources. I am a member of Newcastle tenant’s federation executive committee and therefore know that changes are not just for one community but the whole of the city, and I always give 100%.
Nick Forbes - I work for Community Action on Health, which is a community involvement charity in Newcastle. We aim to help local communities have a voice on health issues, and we do this by undertaking geographic-based community development work and theme-based community involvement work. It is essential that our work is joined up with that of the CEN and INFRANET, which is why I very much value being able to contribute to the steering group.
Dave Gaston - I work with community development with both the West End Community Development Consortium (WECDC) and with the Scotswood Area Strategy as 'In the Know' development worker. My role is to facilitate and develop local residents involvement in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods. To encourage local residents to have their say in the work they see needs to be undertaken. With this in mind I contribute and support the NCEN in its work and am a member of both the NCEN Steering Group and the INFRANET in their work to encourage and involve local residents in decision making that affects their lives.
Roger Mould - I have been a development officer for the Regen Forum for 6˝ years. The post entails supporting the membership of the Forum (300 VCS organisations, about a third community) to be fully involved in regeneration in Newcastle. My contribution to the NCEN to mainly to bring to the Steering Group the Regen Forum's perspective as a member of the Infranet.
Arash Rod - I have been working with different communities and societies within the University of Newcastle. I founded a society in 2003 which is now a very successful society. During my studies and student life I found out that this city has got so much to offer to people. I can be part of the development of Newcastle and in return gain from it to help communities which are part of the prosperous city. My intention of being a member of the NCEN Steering Group is to be more effective in helping NCEN and by that gain more from NCEN in return to develop or be part of the development of local societies and communities.
Violet Rook - I have been involved with community work for quite a while, having been a community midwife, a teacher of basic skills and been involved with supporting carers of the sick. I believe that community participation and the ability to discuss and develop ideas is essential in our society. I have served on the Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny Panel for a year, and the Learning Partnership. I hope that I provide a connection in regard to education via school to life long learning pursuits and between education and health.
Deanna Van der Velde
- Born Newcastle upon Tyne and educated locally with a degree from Newcastle University
- Worked as a teacher for over 30 years for Newcastle Local Education Authority
- Member of Newcastle Council of Faiths
- Chair of North East Branch of Council of Christians and Jews and member of National Board
- Vice-president of Representative Council of North East Jewry
- Member of Northumberland Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education
- Chair of Newcastle Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education
- Member of Holocaust Memorial Day Steering Group
- Visits Co-ordinator for Newcastle Orthodox Synagogue
- Member of Newcastle Jewish Players
