CHART LSP Staff Profiles

As a born and bred Cestrefeldian I am very proud to be part of an organisation which works to improve the services and quality of life for communities very close to my heart in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.

 

My career has generally focused on working with a range of organisations and communities who want to make a positive difference in their area, trying to make the most of the resources available, be it funding, staff and volunteers or buildings, services and attractions. Working with different people from a range of backgrounds to develop a common purpose is an enjoyable part of my role, and the challenging moments fade when the thrill of seeing a new service or project starting and succeeding takes over.

After graduating from Newcastle University in Geography & Urban and Regional Development Studies, I worked in the Audit and Finance departments of South Yorkshire Police before joining North East Derbyshire District Council’s Economic Development Unit in 1999. In January 2000 I was seconded to CHART, supporting the Partnership manage its £11m Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Scheme.

 

In October 2001 I became Programme Officer for the £36m SRB Scheme for the North Derbyshire & North Nottinghamshire Coalfield Alliance (and then the Alliance SSP), responsible for Learning & Skills projects and those operating in the CHART area. I also managed the commended £1.2million Coalfield Community Fund targeting community and voluntary groups.

 

In 2003 I spent a short time working for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to establish and support partnerships in former coalfield communities in Durham, Kent, and anywhere in between before ‘returning home’ to CHART LSP in January 2004. Since then I have (amongst many other things) overseen the production of the last two Sustainable Community Strategy documents and helped bring in external funding for a range of local projects and services such as the Communities That Work! initiative and the £2.4 million Bolsover North East Derbyshire LEADER Approach.

 

Outside of work I support Chesterfield Football Club, run a club in the Chesterfield & District and Sheffield Badminton Leagues, and try to spend as much time as possible with the kids, who at aged two and four help me keep my communication, negotiation and development skills well practised. I’m still trying to work out if home is a training ground for work, or vice versa!

I am a Chesterfield lass from a large family, and have a close affinity with the area and its people. I recently returned home, after three years in Milton Keynes, working in the public and voluntary sectors. I am relieved that some of the most familiar Derbyshire dialect is more acceptable up here!

 

Upon leaving school I was undecided about my career (I was more interested in playing sport – hockey for Derbyshire, netball and tennis). I was persuaded to undertake some office work experience, which included college day release. I won a place on Chesterfield Borough Council’s (CBC) Work Experience Programme. I worked in the Planning and Estates Department for six months – little did I know that the Town Hall would be my workplace for the next 26 years.

 

I started my first real job in the Town Clerk’s Department, getting valuable experience in the diversity of Council work – from issuing food parcels to striking miners’ families, welcoming the HRH Prince and Princess of Wales on their Royal Visit to Chesterfield and I will never forget getting locked in the Town Hall "dungeons" (not for the whole 26 years I hasten to add!) On completion of a business studies course, I became a Committee Clerk, working on the more sensitive meetings like union and equalities consultative committees, organised elections and undertook a range of supporting legal work, including developing the town centre traffic order.

 

I had two periods of maternity leave, when my son, Tom and daughter, Lauren were born. I returned to work job-share and used my (spare!) time to study a management course and organise school fundraising activities. I next became Assistant Corporate Planning Officer at CBC, developing the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Public Consultation Strategy, Lottery Strategy and the first Youth Forum. I went on to play a major part in the development and delivery of the Sure Start Programme and Healthy Living Centre Blue Bus. I supported Best Value reviews, new Cabinet Executive structures, development of Community Forums and managing the Citizens’ Panel. I produced the Corporate Plan and Best Value Performance Plan, co-ordinating local and national performance indicators.

 

Leading the cross cutting Best Value Review of Healthy Communities was to be my next challenge, seconded to the post of Health Development Officer. The resulting strategic approach was adopted by the CHART LSP Health and Wellbeing Group. I went on to manage a range of targeted community health initiatives with partners of the CHART LSP Health and Well-being Group, Staveley Neighbourhood Pathfinder Project and the Home Improvement Agency, including Rother Healthy Futures, Safety Crew, Senior Safe, Safe Start and borough wide Exercise Referral Scheme. One of my most notable public health successes was the prohibition of smoking in all Council public buildings, a year ahead of the legislation.

 

I was extremely pleased (and so were my family!) when I completed a BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care, after studying part-time for 6 years.

 

I worked for Milton Keynes (Unitary) Council as Cultural Events Co-ordinator in a very diverse and new community. I successfully bid for MK to play host to its first flagship Sport Relief Mile, a leg of a national cycling race, 20:20 cricket with Northants CC, and the Bucks Youth Games. My organisational skills were put to the test when I co-ordinated 1000 schoolchildren on the pitch, when HM The Queen officially opened MK Dons Stadium. Strategically located in the South East region, it was an exciting time preparing for 2012 and I found myself at meetings alongside Olympians I admired, like the swimmer, Adrian Moorhouse.

 

I started working part-time for LINk:MK, one of 150 Department of Health new local involvement networks of local people and groups, which aimed to improve services in health and social care. We started to make massive improvements in local services, commended in the South East. The Department of Communities and Local Government noted our value and we successfully bid to manage one of four Action Learning Projects in the country to test whether our approach could improve community well-being. As Project Manager, I worked closely with people from a deprived community and made close alliances with the Local Strategic Partnership to improve local accountability. With support from the Community Development Foundation, I acquired new evaluation and project management techniques that were more community and outcome focused.

 

At the start of the recession, my partner was made redundant and started his own business, so my business planning skills proved most useful! When my daughter finished her GCSE’s the time was right to return home to Chesterfield, where Lauren has started A levels. My son has continued to study in Sports Development and Coaching and manages to juggle a variety of jobs with unsocial hours – so he required a car. We still act as Lauren’s chauffeur! I need to devote more time to much loved sport and dancing, but do manage to enjoy cooking, reading historical novels and travelling.

 

It is my pleasure to work in a more central role for CHART LSP and I hope that I can make a positive difference.

I moved to Chesterfield from Sussex with my family in 2003 and I am pleased to have joined the Local Strategic Partnership in my adoptive town – what better way to become involved with and find out about the area in which I now live!

 

After leaving school I worked in various Civil Service Departments including the Ministry of Defence where I was responsible for processing papers for soldiers leaving the Royal Corps of Transport.  I then moved to the Property Services Agency where my role was to collect rent for the Crown Estate.

 

In 1993 I joined the newly formed Child Support Agency and was involved in collecting statistical and performance management data.  I worked there until relocating to Chesterfield and taking a career break.  During this time I enjoyed helping out at my children’s school, and taking some college courses for both fun and to update my skills.

 

I worked for short time for NEDDC supporting the two Job Analysts undertaking the Single Status Job Evaluation exercise before joining CHART in June 2006. 

 

Since working at the LSP I have had the opportunity to develop new skills through my involvement with various LSP Projects and to meet and work with some lovely people.    My main role is to provide administrative support to the LSP Team and to service its meetings. More recently I have been responsible for organising the North Derbyshire Jobs & Training Fair and managing the Dance Fit Programme.

 

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and children, a luxury my old life didn’t allow!  I also love exploring the local towns and countryside, and when I get time I like to do a spot of gardening or DIY.