Supporting the Local Community

Since coming into post in July, our new Head of Partnerships and Engagement, Lucy Webb, has been working closely with the Trust’s Community Development team to review how the team can work best to support the Thamesmead community. 

Part of this review is also to look at how the team can work most efficiently across the different Trust teams and with key partners such as Gallions Housing Association and local schools to ensure coordination and maximise cross-departmental approaches to individuals and groups.

In response to this review, the team will now be trialling a new structure which is based on each Community Development Officer (CDO) taking the lead on a themed portfolio as well as taking the lead on area coordination.

Lucy explained:  “We will have one of our officers returning from maternity leave in October and we have taken the decision to recruit to the current vacant post to bring the team back up to full capacity.”
The new team structure is as follows:

• Lisa Ann Newton: (Senior CDO) Lead for Education & Lifelong Learning and Lead Coordinator for Central Thamesmead
• Linda Delieu: (CDO) Lead for Financial Inclusion and Lead Coordinator for North Thamesmead
• Sarah Feleppa: (CDO) Lead for Volunteering and Lead Coordinator for West Thamesmead
• Vacant Post: (CDO) Lead for Environment & Regeneration and Lead Coordinator for South Thamesmead
• Jessica Moles: (CD Admin Assistant) Support for West Thamesmead

Further, we are really delighted that Janice Jones has accepted the position of Healthy Living Coordinator and will be taking a lead on developing a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme for Thamesmead, working with all the Trust teams, and a wide partnership including: local residents; community groups; Greenwich and Bexley voluntary services; housing providers; and the two local authorities' Public Health teams.

Collectively, the team is also reviewing the Trust’s draft Community Engagement Strategy and is the process of consulting across the Trust and with partner organisations and groups to ensure that we are engaging with our residents as effectively as possible.

Whilst the team will not be up to full complement until the end of October, lots of plans are underway and we hope to be able to report on good progress over the next couple of months.

In the meantime, we continue to work with our fantastic community groups to deliver some exciting events, including:

• 6 October - Silver Sunday: a day at The Link Thamesmead targeted at providing opportunities and activities for our residents aged over 50
• 12 October - The Moorings Harvest Festival event: a fun day for local residents including a BBQ at the Good Life Garden, and healthy food, stalls and many other activities

If you have any questions, feel free to drop Lucy a line.