Voluntary Work

I currently volunteer for the Clean Annapolis River Project as an Annapolis River Guardian. This rewarding work involves sampling river water and undertaking some home analysis of the sample as well as preparing other samples to be tested for bacteria at a local laboratory. The guardians also update signs posted at the sample sites to let users of the river know the level of bacteria and the consequences of the river quality for different activities on the river.

Background

From an early age I have always been a firm believer in contributing to whatever community I have belonged to. This started at school through being involved in stage management for school productions or acting in plays we staged and even taking part in a fire safety quiz where we reached a national semi-final.

Student Union

Through my student years I was heavily involved in the students union, the area National Union of Students (NUS) and was even elected to sit on a national committee for the NUS for a year. I was also elected as Vice President Education and Welfare of my students union, a sabbatical position which I held for a year.

Trade Union

Into the world of work I was a shop steward for my trade union, edited the branch newsletter and attended a number of higher education sector conferences and even the last national conference of my trade union before its merger.

After becoming a manager at work I felt it inappropriate to hold union office and a potential conflict so reduced my union involvement.

In early 2010 I became the Treasurer and Secretary of my union branch in Canada.

Community Groups

I have always been very interested in the environment, wellbeing, development, sustainability, history and prosperity of the area where I live. In Leeds I made my home in Kirkstall, a suburb to the North West of the City with an interesting mix of ages, students and permanent residents, young professionals and many people who had called Kirkstall their home for twenty, thirty years or more. In 2000 I set up a community website called Kirkstall Online and through this became involved in the Kirkstall Valley Community Association.

Social Housing

As someone working in housing and having studied for a degree in housing and a professional qualification I have been interested in housing issues and the effects of housing quality on people and their environment and communities. In 2003 I was honoured to be selected at interview to become a Non Executive Director of a social (not for profit) housing company in Leeds called Leeds West Homes. This voluntary position involved attending board meetings and overseeing the work of the organisation which managed 12,000 properties in the city. I was a member of the Personnel, Community Safety, Communications and Performance sub committees. The work involved a lot of my spare time but I really enjoyed the experience and especially enjoyed walking around the estates, visiting properties and meeting the residents. in 2006 Leeds West Homes merged with another Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) to form West North West Homes Leeds.