In 1985, the Belle Vue Centre opened in Hartlepool after local residents had raised funds to build it. I had led the campaign, and have been the centre’s manager ever since. I have become more involved in community matters over the intervening years.
I became involved with the New Deal for Communities Partnership in 1999, straight after its introduction, and began to attend meetings of Hartlepool’s steering group. The group is made up of a mix of people, with the majority being twelve elected residents from the New Deal for Communities’ area, of which I am one. The steering group have gelled into a really good team: many projects have been developed, with plenty of input and ideas from the residents themselves attending regular community forum meetings.
What motivated me to stand for election as a resident member of the steering group was the realisation that this was just what our community needed. The residents gained the opportunity to be able to do things their way and to make decisions that would shape their own future.
I am very proud of the extension made to the Belle Vue community sports and youth centre, which was made possible by funding from the NDC. I always knew there was a need for a bigger community centre in the area, and we now have a wonderful facility and a flagship project for the Hartlepool New Deal for Communities.