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Issue date: 15 August 2006
NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGER FOR NORTH BENWELL
A new neighbourhood manager has been appointed for North Benwell to engage with residents and provide support to the local community.
Siobhan O’Neil will be employed by the North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative, which is funded by Bridging NewcastleGateshead and delivered by Home – the region’s largest affordable homes provider - Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police.
Her role will be to provide support and advice to local residents and to involve them in the on-going programme of improvements happening in the North Benwell area.
Siobhan, aged 38 from Kenton, previously worked for the Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council (GVOC) providing advice, support and information to hundreds of voluntary organisations across the borough.
Prior to that, she was employed as an information co-ordinator for Disability Gateshead for three years, helping disabled people and organisations with advice and information.
A graduate of Northumbria University and mum to four boys, Siobhan is now looking forward to the challenge of her new role. She said:
“The North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative is clearly very successful having already made a big impact on crime reduction and the number of empty homes in the area.
“I am really keen to build on this success and help the local community to make North Benwell an even better place to live. Working in such a clearly defined geographical area will be very exciting and rewarding as it will be easier to see the impact and results of my work.
“My first priority will be to get to know the residents and local area like the back of my hand so that I can make a positive contribution to the needs and wants of the community.”
Martin Conway from the North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative said: “Siobhan was an ideal choice for the neighbourhood management role as she brings more than eight years’ experience of working in the community voluntary sector.
“She’s a natural communicator who will bring some great expertise in helping fulfil the Neighbourhood Management Initiative’s objectives of tackling housing issues and improving community safety within North Benwell .
Anne Mulroy, Director of Bridging NewcastleGateshead said: “We are delighted to welcome Siobhan as a new member of the team.
“The North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative has made huge progress since it was established and plays a vital role in the community.
“I’m sure Siobhan’s experience of working with local communities and voluntary groups will prove a useful addition to the Initiative and help it to continue to go from strength to strength.”