After joining this community over 15 years ago, I have seen many incarnations of assistance that aimed to help the neighborhood overcome its issues. These same issues remain stubbornly in place today. I have taken up this role with the aim to build relationships and empower this community to create its own vision for its future.
I’ve been the Family Worker at Surrey Square Primary School since 2002, working with whole families to address some of the inequalities and challenges they face. I’ve seen first-hand how the community has been “done to” rather than “done with” and believe that through working closely with our families, partners and local stakeholders, we can transform the area and create an environment that everyone is proud to belong to and call home.
I’ve worked at Surrey Square since September 2006. My own life experiences have made me passionate about the importance of well-being and I’m really proud that we place the well-being of our pupils (and their families) at the heart of our work at the school. We know that if they are ‘ok’ then this enables them to achieve positive outcomes and thrive in their lives. During the pandemic I had a lightbulb moment, realising that community well being and recovery was also critical to this. So, the Old Kent Road Family Zone wars born.
The members that make up our wonderful community board span from parents to organisations:
Burgess Sports, Pembroke House, Southbank Uni, SSQ Parents, Southwark Law Centre, PACT, Citizens UK, Edible Rotherhithe, Big Education, Alvey Sreet TRA, Old Kent Road Mosque.
Supported by a fantastic and broad range of partners from:
TRAID, Very.com, Impact on Urban Health, Felix Food Foundation, Chefs in Schools, Edible Rotherhithe, Notaro, Lendlease.
