New activities co-ordinator in Northway
A dedicated support worker has been appointed to work in Tewkesbury’s Northway area after it was identified that adults living there needed more support to get involved in new activities.
Anna Jennings, who used to work at Age Concern Gloucestershire as an activities co-ordinator, is busy forging links with local people in the Northway area, who are keen to learn something new, get active or volunteer in their local community.
Anna’s post has been funded by Adult Education in Gloucestershire and Count Me In!, a Tewkesbury Borough Council-backed Government initiative that promotes healthy living. Her remit is to engage with people over 19 years old who wish to try something new and develop different skills as a means of improving their overall quality of life and health and well-being.
“By the very nature of where Northway is situated people living there can often feel a little bit cut off from what is happening in other parts of Tewkesbury,” said Anna.
“My role is designed to help people access new activities and services and to develop grassroots activities which will appeal to local people,” she added.
Plans are already blossoming for a new gardening club in the area, as well as a parent and child street dance class and sewing and knitting drop-in sessions.
“Everyone that I have met in Northway has been really supportive of what I am trying to achieve as they can see that ultimately I am trying to improve the quality of life for people living in the area.
“I am already starting to receive enquiries from people thinking about volunteering for the first time and ideas are coming in thick and fast from the local community about activities that they’d like to see established in the area,” said Anna, who is based at 8B Stewards Road, Northway.
A community event has been organised at Northway Infant School and Children’s Centre on June 2 between 11am – 3pm to meet local people and to find out more about their needs.
Children’s activities, such as a bouncy castle, football skills sessions, Tai Chi and dance demonstrations will be available at the event, along with an opportunity to talk to local community workers.
Lynn Williams, Headteacher at Northway Infants School, was positive about the difference that Anna is already making in the local community:
“Anna is full of enthusiasm and has already started to work with our parents to give them opportunities over and above our family learning sessions, we are looking forward to working with her in the future.”>