The Team

Dave Whitfield Neighbourhood Manager   What do you like about your job? I have laboured in the hot rolling mill at Stocksbridge (left after I walked into a cobble), worked in a residential nursery as part of my social work training and been a total bureaucrat as a personnel officer; together with a load of other things.  I know an interesting and rewarding job when I see one and this is it!  I firmly believe that this post has the chance to change things and I feel that I can really contribute to that.  Having to wear a suit on occasions is a small price to pay!   What are your interests? We were not a well off family when I was young and our summer holiday entailed going to Birkenhead in a B & B.  I did not travel abroad until I was 31 and so I am now making up for lost time and travel when and where I can.   Seeing the world afresh through the eyes of a 30 month old grandchild.   Participating in a life sentence as a supporter of Sunderland football club.   What’s your background? Considering that I have white hair, am partially sighted and was born and brought up in Hendon, Sunderland (the most deprived ward in the country at the time), I seem to have been quite lucky. I did experience unemployment, but by a fortunate stroke drifted into physiotherapy. After that, and a few other things, I landed up working for the Council.  Social work and a role in disability equality followed until I became an Area Co-ordinator in 2000.   All my family, up to my generation, worked as ‘pit yakkers’ or in the shipyards, so I am constantly grateful for the opportunities that I have had   One crazy fact about yourself I was so good at ten pin bowling as a teenager (192 average) that I was sponsored by ‘Wonderloaf’ as a ‘Dinky Roller’

Bev Nunn Community Development Manager   What do you like about your job? The opportunity to be involved in something new and innovative that will hopefully set the standard for future work.  Because we’re trying new things and have the level of flexibility that a pilot allows (i.e. making it up as we go along...), there’s a sense of “no rules” which is an exciting environment to work in.    But most of all I like working with people who bring creativity, energy, experience and expertise to the team.  Not to mention being totally bonkers and up for a laugh…it’s never a dull day in Sharrow!   What are your interests? Reading…cooking (…and eating…and drinking…)…camping…spending time with family (especially 7 month old nephew)…watching tacky TV…holidays…gym (I keep pretending I like it…)…photography (very amateur)…The Showroom…Old music (…Johnny Cash…Billie Holiday)...my cat…gardening (I’m interested, just not very good)…my friends…and talking, a lot.   What’s your background? I came to Sharrow Community Forum 5 years ago straight from Uni after doing a Communication Studies degree.  I’ve had a range of different roles, mostly undertaking development work, which has been great fun.  I’ve seen the area and SCF change a lot over the years, which keeps work fresh and exciting, and opens up new opportunities, so I haven’t so far felt the need to move on…   I have a particular interest in working with young people, which has been reflected in my work focus over the past few years.  I’ve also recently completed the Youth & Community Work Diploma at Huddersfield Uni which was hard work but worth the effort.

Ruth Passey Community Involvement Worker   What do you like about your job? The variety, the fact that one day I might be organising a walk about of Mount Pleasant Park, the next talking to individual residents about the issues that concern them, and the next playing rounders with young people after a litter pick.   What are your interests? Food …. eating it, reading about it, cooking it, growing it…..gardening and an allotment I share with a group of friends, crafty type things, D.I.Y. discovering the nooks and crannies of European cities,  English villages and gardens of any sort, reading -  particularly the Sunday papers with a pot of strong coffee, and  anything I do with my family.   What’s your background? Am one of the many who came here to study in the 70’s and liked the place so much that I stayed on. I worked in Social Work in Sheffield and Derbyshire until the early 90’s, had a family and took to work of the mainly unpaid variety (as well as doing some interesting study, English Literature, European Studies, and lots to do with things Irish). This enabled me to “side step” into the community sector, with work in Burngreave, before moving across to Sharrow in 2001.   One crazy fact about yourself. Well….. I’ve sailed as part of an all female crew of a topsail schooner, and loved being out on the end of that bow spirit.

Sam Killick Sharrow Partnership Officer What do you like about your job? I really like the variety of my job, from working on different projects, to setting up the website to writing articles for the Sharrow Today magasine and interviewing Board members. I love organising and am a bit of square when it comes to the detail of it! I also really like the people I work with!  What are your interests? I love acting in my spare time and especially like performing pieces that are site specific so you are actually based within the audience. I really enjoy reading and have recently set up a local book club where my other interest, drinking, also figures as part of the evening! Walking is also a real love of mine and find yomping around in the Derbyshire countryside uplifting and fun!       What’s your background? Originally born in Sheffield, my family moved down south where I spent most of my childhood. After I left school I returned to my roots and studied English literature at Sheffield University where I learnt all about poetry, prose, drinking and drama! I veered briefly into Sales and marketing after this and then took another turn into a nursing career where I worked for a time in intensive care which showed me a lot about human nature. Being a nursing sister was rewarding and challenging, however I felt that after 8 years of nursing I wanted a new direction where people’s needs were still central to my job but with a more social/community focus. The decision to make such a career change was a big risk, but working for Sharrow Partnership has been a great move and I love being involved with making local people’s voices and opinions be heard!     One crazy fact about yourself. Whether its being a love-struck Shakespearean heroine, a histrionic woman  going into labour with a pillow stuck up her top, a punk waiting for her fix, or an agoraphobic in self-denial my roles on stage have definitely been fairly wacky!            Nicola Hudson Community Engagement Worker What do you like about your job? The essence of my job is to talk to people in the community which is fantastic as I love having a good old natter! I’ve also done lots of different jobs in the past but I have never worked so close to home.  I can walk to work in ten minutes, I am working with friends and people I already know living in my community and I really enjoy learning about how things work and the new developments that are happening in Sharrow. What are your interests? My interests include the obvious really; I enjoy reading (in particular the classical stuff) – I love watching films while eating lots of naughty-but-nice food and drink, but probably my biggest interest is my children and rediscovering all the wonderful and magical things that being so young can bring.  I also like doing a bit of yoga, painting and drinking in the pub is a real favourite of mine too.  What’s your background? After graduating from university I worked as a journalist on various different newspapers which was extremely exciting yet gruelling at times (having to work to super-tight deadlines every day can take its toll on a young lady!).  Following that I worked in broadcasting as a researcher for an African television network company where I met some interesting and powerful characters – some were even royalty!  And before I had my children I worked for the BBC where I helped to set up and organize training and development projects all over the world.  One crazy fact I once had to entertain a group of very important broadcasters, so I gave them a night to remember and took them out dancing in the West End and got them all sozzled on Pink Champagne and Brandy!  At the time it was extremely funny –but I did get into trouble with my boss the next day! Samia Masood Community Engagement Worker What do you like about your job? I like to meet and work with all sorts of different people and am looking forward to learning more about how the community works.  What are your interests? I enjoy sewing a variety of things and enjoy eating and cooking food from a range of different cultures. I also enjoy working in my garden.   What’s your background? Whilst my children were small, I was a housewife, but when they started full time school I had more free time, so decided to do some courses to build my confidence and gain skills. Then I started work at St Mary’s as a sewing teacher and also taught ‘cook and eat’ sessions with Asian ladies to adopt a healthy version food. I also volunteered at Ship Shape and helped at Surestart with their weaning sessions. Now I am working in the community and finding out new things all the time.   One crazy fact about yourself I am very proud of myself for doing voluntary work in the area and getting my first job! Other key members who have been part of the Sharrow Partnership team from the past and present :    Colin Havard - Sharrow Community Forum Director Jonathan Roberts Sharrow Community Forum Economic Development Manager Julia Udall Architectural Researcher for Distinctive Sharrow Jackie Moore - Sharrow Community Forum Office Manager Lucy Livingstone - Community Engagement Worker Purno Roy - Community Engagement Worker