Riverside Community Big Local 2022 AGM
A well attended AGM saw four new board members and a new chair for the board
The residents heard feedback from about a selection of current projects.
First to speak was Steve Catchpole talking about Beachcombers and alley cleans and Steve’s involvement stretches nearly to the beginning of the Riverside Community Big Local. Initially clean the foreshore of Grays beach from plastic and other items that have neen dumps, he now helps and advises Orchard forum on cleaning back alleyways.
Next up was Jacqueline and Katherine bringing us upto date with the work on the community allotment. They group meets every Tuesday at 10 o’clock at Gate 6 of the allotments and anyone can come along and help.
David spoken next about a project helping child who at risk of exclusion from school and how they can be helped by through a program of mentoring training. This is a new project but has fantastic potential to turn lives around and help young people succeed.
The final project update was brought by Renae, a board member-who along with Tanya and Monty run a Community Lunch once a month for older people who are at risk of being isolated in the community after over two years of pandemic restrictions
Jan Stobart the Big Local representative explained how the Big Local works, a resident lead groups working to create lasting change in the area.
This was followed Neil Woodbridge who’s company looks after the finances he also talked the group through the current plan and the spending that had been agreed.
Our outgoing chair, Andy Blakey, spoke of the ethos of Riverside Community Big Local and about some of the successful projects the Riverside Community Big Local has delivered and some thoughts for the future going forward.
The 4 new members were welcome to the board and a new chair was elected
The meeting was closed with the Riverside Community Big Local’s long serving chair, Andy Blakey, standing down. Our Big Local Rep, Jan Stobbard, Locally Trusted Organisation Rep, Neil Woodbridge and vice chair, Guv Sehmbi presented Andy with gifts as a mark of our appreciation for all he has done.
