Carrie Woods, Chair
Carrie is from Ward Royal, Windsor and has worked with Abri as chair of the Ward Royal residents committee. She used to be a radio DJ at university, and before Covid-19 clipped her wings, she travelled a lot for her job. Carrie is a keen boater, getting involved with her local rowing club and spending time on the river in any type of boat.
Why did you choose to become the Community Investment Sub-Committee Chair?
I’ve been an active member of our local residents committee in Ward Royal in Windsor. During this time we’ve been able to work together with Abri and local authorities to accomplish some great improvements within our community. With the same approach, interest, and energy I wanted be able to bring about more impact on the wider community within Abri. There’s a great amount of learning involved in this role and it’s been great to have the support of the Abri team along the way and to start to get out and see the local communities that are in our investment areas.
This role has given me the chance to see how different our communities are – locale, nature of the building, demographic, etc. It is amazing what a diverse range of residents and properties Abri manage.
Why is this committee important to you?
The focus on people is big change from my day job. It’s really expanded my knowledge and given me some different perspectives on being more community minded and becoming more aware of the challenges people in our community face. I’ve really enjoyed the learning that’s come along with the role.
What is the focus for the committee for the next six to 12 months?
Right now, with Covid-19 still being a major concern for us, all I want to ensure that we are focusing on any isolation and support needs as priority. A lot of people are struggling (who may not normally) and any support we can provide during this time is critical.
What do you want to achieve during your time as a Chair?
Voice of the Customer is a core value for Abri, and it should be central in in anything we do on the investment committee. Importantly, we need to understand what is most needed by engaging and listening to our communities. I want our activities to stay true to this core value which will ensure we are engaged and implementing programs in a meaningful way.
How do you think our Community Investment Plans will help people?
Abri has the ability to unite different support groups and local authorities to come together to focus on the community. These groups/authorities have different strengths they can offer. My view is that coming together with these groups can help be more effective on achieving improvements and better outcomes for our communities.
What do you love about where you live?
We are located in the centre of Windsor and have town and the Thames on our doorstep. Ward Royal is an older community (we just celebrated our 50th last year) so there’s a great range of residents who have lived here from day one to young families who have just moved arrived. It’s great to see so many people who share the same sense of pride living here. There’s a good sense of community and I certainly have benefited from the friendships I’ve made with my neighbours over the years.
What are the challenges where you live?
Antisocial behaviour is always a big problem for us. We have developed a very close-knit relationship amongst neighbours and work with the local policing team, but it is an on-going challenge we are always trying to improve.
Joanne Reid, Alton
Why did you choose to become a Community Investment Sub-Committee member?
It sounded like a really interesting opportunity. The role could be performed virtually to fit in with my life commitments. I’m a real believer in communities coming together if the framework and support is there for them.
What do you want to achieve during your time as a member?
A greater understanding of community development and partnership working.
How do you think our Community Investment Plans will help people?
They will hopefully fit the support to the area requirements rather than just following historical agendas.
What do you love about where you live?
It’s walkable to everything in the town. I have really good neighbours. I can take pride in my house and garden.
What are the challenges where you live?
Litter and parking mainly. We have had some issues with drug dealing, and associated moped riders, in the garages behind us, but that seems to have quietened down now.
Anything else?
I hope that Abri as an organisation continue with the excellent customer involvement work that was already happening within first Drum Housing and then Radian.
John Branscombe, Lymington
Why did you choose to become a Community Investment Sub-Committee member?
I have been involved as an independent volunteer (I did not work for Radian nor am I a resident) in various roles and responsibilities over the past eight years. Involvement with the Abri Community Investment Sub-Committee is a natural progression.
What do you want to achieve during your time as a member?
To ensure the fair and equitable distribution of assistance to those deserving Abri communities.
From previous work in the public and commercial sector, I have a great deal of experience in resolving conflicts, dealing with ASB and the investigation of problems and issues with a satisfactory outcome.
I feel that as I am totally independent it gives a high level of reassurance to interested parties.
What are the challenges where you live?
An ageing population needing high levels of health provision and social care.
The Lymington younger generation need the provision of suitable facilities and local affordable accommodation.
What do you love about where you live?
I am very lucky to live in Lymington, a beautiful Georgian town by the sea and within the New Forest national park. I was born in London and worked most of my time in the capital and home counties. Lymington is literally a breath of fresh air. I have travelled extensively both in the UK and abroad and would not want to live anywhere else.
How do you think our Community Investment Plans will help people?
To level up the balance of inequality and improve the overall quality of life for all those involved.
Anything else?
I am looking forward to working with the Community Investment Sub-Committee and sincerely hope we can make a real difference in the next 12 months and beyond.
Lorraine Thompson, Fordingbridge
Why did you choose to become a Community Investment Sub-Committee member?
I have been an involved resident for the past 15 years. Being a resident myself I feel it is important that residents are at the heart of what Abri does. This new sub-committee will do just that. We are going to ensure that what Abri says they will do they do! Investing in communities and improving residents well-being, looking at employment opportunities for residents,
at youth projects, services for the older residents and working with partner agencies. So that we are working with others and not on our own.
I want to see these communities thrive and prosper.
What do you love about where you live?
I have lived in Fordingbridge for the past 21 years. I love the peace and quiet of living in a small town. With good links to Salisbury, Bournemouth and Southampton, we have the convenience of the bigger cities close by.
What are the challenges where you live?
Although it is a quiet town it is not without problems. Drugs are a big problem, no facilities for youth to meet. Local youth club had to close. Crime is on the increase.
Anything else?
Although I have been involved for a long time, I am still passionate about improving residents’ lives. Working together with the staff on the committee we can see lives changed and the future is bright.
Sarah O’Mara, Avon
Why did you choose to become a Community Investment Sub-Committee member?
I have been a volunteer on a number of different resident groups for a number of years. I was keen to become involved in this group as I like to help improve the lives of residents and the communities’ they live in. I want to help ensure Abri and their partners are able to put relevant plans in place to resolve any issues identified or to help bring communities together and to ensure negative and positive activities are learnt from.
What do you want to achieve during your time as a member?
I want to learn from reviewing the Community Investment Plans (CIPs) and to be able to help identify what works and what we could do better.
I want residents and their communities’ to be happier and safer to live in, and to give anyone the opportunity to improve their lives in whatever way they wish. Whether that’s learning new work skills, learning about their health and wellbeing, or helping them become a part of their community.
How do you think our Community Investment Plans will help people?
I think it makes them know we care. That their landlord and partners have not forgotten them and that they are trying to help them improve their lives and the areas they live.
It will also help them understand what opportunities there are out there and that Abri can help breakdown some of the barriers they may be experiencing which prevents them moving forward in their lives.
I think it will also hopefully bring their local communities together, meeting other residents or people who live in the area. This will help people understand each other which will in turn make their community a happier place to live.
What do you love about where you live?
The beautiful scenery and the village community. I like walking down the street and always seeing someone to say hello to. To always know there is someone there that I can turn to if I need help.
What are the challenges where you live?
Lack of affordable housing. Due to good transport links to London, many people move down to New Forest and commute to work, so it makes it unaffordable to buy your own home or rent privately due to extremely high house prices and rents.
Although it’s a beautiful area and we have access to a MUGA (multi use games area), there is little for children to do, especially for older children at night or when its wet, without travelling outside of the village, which can lead to groups of children roaming the area.
Shanie Clarke, Portsmouth
Why did you choose to become a Community Investment Sub-Committee member?
I have been involved with various committees for a number of years, initially joining the Disability Forum within the Solent area, culminating as Chair of the Group. We supported residents with disabilities, challenged various difficulties disabled residents faced, resulting in favourable outcomes.
I have been a Community Champion at Tivoli Court for several years, supporting residents/neighbours, highlighting wellbeing initiatives and challenging difficulties faced such as anti-social behaviour and serious fly tipping issues (involving local police and council wardens). Eventually succeeding with the installation of CCTV, making Tivoli Court a better place for everyone to live.
It was a natural progression to join the sub-committee from the Community Forum, to support fellow residents, provide a resident’s voice and give my time to assisting Abri to achieve outcomes to ensure residents live in an area they are proud to call home.
What do you want to achieve during your time as a member?
To support Abri by understanding the challenges community investment areas encounter, providing support and promote the good work that is being carried out. To provide a positive voice as an Abri resident, supporting the aspirations and positive outcomes for all involved with Abri.
To continue with my involvement with the Funding Committee within Abri, assessing community grants/kickstart applications etc whilst promoting Abri in supporting the community.
How do you think our Community Investment Plans will help people?
To identify particular areas that support is required and promote better living conditions, employment support, benefits advice, understand poverty/financial issues, mental health and wellbeing support. Plus identify particular issues for certain members of each area (e.g. provision for elderly residents, support for children within families who face daily challenges plus recognition of issues encountered by disabled residents). Also understanding particular issues that may not be present in every area.
What do you love about where you live?
On a personal basis, I have a disabled husband and our flat has adaptions to allow him to live more comfortably, particularly as he is a wheelchair user. We have good supportive neighbours and whilst we do have issues that pop up from time to time, we have a good rapport with our Housing Officer. We are close to good transport links and local amenities.
What are the challenges where you live?
I live in the Copnor area of Portsmouth. We have had challenges with anti-social behaviour etc. We now have CCTV which has made a huge difference to residents. I live very close to Charles Dickens area (a community investment area) and have seen first-hand the difficulties residents face on a daily basis. There is excellent work being carried out by Abri, which is ongoing and positive, however it is recognised that more needs to be done to support Abri plus other local residents.
Anything else?
I have previously been involved with raising the profile of Abri (when they were Radian) within Portsmouth, attending events as a resident promoting the organisation e.g., hosting a stand at the local church, answering questions and providing literature.
I’d like to continue as a Community Champion for Abri, assisting neighbours and promoting Tivoli Court as a good area to live.
I very much enjoy my involvement as a member of the sub-committee and look forward to continuing to contribute as a valuable member of the team.
