Representing...
by Mark Lankshear
Rose Ardron arrived in Burngreave in
the 70s with a group of builders, helping fit indoor toilets,
insulation and rewiring homes. From those early days of direct
action she always wanted to find somewhere useful to put her
energies. As a founder member of BCAF and the Sheffield Women’s
Forum she has gone on to become the Community Chair of the
New Deal Partnership Board.
So how did you get involved in trying
to improve the area?
“In those days we just got on with it, like pushing
prams in fancy dress to fund raise for the Adventure Playground.
I trained as a joiner and I ended up co-ordinating women’s
training in Worksop. We provided a nursery and transport,
the kind of positive action that’s still needed if we’re
going to get women involved in the improvements in our area.”
How did you get involved in the
New Deal?
“When New Deal arrived it was like a tidal wave. It
brought lots of benefits but didn’t really build on
what was already here. I thought that instead of pressing
for change from the outside I should get my hands dirty. It’ll
never be everything we hoped, but the challenge is ‘How
do we make the best of it?’”
How do you feel the New Deal is
going?
“We’re getting a reputation as a New Deal who’s
got its act together. There are excellent Community Reps and
I’m proud we won the battle to keep a community Chair
so the leadership stays in community hands. After the pain
of the first few years we’ve got a good run at the middle
chunk. Things are starting to happen like the Learning Campaign,
the Neighbourhood Wardens and improvements to Spital Hill.”
Do you think you can make a difference?
“It can be so slow and frustrating. You have to choose
what you want to change and keep at it, you can’t get
disheartened. The Community reps work hard together and we
try and make sure that the maximum benefit comes to the local
community.”
What are the issues for women in
Burngreave now?
“I helped organise a women’s day recently, it
was very hands on, just like the old days. The issues raised
weren’t surprising, more childcare and ‘out of
school’ activities, crime and safety, cleaning up and
improving facilities, more education and jobs, more respect
for individuals and our cultural wealth. It’s great
to see the South Yorkshire Women’s Development Trust
working in the area with their ‘Women in Front’
course on confidence and leadership skills, which is oversubscribed.”
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