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Rosa Goncalves has been representing residents in the South of Greenwich for a number of years. She started with local residents groups and their involvement with the regeneration of the Ferrier estate, where she has lived for 22 years with her 3 children of 19, 11 and 9 years old.
She is an active citizen with a voice for the community and as a geographic representative she is determined to embrace and represent people from South West Greenwich. In short, she is a permanent campaigner for a better future for all residents in the Greenwich borough.
So Rosa, how did you first become involved in the Network?
When the Greenwich Community Network first came about, I was already an incredibly active member of the community in the area I live. My connections with groups and organisations of South West Greenwich were extensive and consequently I felt becoming involved with the Network would give me the opportunity to give these people a voice. I have been involved with the Network since it first instigated.
What are your main interests in your work?
The main aim and objective for my work is to represent and work in partnership with residents and statutory, private and voluntary sectors. By working in co-ordination with these groups I aim to provide people with the tools, skills and knowledge they need to lead an enjoyable life. For example, I have devoted extensive time to improving the lives of children in my area, aiming to extend my experiences to the whole of the borough. If they are not involved in the work we do today, they will find themselves with the same difficulties as their parents do today.
Other areas I look at include:
- Older people and older people's services.
- The environment
- Housing and health
Along with the above areas, one of my overarching aims is to increase unity across the community. By bringing together community leaders, not only in the South of Greenwich, but throughout the borough, we can ensure everyone is involved and all needs are catered for. When I organise events I want to see people from across the borough involved, feel welcome and take ownership of initiatives in their area.
What groups or official bodies are you involved in?
- Vice chair for the Greenwich Community Network
- Chair of the Blackheath/Kidbrooke Housing Panel
- Member of the Diversity Review Board
- Member of the Borough Wide Housing Panel
- Secretary for the Friends of Sutcliffe Park Group
- Member of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) 6 Board
- Community Representative on the Healthier Greenwich Network
You obviously work with a large range of people, what have been some of your highlights so far?
That is a hard question to answer, as there have been so many! Certainly one of my proudest achievements was the production of a short film (drama) by over 20 young people from the Ferrier estate. With so much uncertainty surrounding the area I felt it was important that the younger generation could express their feelings and, after contacting a media organisation, it was felt this could be best achieved through a short drama film. The children involved received training on various disciplines around film making and their communication skills were enhanced greatly by working closely together. The project was signed off in style with a well attended public viewing of the film on the estates community centre. Those involved enjoyed it hugely and I am to this day immensely proud of their achievements.
Another event I was pleased to be involved with was Carnival 365, and I sit on the planning committee. The 365 is an annual event in the south of the borough and is aimed at community involvement. The simple objective of the event is to get everyone throughout the south of Greenwich involved.
Finally, I have become involved with the friends of Sutcliffe Park group. After the refurbishment by the environment agency and the reopening of the park in 2004, the group has been formed to ensure the best use is made of the new public space. I hope to encourage community involvement in the park and increase social recreational facilities.
With so much good work already done, what are you looking forward to in the future?
I see the forthcoming year to be very prosperous and I expect to be very busy. Among other things, I am looking forward to:
Meeting the developer for the Kidbrooke Vision – the area has been in need of redevelopment for some time and this investment is almost upon us.
I am also working on constituting the south of Greenwich Young Peoples Association, starting with the group I worked with on the film project (see above). Once formed this group will look at issues affecting young people in the area and together with local leaders we aim to guide these young men and women to become a voice for children and young people.
Finally, what role do you feel the Greenwich Community Network can play in Greenwich?
Through involvement with the community and voluntary groups I feel GCN can be an important voice for the community and I can take this to the Greenwich Partnership Board. With my close links to the residents and community as a whole in my area I am confident that their ideas and views will be carefully considered for a harmonious and prosperous Greenwich borough. I see GCN as a statement of community involvement.