About Us - Management Committee
CHAIR'S REMARKS
When a small number of us from the Suffolk and Lenadoon communities began tentatively meeting in 1996, against a backdrop of 20 years of ongoing violent conflict, suspicions and mistrust we had very little concept of what those meetings would lead to.
It is easy now to look on our joint work and what we have achieved without fully understanding the genuine risks, fears and threats that some of us faced in those early years, long before the language of a Shared Future was being used in any other venue.
We are indebted to those who believed in us and were willing to stand alongside us on the journey including the Belfast Interface Project; Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Community Relations Council, Community Bridges Programme - IFI; Belfast City Council and Atlantic Philanthropies.
We have come a long way but believe that what we have done to date has simply laid the foundations for greater things that we now want to move on to. We are working to build a Shared and Better future that will hopefully bring long term sustainability to the Suffolk and Lenadoon area and a better quality of life to its inhabitants especially our children.
We commend our story to you and hope that it provides insight, encouragement and hope.
Our journey continues.
Jean Brown
Chair
Treasurer, SLIG / Lenadoon Community Forum
Sean was born and reared in Suffolk Avenue and has lived in Lenadoon since getting married in 1984. He has two daughters, one son, and has recently acquired two grandchildren.
He was a founding member of the Lenadoon Community Forum, and was a voluntary Youth and Community worker for 18 years within the Lenadoon and West Belfast area until being seconded to work for the Forum. Sean was a founder member of both the Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project Ltd and SLIG, and continues to serve on the Boards of both.
Sean is currently involved in a voluntary capacity with St. Oliver Plunkett F.C (SOPFC), West Belfast Parent and Youth Support Groups (WPBYSG) and Horn Drive Drop-In Centre. He currently holds the position of Treasurer for SOPFC and WPBYSG as well as SLIG.
Suffolk Community Forum
Jean has lived all of her life in the Suffolk estate and describes it as ‘almost an idyllic place to live in' before the troubles started. She has been involved in community development work in Suffolk for over 30 years and was one of the founder members of Action for Community Employment, a community employment programme in the early 1980's which she eventually managed for 16 years.
A founder member and former Chairperson of the original Suffolk Strategy Group, now the Forum, Jean played a key role in helping to develop both the Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group and the Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project. Jean has been heavily involved in the development of Sparkles Daycare. She has been employed as the Community Development Worker in Suffolk for the past 9 years and feels privileged to have seen the work expand and develop as it has. Jean is passionate about the work she is involved in and hopes that in future years she can look back and feel that she has helped to make a difference.
Lenadoon Community Forum
Michael Doherty is Chairperson of both The Lenadoon Community Forum and Lenadoon Neighbourhood Partnership Board. He is the manager of the Glen Community Complex, which houses Childcare, After Schools, Youth, Women's support and Family Outreach projects. The complex also houses the Lenadoon Community Counselling and Lenadoon Education and Training projects, which are under the direction of Lenadoon Community Forum who are based in the complex.
Michael sits on a number of umbrella organisations and bodies including the Regional Suicide Strategy Implementation Board and the Eastern Health and Social Services Suicide Implementation Group.
Suffolk Community Forum
Harry is a long-term resident of Suffolk, having lived here with his wife, daughter and now grandson. He has been a member of Suffolk Community Forum for six years, and has held the position of Chair for the last 4.
Harry currently operates the mobile phone network in Suffolk.
Secretary, SLIG / Lenadoon Community Forum
Reneé has been involved in community work in Lenadoon for over the past 25 years. She is a founder member of the Lenadoon Community Forum and has worked for the Forum in both a voluntary and paid capacity since its inception, currently working as Strategic Development Coordinator. She represents the Forum at both the Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG) and Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project (SRRP)
Reneé represents the Forum as community representative on the West Belfast Partnership Board and is currently secretary of the board; she is also Chairperson of the Environmental Sub Group of the West Belfast Partnership Board.
Reneé also sits on the Lenadoon Neighbourhood Partnership Board and the Board of the Women's Support Network.
Lenadoon Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Annette, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
SLIG Mentor / Belfast Interface Project
We're currently writing some lovely words about Chris, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
Chair, Slig / Suffolk Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Deborah, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
Suffolk Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Ewan, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
Lenadoon Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Paddy, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
Suffolk Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Pamela, so come back in a few days to read all about them!
Lenadoon Community Forum
We're currently writing some lovely words about Terri, so come back in a few days to read all about them!