It is an exciting time for Well Doncaster. The programme is growing across the borough and the team has expanded to match it! take a look and meet the team….

Hi, I’m Vanessa Powell-Hoyland and I am the Programme Manager for Well Doncaster. I have worked in the field of public health for over ten years. Over this period I have developed specialist skills, earning a Master’s degree in Public Health and becoming a Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University. My portfolio covers the wider determinants of health, community development and resilience; for the past 2 years I have lead on Health and Housing and commissioned a Healthy homes program. As part of my role as Research Fellow for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and part of Collaboration of Leadership and Health Research Centre (CLAHRC) I have been leading on identifying health and wellbeing priorities for Local Authorises in Yorkshire and Humber. My professional interests include; fuel poverty, cold homes, community centred approaches and health inequalities. I am an extremely passionate person who believes health inequalities are unjust and that by working with our communities we can improve lives.

I have been in post since February 2018 and my role as Programme Manager includes overseeing the community offer from Well Doncaster as we apply our learning from Denaby to support a number of different community led programs. These strands include community engagement, building community resilience, linking community and universal services, responding to identified gaps, increasing physical activity and evaluating the success of what we’re doing.  Well Doncaster will also look to be the key enabler to ensure that the third sector has a seat at the table.

 

I’m Jodie Bridger and I have loved being active from a young age. I’m lucky enough to come from a family who encouraged me to run around, play out and watch sport. I am even more grateful that I had parents who invested time in taking me to play Hockey, week in and week out at my local Hockey Club. Being involved in the club was, and still is, so much more than playing a game. It gave me opportunities to develop myself, pushed me out of my comfort zone, connected me to lifetime friendships and broadened my horizons.

It was through playing Hockey that I decided to go to University, where I graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2010 with a degree in Sport Development. My first real job after University was at Sheffield Hallam University, supporting the voluntary student sports clubs to develop. Since then, I spent the majority of my career at Yorkshire Sport Foundation (YSF), and that’s when I first had the opportunity to work in Doncaster as a Relationship Manager. I very quickly fell in love with the place, and after six years at YSF, joined Doncaster Council to work on the Local Delivery Pilot. Through my role and working with the Well Doncaster team, I hope to be able to help more people benefit from physical activity and sport, in the same way that I have.

 

Hi, I am Emma Nicholas and I’ve been part of Well Doncaster since the programme first began in 2015. I have been involved in the planning and implementation of the work in Denaby and have really enjoyed getting to know so many fantastic and passionate people who live and work in Denaby. Over the last 18 months, the programme has begun looking beyond Denaby to other communities within the borough and we have been strengthening relationships and building on assets as we adapt our learning from Denaby to these new communities.

It is an exciting time for the programme and for Doncaster as the growth of the team means we have capacity to have Development Officers working with our communities full time to really enable growth and change. I will be focusing on the Urban Centre, which is a complex and diverse area. I am looking forward to supporting some of our more vulnerable communities and work with dedicated partners to build on assets and strengths and addressing complex health inequalities.

Before working in Public Health I supported adults with learning disabilities in school and social enterprise settings, I have a degree in Furniture design and love art and design. I recently completely a Master’s in Public Health and I am lucky to have found the area of work of work which I am passionate about. I love to travel, spend time with family and friends and am currently trying to learn Spanish- wish me luck!

 

My name is Susan Redfern I live in Conisbrough Doncaster with my husband Simon and my two sons Ben and Alex and I have a gorgeous Grandson Quinn Jacob who will be 4 in September. I am born and bred in Denaby Main and have a passion for the place and the people. In my spare time I like reading, walking, baking and socialising with family and friends

After leaving school I went to work locally as a waitress where I worked my way up to Manageress within a couple of years. I then took time off to raise my family. I then worked as a Tour Guide at the Environmental Center called Earth Center in Denaby Main for 5 years working my way up to Duty Manager looking after a 400 acre site and over 50 staff. When the Earth Centre closed, I worked for St Leger Homes of Doncaster as a Cash Office Manager for 9 years and then as a Estates Officer based in Denaby Main.

I have been seconded to Well Doncaster for St Leger Homes to lead on the development of Garage 32, a furniture-repurposing project that support the most vulnerable in sustaining their tenancies and to continue the great work that has been happening in Denaby. I like been involved with the Community, I like talking to people and helping anyone to the best of my ability.

 

Hello! I’m Marianne Turner, a new Project Officer for Public Health in the Well Doncaster Team and I’ll be working with the community and partners in Bentley.  I am passionate about making a difference and believe that the community in which we live has a massive impact on our life opportunities and our health and wellbeing. I am excited to engaging with residents and support people as they improve their lives and strengthen the community around them.

Originally I was born and grew up in County Durham, I then lived in Keswick in Cumbria for 5 years whilst my parents managed a Guest House, before moving back to the North East to go to Northumbria University. Whilst at University I studied BSc Sport Management before going on to study a Masters in International Sport Management.  I then moved back to Durham where I worked for Durham County Council in their Culture and Sport department before recently relocating to Doncaster.

Outside of work, my family are hugely important to me and I enjoy spending as much time as possible with them.  I am a sports enthusiast; lifelong Sunderland AFC fan, become glued to Wimbledon every summer, enjoy watching pretty much all sports, and I’m the first to join in any game from Cricket to Boccia.  I also love visiting new places, particularly major European cities, and attending live concerts, shows and events.

If you see me out and about in Bentley please come and say Hi, I would love to hear your ideas for Bentley and work together to make everyday a good day in Bentley.

 

My name is Faye Rose McDool and I am one of the new Project Officers for Well Doncaster and the Local Delivery Pilot. The areas in which I will be working is Edlington I’m looking forward to being based in the heart of the community.

Prior to this role, I have worked in many communities across Yorkshire for several organisations within health and wellbeing as well as sports and physical activity. I thrive from engaging with communities to help them to become more active which is what attracted me to the role. I am extremely excited to get stuck into the role and to support the locals of Edlington with their needs.

My hobbies include running and I currently race competitively for the Kimberworth Striders. I have a Masters degree in dance and have previously performed and choreographed internationally for events at venues such as Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tramlines, Sheffield City Hall, London Palladium, Her Majesties and many more. Also in my spare time, I enjoy volunteering for Thornberry Animal Sanctuary.

 

Hi, I’m Jessica Woodward and I am one of the four new Community Officers in the Well Doncaster team. Following the fantastic work of Well Doncaster in Denaby I am looking forward to getting know the community of Stainforth and help them make Stainforth a happier and healthier place to live.  Alongside working in Stainforth I will also be working with the Get Doncaster Moving team to help link what we do in our Well Doncaster communities together.

Before joining the Well Doncaster team I studied at Durham University gaining a BA in Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity. Going on to work for a Local Authority working with children and their families to help promote positive behaviour change towards leading a healthy lifestyle and developing their Healthy Schools Programme.

Outside of work I spend most of my time with my friends and loved ones going on walks or even taking part in obstacle courses together. I’m also a member of a local hockey club and spend most of my weekends traveling to and playing matches.

I am excited to be part of Team Doncaster and I’m looking forward to learning and experiencing all of what Doncaster has to offer.