Meet Dave Green
Published on 30 September 2021 02:17 PM
Meet Dave Green, who recently joined Age UK Bradford District as Community Development Coordinator for Bradford South and Bradford West.
Dave will be responsible for developing groups and activities in and around the Community Hubs in Queensbury and Allerton, and he will build on relationships and connections with the local communities.
He’s lived in Bradford for 40 years, having come here to go to university, and has experience of working in social services and has been involved in local politics serving as a councillor on Bradford Council.
“I hope that my experience of working with local people will allow us to develop services and activities that the people we work with want and need and the contacts that I have developed will help us achieve our goals.
I have a broad knowledge of both Bradford South and Bradford West and detailed knowledge of several areas within each"
On the challenges ahead of reaching out to the community Dave talks about Bradford’s cultural boundaries and rebuilding after the lockdowns we’ve experienced in the last 18 months.
“There are cultural and language matters that we need to be aware of in developing our work in parts of Bradford which we need to ensure that we are in a position to address.
We also need to rebuild our activities following the Covid lockdowns and recognise that there may still be reticence amongst some older people in attending group events or face to face activities.
We also need to bring the Hub concept to peoples attention and ensure that paid and volunteer staff, the wider community and the people we support are aware of what the hub’s purpose is.”
And on his aims for the next 12 months, Dave wants Age UK Bradford District to try new things and adapt in light of our experiences.
“I am looking forward to building on the hub’s offerings and retail operations to a level that begins to meet the needs and aspirations of the community and the organisation.
We need to try new and different things and adapt them in light of experience. I am also looking forward to being able to develop the activities we offer in various parts of the areas I cover.”
Dave moves on to stressing the importance of volunteers in the success of the charity’s work.
“Volunteers are key and will continue to provide the backbone of the work we do now and in the future. We need to value them and use their skills and enthusiasm appropriately.
We also need to make sure they are fully aware of the organisation’s aims and objectives so that they can help us to progress.”
Finally, a message to the local communities around Bradford South and Bradford West.