Britannia Village Hall - Staff

Dave Mann David Mann has managed Britannia Village Hall since 2008. He lives two minutes’ walk away, so has no excuses for being late to work. In addition he is the voluntary Chair of Bonny Downs Community Association in East Ham which transformed and manages The Well community centre, Flanders Field sports ground and the Bobby Moore Pavilion. He is also minister of Royal Docks Community Church www.faithinthedock.com , a West Ham United fan and is Chair of Governors of Britannia Village Primary School. Contact Dave: david@ilovebv.com

A message from Dave Mann...

A house doesn’t automatically become a home. You need an added sense of care and warmth which takes time to develop. Creating a sense of community in a place also takes care, commitment and time. This is what we are aiming to achieve through the work of West Silvertown Foundation and Britannia Village Hall. We love BV and we BelieVe in Better. We want to see everyone flourishing in a safe, attractive and exciting environment.

Since West Silvertown Foundation took on the management of Britannia Village Hall in 2008, we have invested heavily, in partnership with funders and other service providers, to deliver a great range of activities for those of all ages in our community. With Britannia Village Hall as a focal point, we hope a network of friendships will develop, breaking social and cultural barriers and creating a real sense of oneness and well being. We are excited that a GP surgery and daycare nursery are shortly due to open in the Village Hall and a multi-use games area is due to be built on the Village Green this summer.

We welcome suggestions of new things we could do and constructive criticism of things we could do better. As a charity, we are also grateful for offers of time and help whether as a youth club helper, administrator or a board member.

Dave Mann

Ellie Wildey

Ellie Wildey Ellie has lived in Britannia Village for ten years and has two children. Ellie calls Britannia Village Hall her "home from home". She started as a volunteer and is now Assistant Manager at the Hall. Working from 9 - 2 Monday to Friday - Ellie can often be found helping out somewhere in the Hall long after her scheduled hours. Ellie helps with just about everything, making sure the Hall is clean and tidy, coordinating the under 5's groups, bookings and "front of house". She likes to be called a "community mum" and is friends with just about everyone - all the children - of all ages, of all backgrounds and hopes she can bring out the best in children. Ellie revels in the social network which is Britannia Village and in bringing people together. Contact Ellie: ellie@ilovebv.com

Almir Goncalves

Almir Goncalves is our Site Supervisor and evening Duty Manager most evenings and welcomes people with his cheerful smile. He is originally from Brazil and is full of the Samba spirit. He has worked in the Village Hall since summer 2008. He enjoys meeting such a wide range of people and getting involved in youth club activities too.

He and his wife Carla live in Plaistow and are foster carers.

Contact Almir: almir@ilovebv.com

Time to meet Angie and Steve Allgood - and what a fitting surname!

Angie Allgood Angie's main role is supporting families. This includes Advocacy - particularly if families have housing issues or have children in need. Angie is the bridge between the community and the statutory services and her experience and friendly help is highly regarded. Another of Angie's responsibilities is Triple P - the Positive Parenting Programme. Also, Ready, Steady, Grow! Fun for the Under 5's keeps Angie very busy every day, and Breakfast at BV is a Friday morning 'must'.

Triple P, founded in Australia, the work of a group of clinical psychologists, is now an internationally renowned and recognised programme to explore, explain and encourage good parenting. Newham Council invested in the programme and Angie's training and small groups learn from workbooks, DVDs and role playing.

Fun for Under-5's - Baby Club; Child Health Clinic; Ready, Steady, Read! Ready, Steady Move! Messy Play; Ready, Steady, Go!, Ready, Steady, Cook! And Ready, Steady Play! Ready Steady Build! Monday to Friday there's always something for the Under 5's with their carers and organised by Angie and a great team of volunteers.

Friday mornings offer Breakfast at BV when local residents and parents chat and get to know each other over hot drinks, juice and croissants. Here Angie ensures the morning runs smoothly for all who come, offering various arts and crafts activities and harnessing the skills and talents from within the community . Its amazing how many people want to share their expertise in floristry, baking or needlework whilst volunteers take care of the toddlers.

Angie is also a Trustee for Bridges Community Project and spends much of her time fundraising amongst local businesses and organisations. Contact Angie: angie@ilovebv.com

Steve Allgood regularly has more than 70 young people at his twice weekly drop-in youth club! Steve has a hands-on approach which, coupled with his own naturally friendly and good natured personality, encourages the members to take part in the many activities he arranges with help from his volunteers. There's all the usual sports, dancing, computer and board games, arts and crafts, singing competitions, drama and of course outside sports such as football.

Half-terms and summer holidays are jam packed! Steve's youth leaders are able to gain experience by working for the nationally recognised Youth Achievement Awards. They help to organise and run a full programme of activities for children of all ages. Steve also helps facilitate ‘Britannia Voice’ a youth-led committee, which seeks to have a say in local decision making.

Steve doesn't just run a youth club - he takes a personal interest in every one of his young people and keeps in contact with them and their families. Finding time to teach interview techniques or through his contacts and relationships is often able to find opportunities for work experience.

Steve is so proud of his youth club - actually he doesn't call it a "club" - it’s so much more than that. He can be found at BV Hall most weekdays, if a young person wants to pop in for a chat. Contact Steve: steve@ilovebv.com

It all happens at Britannia Village - a trip to the seaside - a good old fashioned charabanc outing, talent shows, Easter egg hunts and community fun days - everything that happens here whether for parents and toddlers, young children and young adults -or the older residents of Britannia Village-brings the community together with the help of these utterly dedicated people and their volunteers - and of course with the assistance of the funding partners without whom very little of this could happen.

In fact everyone involved with Britannia Village and the Hall and its community activities is totally dedicated. Like Steve says "just drop in - any time"