Meir North - Neighbourhood Board

As a SEND mum, communicator and lifelong believer in the power of community, I know just how important it is to feel connected to the place you live and the people around you.

Like many families, my life is a juggling act of school runs, appointments, work and family life, and those experiences have shaped who I am. They have taught me empathy, resilience and the importance of creating communities where people feel supported, valued and heard.

I have built my career around people. With over 20 years of experience leading projects, managing change and engaging diverse groups of people, one thing has remained constant throughout everything I do: bringing people together. I am an experienced communicator who is equally comfortable speaking to one person over a cup of tea as I am facilitating larger conversations and turning ideas into action.

Stoke-on-Trent has always held a special place in my heart. I grew up spending a lot of time in the city and developed a real affection for its people. My time broadcasting on Signal 1 strengthened that connection even further, giving me the opportunity to celebrate local stories and engage with people from all walks of life.

Over recent years, I have built strong relationships with families across Stoke-on-Trent, including Meir North, supporting parents, attending SEND coffee mornings, community fun days and contributing to wider conversations that help strengthen local communities.

I don't see this role as leading a community; I see it as standing alongside one. I will listen first, build trust, champion local voices and help turn ideas into positive action so that Meir North continues to be a place people are proud to call home.

I'm Dr Allison Gardner MP and I’m proud to represent Meir North as the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South. I am absolutely delighted to be sitting on the Pride in Place Board after lobbying hard to secure this funding. Representing and supporting local people is at the heart of what I do, and this Board is a fantastic opportunity to go further, bringing investment to Meir North and helping transform the area. In the Board, we have a great group of people who care deeply about Meir North, and I can’t wait to work with them to deliver.

My name is Councillor Lauren Davison & I’m thrilled that our community is benefiting from the £20 million Pride in Place investment secured by our MP. When I became the ward councillor in 2024, I promised to work hard every day to make sure Meir North gets its fair share of opportunity, investment and support. Pride in Place is one important way we can deliver on that promise, and I’m proud to be part of the Board helping shape what comes next for our community.

Adam is the headteacher of the Crescent Academy, a primary school in Meir North. Having worked in Meir North for 7 years, Adam knows the challenges faced by families on a daily basis. He is aware of the area's reputation and has solutions as to how this can be improved. This has already been demonstrated through his work at The Crescent which has been transformed to a highly regarded place to learn. Adam’s relationships with families are second-to-none providing extensive support where it is needed and his personable approach means that people are willing to speak openly with him.

Hi, I am Carolyn Mason. I am a wife, a mother and a grandmother who lives in Meir, brought up two children here, worked in schools here and currently volunteer here. However, this is not all that I am. I lead a peer support group for mental health and another for chronic pain with lived experience of both. I work with peers to build their resilience and find tools to enable them to reach their potential. I would like to work to enable all generations in Meir to find their potential. I would like to work to enable all generations in Meir to find their potential and be able to proudly say 'I come from Meir'.

My name is Corrine Boden. I am a resident of Meir North, and I work for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank. I have been with Foodbank for thirteen years. Prior to this, I ran The Square Community House, which was based at Meir Square. I have remained steadfast within the community, and I am part of the quartet that kept the community meals going at the Community Education Centre on Pickford Place, Meir. We also have a distribution centre at St Andrews Church in Weston Coyney. I am very much a community person and am very passionate about the residents of Meir North. I have an understanding of the issues that many of the residents face and feel that I have a lot to bring to the table.

I have proudly called this neighbourhood home for 49 years, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I am a nurse by background and have dedicated my career to caring for others, values that continue to shape everything I do. I am also incredibly fortunate to have an amazing family, who remind me every day of the importance of strong, supportive communities.

As a Board member, I am passionate about helping our neighbourhood flourish. I believe in listening to local people, working collaboratively with partners and supporting initiatives that make a meaningful and lasting difference. I am committed to creating a safe, welcoming and thriving community where people feel connected, supported and proud to call home.

I’m Gemma, and I’m really proud to have grown a career in the arts from my Longton High School roots. My current job is the Project Manager – Arts for University Hospitals of North Midlands and UHNM Charity, working to create artworks for the hospitals, provide opportunities for music, dance, poetry and pottery for patients during their stays, and building partnerships with arts and community organisations. I’m one of the Directors of Brilliant Bamboo, an organisation that has a community mini-park and a range of events and activities for people to make and create with bamboo and other materials. I’m a mum and friend, I come from a large extended family, many of which live, or have lived in Meir and Meir North. I cannot wait to see what positive difference we can make together.

Hello, I’m Karys, and I am passionate about bringing our community together to improve health, wellbeing, learning opportunities and social outcomes, while fostering a strong sense of belonging and support for everyone. With a background in Midwifery and Specialist Community Health Nursing, I have had the privilege of working with individuals and families across Stoke-on-Trent which has given me first-hand insight into the challenges many people face, as well as the opportunities to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. As a parent, I am passionate about creating lasting positive change for both current and future generations. I am proud to serve on the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for Meir North and to work alongside others who share a commitment to making our community a healthier, more connected and thriving place to live.

My name is Kundai Mangwende, and as a family man who chose Meir North as the place to put down roots, I am deeply invested in our neighborhood’s future. It might just be Meir North, but for many—including myself—this is the only place we call home. I stepped forward to serve on this Board to give back to the community that welcomed us and to ensure that local development genuinely reflects the needs of all our families. I want to ensure every resident feels heard as we shape our local priorities, working together to build a united, thriving, and supportive community that our children can be proud to grow up in.

Noor moved to Meir and settled in 2017 after returning from seven years successfully running Staffing and Automotive training companies in the Middle East. Having worked for nearly forty years in software development and global customer service roles, retiring early looked like it would be fulfilling and provide a much-needed rest in 2025 after the birth of the first ‘potter’ and grandson in the family. Retirement didn’t last long as he formed a new company earlier this year based in Meir providing consultancy services. After travelling extensively ,living and working in numerous locations, the opportunity to contribute to the regeneration of the local area and wider community has excited a curious and active person for the benefit of the local region.

Hello I'm Richard,

I'll be part of the Pride in Place scheme. I was born in Stoke-on-Trent so I have the passion and drive to help improve the area to benefit us all. Fortunate to have this new scheme in place, with the collaboration between other members on the team who share the same passion, enthusiasm and drive I'm confident we'll see some exciting positive changes to the area. 

Richard brings the perspective of Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), a national charity supporting VCSE organisations and residents in former coal mining communities such as Meir. He is keen to ensure that decisions about Meir (North) are shaped by the people who live and work there, with everyone having a voice. Richard is passionate about empowering local people, building on community strengths and supporting change that will help Meir (North) realise its full potential. Through Pride in Place, he looks forward to working alongside residents and fellow board members to help create positive and lasting community-led change.

My name is Sophia Hussain, I am a mother of two and a clinical pharmacist. I work within primary care in the Newcastle area. I grew up in Normacot and went to school at Longton High School. I have worked in the pharmacies on the Weston road high street and I am passionate about seeing improvements in this area. I have a particular interest in improving self care and health literacy within the local population through the Pride in Place work.

I have an employment background in sports & community development and education. Currently, I am employed by Co-Op Academy Florence MacWilliams and have 25 years of dedicated experiences supporting families and young people. I am passionate about empowering communities and strongly believe in creating sustainable opportunities. As someone actively working within Meir North, I am deeply invested in the future of the neighbourhood. I'm eager to leverage my experience to support the Neighbourhood Board and Community initiatives to help shape a vibrant, inclusive future for Meir North..

Stanislav is an entrepreneur, investor and non-executive board member. Over the last few years, he's worked with multiple organisations in the area and in recent years, he's focused more on advocating and supporting the neurodivergent & SEND community as well as his adopted local neighbourhood. His aim is to continue on this path and scale up his involvement and the impact of his activities, whilst continuing on his entrepreneurial and business journey in life.