Joanne from Smith’s Wood
“I was born and brought up in Chelmsley Wood and I currently live in Smith’s Wood.
My mother moved to Chelmsley Wood when it was first developed and I was born in Marston Green Hospital.
My mom as a single parent brought my siblings and I up as best she could on her own, with traditional values. My grandparents were a major role model in my life also.
We are a family of seven – four brothers and two sisters. I loved growing up with a big family.
We may not have had a lot growing up but we were rich in other ways. I always felt loved and I was brought up with good values, that you only get out of life what you put in and if you wanted something you saved up!
The Baptist Church (now 3Trees centre) was the heart of our community back then and I spent a lot of my youth at the 7up youth club growing up in Chelmsley Wood.
Went to Keepers Lodge School and then on to Simon Digby Secondary School. I studied media at Solihull College and then moved to South Wales, Newport for University. Whilst there I worked in catering to help support my studies.
Coming back to my roots in Birmingham, I have worked for BBC pebble Mill, NEC technical group, warehousing, manufacturing, cold storage, retail and support work.
I now work in the community I grew up in! I work for SCH as Wellbeing Activity Coordinator. Working at Saxon Court I have been able to reconnect with my root community and the wider community. I now link in with fundraising and community events, with Marie Curie, Alzheimer’s Society, 3Trees, Colebridge Trust, Clean and Green, Inclusive Sports, Gro-Organic, Wates, Jessop Brothers, Black Train Music, ReCom, Accord and Unity Trust and many more.
I have also been an SCH tenant since early 90’s.
I have volunteered in mental health sector for Arts All Over the Place and was a committee member. I have also been involved in many fundraisers/pathway events for British Society of Myofunctional Therapy.”
