The new community worker in Braithwaite and Guard House has lived on the estate for the past 27 years.

Pauline Ackroyd has been heavily involved for almost two decades at the community centre where she is based.

Pauline, 48, of Coronation Way, joined the Whinfield Centre's mother and toddler group 17 years ago and has since brought up six children. She has been secretary of the building's management committee for most of the past decade as well as serving as caretaker.

Pauline has twice run the centre temporarily following the resignation of previous community development workers. This time she decided to apply for the permanent job and was interviewed with 12 other applicants by her employers, Braith-waite and Guard House Community Assoc-iation. Pauline says that although she has a good understanding of how the centre works, and what her committee wants, she does not know everything. She plans to talk to people in Braithwaite and Guard House about their needs and will organise a questionnaire for the whole estate over the next few weeks.

She says: "There isn't much need for change. I want to expand the activities, but I don't want to lose any of the things we have now. I want to encourage more people to use the centre and get the things they want. It's open to any age group."

She particularly wants to involve young people between teenage and early 20s, lone parents and young mothers.

Audrey Paige, chairman of the community association, says Pauline was a popular choice to become the public face of the Whinfield Centre. She adds: "Pauline knows the community and she's involved in it. People are walking around with smiles on their faces now."

Anyone with ideas for activities or services should contact Pauline at the centre any weekday, or phone 01535 665935.

Current activities: Sunday, Fern Fellowship Sunday School 11am-noon, You and Me disabled and able-bodied disco 7-9pm; Monday, JOIN group for adults with mild learning disabilities; Tuesday, Community Shop 9.15-11.45am, line dancing 1-2.30pm, tool library 10am-noon; Wednesday, drop-in for chat and cuppa 9.30am-noon and 1-2.30pm; Thursday, senior citizens' luncheon club 10am-2.30pm, tool library 10am-noon.

Before and after-school childcare runs from Monday to Friday and the ABC group for children aged five to 12 runs Monday to Wednesday (6.30-9.30pm) and Saturday (2-5pm).

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