CURRICULUM VITAE    Rosie Edwards Sheath, BA Hons, MSc

 

A career in community development and voluntary sector policy & management. Commitment to participation, anti poverty & homelessness work with children & young people at local level, across sectors and in national & European partnerships. Interest in action research as a means of promoting capacity building. Research interest: scope and limits of capacity building in promoting change in relation to participation, power and democracy.

 

1. Professional Experience: (examples of key achievements in italics)

 

October 2002 to present: Consultancy on Children, Young People, Social Exclusion & Participation in UK and Europe. Development of YES Forum (European network on young people's participation & inclusion).Consultancy on young people’s involvement in plans for “Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008”.European strategy for The Children's Society.

January 1999-September 2002: National Programme Manager, The Children's Society: child poverty & homelessness. Led development of TCS Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy: included "One in Four" child poverty conference; national partnership with John Laing plc; involving children in DWP Poverty consultation. 

November 1996-December 1998: SouthernRegion Social Work Manager, The Children's Society: strategic and operational manager. Developed new Young People's Participation Project in partnership with RydeHigh School, Isle of Wight.

April 1989- November 1996: Project Leader Thanet Community Development Project, Margate. Led cross sector partnership with families, John Laing plc & FE College to develop Thanet Child Care & Training Scheme. Award winning project of Thanet SRB partnership, involving children, young people & parents.

May 1984-March 1989: Project Leader, Millmead Neighbourhood Centre, Margate. Development of centre for children, young people & parents run by families & local organisations. Handed over to local management committee as independent organisation.                             [Maternity leave & child care August 83- April 84]

May 1976-August 1983: Community Worker, Hereford & Worcester County Council SSD, Wychavon District. Focus on children & families. Development of Adventure Play Assn, Play Training and Children's activities in rural area & expanding town.

July 1974-May 1976: Community Work with older people, Task Force, North London. Development of community care schemes with young people through school.

 

2. Research activities:

Ø      Priority search: action research with  young people at RamsgateSchool, using ICT assisted quantitative/qualitative research programme, 1996

Ø      Collaborative Action Research Partnership with SOLAR at UniversityCollege, Northampton to explore achievements of Homelessness Programme. 2000-2001. Involved staff, young people & partners. Young People led conference, Newsletter & CD Rom, and "Young People's Task Force".

Ø      Refugee Monitoring Project: lead in research project for Refugee Childrens Consortium. Conference & report launch 15/6/02. 2001-2002

Ø      Children & social capital: research consultancy with Prof. Gary Craig (University of Hull) including study of impact of Children's Fund (2002).

 

 

 

3. Some publications & papers:

 

Ø      "Faith & Poverty", Christian Socialist Magazine, 1999 (on child poverty)

Ø      "Anti Poverty Toolkit", edited/co-wrote The Children's Society, 2001

Ø      "Children & Young People & Social Exclusion" Conference of Diakonisches Werk, Berlin, 2000

Ø      "Building Skills for Social Inclusion" (with Tony Dobson) YES Forum conference Brussels, 2001, Report published by BAGEJSA 2002.

Ø      "Youth Homelessness & Social exclusion" (with Barry Percy Smith), Keele 2002

Ø      "Children & the local economy", ESRC seminar series, Edinburgh, 2002

Ø      "A European View on Participation" (with Steimle, Vollmer & Dobson), ESRC series, Glasgow, 2003

 

4. Training:

 

Ø      1977-8 National Council of Social Service/University of Leicester: In Service Training in Community Work

Ø      1988 National Institute of Social Work, London: Post qualifying course in collaborative working practices

Ø      Range of management development, community development, and equal opportunities and anti discriminatory practices training. Wide range of ICT training including internet, all main Microsoft packages, multi media methods.

 

5. Academic Qualifications:

 

1990-2 MScLondonSchool of Economics, University of London: Voluntary Sector Policy and Organisation. Distinction in module on Urban Studies, Community Development & Participation.

1970-4 BA Hons University of Sussex: 2ii German in School of European Studies

1970 Letchworth Grammar School: 3 "A" levels, 10 "O" levels

Languages: German& French ("A" level) used professionally.

 

6. Referees:

 

1. John Griffin, Head of External Affairs, The Children's Society, Edward Rudolf House, Margery Street, LondonWC1X 0JL, tel 020 7841 4400, fax 020 7841 4500 email: john.griffin@childrenssociety.org.uk    Most recent employer (2002-)

 

2. Barry Percy Smith, PhD, Co-ordinator research with young people, SOLAR, University of West of England, (home address), 40 Holly Road, Northampton, NN1 4QR, tel 01604 631780, email: barryps@ntlworld.com   Academic Referee

 

3. Steve Easter, Senior Consultant, National Development Team, 5 Hillside Road, Chestfield, Whitstable, Kent tel 01227 277995 (works from home; work telephone)  email: seaster@ndt.org.uk  Ex Manager & colleague (1985-2001)

 

Home Address: 2, Dambridge Farm Cottages, Staple Road, Wingham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1LU  Telephone: (0044) 01227 720734Email: rosie.edwards-sheath@which.net          [CV Nov 03]