Caroline brings a wide range of experience to the position of Coordinator of MERCi. She has worked as a designer, editor, researcher, policy maker and environmentalist, in various fields such as recycling, agricultural extension, environmental education and sustainable development; both here in the UK and abroad.
Her first qualification is in design and communication, followed, many years later, by an MSc in Environmental Resources from Salford University.
She has spent time campaigning on human and animal rights and in her 'spare' time she helps run a Woodcraft Folk Group and a local environmental action group.
For the past six years Caroline has been the Executive Director of the Mersey Basin Trust, a water charity, also based at Bridge-5 Mill. She joined MERCi in August 2005 and shares/combines her role as Director of the Trust with her new role as Co-ordinator of MERCi.
caroline[at]bridge-5.org
Alan is part of the support and development team, joined MERCi in 2005 as the Financial Co-ordinator. A qualified Chartered Accountant with in depth experience in management accounting systems, his brief is to consolidate and expand the present systems to ensure continued financial stability for the organisation.
Jemma joined the MERCi team in July 2004 by helping with the organisation of MERCi's Ancoats and Miles Platting Summer Festival (AMPLE), "a wonderful day full of creative activities, great music and gorgeous food , the sun even came out !". That was it Jemma was well and truly inspired , "this place is special , I can do good things here".
Jemma now occupies the role of receptionist and Hospitality Worker, welcoming guests to Bridge-5 Mill, dealing with phone calls and organising the hiring out of space for workshops and conferences.
Catriona is originally from an island in Scotland. She studied Geography at Glasgow University, followed by a research degree into reducing pollution from the oil industry. 6 months working on micro-hyroelectric projects in Peru before coming to MERCi.
info[at]manchesterenvironment.net
Ian Green has been teaching Information Technology (IT) in the community for several years; he was trained in many popular software packages and network administration whilst working for London Underground in the 90's. He then left the world of paid employment and used his IT skills to run computer centres in various environmental, social and community projects in London on a voluntary basis. In this time he developed skills needed to engage learners from a wide variety of backgrounds in the community and developed a programme of courses to suit the learners needs.
He started working as the computer suite facilitator at Bridge-5 Mill in April 2003. His role is to run the suite and provide one-to-one support for local people in all aspects of IT and develop and deliver a range of courses aimed at all levels of experience.
He is currently researching open source, free software and is exploring ways to use it to try and put an end to corporate control of IT in the community and make the latest software accessible to all. He will run training sessions about this in the future.
Hamish has been providing freelance I.T. support for NGO's since 2000. An early Linux convert (Red Hat 5.2) he has brought Open Source Software (OSS) to many individuals and organisations by training, advocating, installing and administrating Linux systems.
Also involved with internet radio shows, he recently co-ordinated the production of an internet stream from a field at the Big Green Gathering 2005 festival.
Bill's role is to support the voluntary and community groups across Manchester by seeking out any issues or ideas relating to transport and then assist to either resolve the problems or get ideas put into action. Bill works closely with the public bodies like the Council, GMPTE, NHS, Police etc, the service providers like the bus, train and tram operators, as well as the voluntary and community sector.
"I am a Manchester lad born and bred with a passion for people power, up till now my working life has been a series of warehouse, factory or driving jobs with a lot of agency working, never quite finding my niche until I got involved with the community network as a volunteer, this has given me an opportunity to see that there are lots of people working really behind the scenes trying to make life that little bit better for all, the beauty of working in the voluntary sector is that it is full of people doing the job because they want to, not because they have to."
Richard graduated in Physics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in 1997, and followed a common path into a career as a computer programmer. However he failed to find this fulfilling and after a period travelling returned to work in the social enterprise sector, more in line with his long held ecological interests and beliefs. He worked for the successful social enterprise Fairfield Materials Management which processes the waste from Manchester 's huge Smithfield Market and produces compost from it, and then worked on the refurbishment of Bridge 5 Mill, " Manchester 's Greenest Building " making extensive use of reclaimed materials including machining wood from reclaimed timber for use around the building.
Andy is a human ecologist with 20 years experience in the mutual, co-operative and social enterprise sectors. After a degree in Economics and Politics he worked in financial services, ultimately managing a customer services department. His increasing concern about the need for sustainable development led him to take an Msc at the Centre for Human Ecology in Edinburgh. He then worked with the Environment Network for Manchester before becoming the co-ordinator for Manchester Progressive Enterprise Network in 2003.
"Human Ecology is about the connections between personal action, social systems and the ecology of the planet. My work at Merci brings together all these elements in a practical way. Working with MPEN and the Community Network for Manchester I am able to support the empowerment of the local community and the development of economic activity that supports community and the environment, rather than undermining them as is too often the case. Ultimately, sustainability rests on a set of values and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to be able to work to promote these values and to work with people who share them."
Currently Simon drives Herbie and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the van, which includes purchasing the produce at the wholesale market early in the morning and then re-pricing the stock and displaying it in the van. He drives to his various stops and sells the fruit and veg to his customers from inside the van. He is also responsible for simple book-keeping
Claire works at Ridgeway Street Community Garden, Miles Platting, East Manchester. She started in June 2003 with the view to running weekly children and adult gardening sessions as well as the maintenance of the garden. These have been done during the spring, summer and autumn months weather permitting!
Claire also organises winter craft workshops, which include holly wreath making and snow globe designing, and runs a weekly on-line gardening course with practical elements linked to the community garden.
"I am really excited about the garden and its renewal programme for the next twelve months and hope it can be used as an example for other communities to look at and try for themselves"
Amy Shadbolt - Food Enterprise Worker
Amy is the food enterprise development worker at MERCi and is helping to develop the Fruit & Veg Van initiative. She has written the business plan, secured funding as well as helping develop the new route and timetable. Amy has also been working on marketing Herbie and raise the profile of the van in the local community. She has also written a recipe book, which promotes healthy eating and encourages people to cook with the produce that Herbie sells.
"Eating and gardening are in my top five favourite things. So this is my ideal job as I get to cook and grow food for a living".
Geraldine studied horticulture at college in the early 1990's and worked as a maintenance gardener at Chorlton Plant Nursery. In the late 1990's she and two other local people set up Hulme Community Garden Centre.
Geraldine has delivered a number of food growing and healthy eating over many years.
In 2003 Geraldine worked for Fairfield Composting with children from six Manchester primary schools growing food from seeds to harvest. She is presently studying at Manchester College for a Community Health and Tutor Training qualification.