About us

Aims

Our aim is to provide a service which supports the growth of skills and networks so that people are able to initiate and participate in their own and their community's development. This is achieved by working at a neighbourhood level within a vision of equal opportunity and sustainability.

These aims are illustrated in the following extracts from the memorandum of association of the company:-

(a) To improve the lives of local people, primarily within communities which are economically and socially disadvantaged, through economic development, regeneration, community capacity building and personal development activities.

(b) To create employment opportunities and develop the workforce, encourage industrial and commercial activity, support co-operative and social enterprise; to provide advice, information and support services, education and training, consultancy and professional services; to carry out research; and to pursue any other activity in support of these objects.

(c) To promote mutual self-help within communities through local initiatives which empower people to meet their own personal and collective needs and participate more fully in their community; in the process, to develop the skills, self-confidence and employability of individuals, and the capacity of voluntary and community organisations.

New Era fulfils its aims by developing and running varied community development, training and employment projects, and more significantly, enables local residents successfully to develop and manage their own. These projects are generally funded through a mix of public sector funding and grant funding regimes.

History

New Era was established in 1987 and although the company has undertaken work throughout Lancashire it works mainly in East Lancashire.

Commitment to quality

New Era is committed to high standards of work throughout the organisation. This commitment is expressed in every aspect of New Era's work, in practice and in writing, both internally through its practices and externally through its project work. The commitment is integral to New Era's purposes, and is subject to self-evaluation in several ways. The exacting standards required by funding bodies in relation to outputs and financial reporting are also met.

New Era has been recognised as continuing to meet the requirements of the national standard for effective Investment in People and has been awarded the Matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services.

New Era actively responds to all the above evaluation, regularly reviewing its activities, policies and procedures. Recommendations for improvements are made, and the consequent changes are monitored, appraised and reviewed, to ensure they achieve the planned result.

Structure

New Era's own management structure is founded on the principles of co-operative working and community accountability. All staff are involved in the management through a staff committee and representation on the Steering Group.

New Era is a membership organisation open to all who share its aims and from which is elected a Board of Directors. The Board delegates management to a "Steering Group".

The Steering Group is responsible for obtaining contracts for projects which further the company's aims. It appoints a project team of a key worker and project workers to carry out the work of the project. Administrative support is provided to each project from a team of administrative workers with an administration key worker. Financial and accounting support is provided to each project from a team of accounts worker with a finance key worker. The Steering Group receives reports from and monitors progress of projects.

The appointed project key workers are responsible for the delivery of contracts. Key workers allocate staff to the tasks according to the needs of the clients and the abilities, skills and experience of the staff member. Project workers may work on one or more projects according to their skills and experiences.

The Operations Group is an advisory and co-ordinating meeting of project and admin key workers providing co-ordination of project activity within the company as a whole and support for key workers.

Staff

Sarah Bailey

Sarah Bailey is part  time Finance Worker for the Company, working in the Finance Team with Karen. Sarah is also involved in NESOS work for Co-ops North West.

Fiona Duncan-Aspden (Fe)

Fiona Duncan is part time Project Worker promoting apprenticeships and working on The Childcare Agency.

Emma Horsfall

Emma Horsfall is a part time Key Worker developing bids for future work.

Karen Pashley

Karen Pashley is a part time Key Worker - finance, working on the company accounts, and funding bids, and involved in NESOS work. She works with Key Workers as the "Development Group".

Sue Rae

Sue Rae is a part time Key Worker on the Train to Gain Project and ESF Training Projects. She is Centre Co-Ordinator and tutor for New Era Enterprises Training and Assessment Centre (NEETAC) and the CACHE accredited courses of NEETAC. Sue is the Key Worker for the Play Centre Pre-School.

Jackie Ringer

Jackie Ringer is a part time Key Worker for the Childcare Agency.

Kath Rowley

Kath Rowley is a part time Administration Key Worker. She is responsible for co-ordinating the admin support to the company and projects, for health and safety of the company, and is involved in NESOS work. She is also a back up for the Childcare Agency.

Elaine Sharples

Elaine Sharples is a part-time Project Worker on the Train to Gain and ESF Training Projects and is an accredited Assessor. 

Jean Wilkinson

Jean Wilkinson is a part time Administraton worker.

Wendy Woodfine

Wendy Woodfine is a part time Project Worker on the Train to Gain and ESF Training Projects and is also an accredited Assessor.

Ann Marie Wrigley

Ann Marie Wrigley is Vice Chair of New Era and works on a casual basis on NESOS work, specialising in social enterprise development. She works with Karen and other Key Workers as the "Development Group".

Vanessa Sutton

Vanessa Sutton is the cleaner and works 1 hour each day, normally after 5.00pm.

Play Centre Pre-School Staff - Carole Blacklock, Tracey McGeorge, Judith Kumar

Carol, Tracey and Judith are Assistant Play Leaders at the Play Centre Pre-School. There are also volunteers/students placed at the Play Centre Pre-school. The Jey Worker is sue Rae, supported by Elaine and Wendy.

Crèche Staff

New Era employs qualified crèche workers on a casual basis and on "block-bookings" to fill crèches in various venues in East Lancashire.

Board Members

Bill Greenwood

(Chair)

Jackie Ringer

(Secretary)

Full time member of staff.

Karen Pashley

(Treasurer)

Full time member of staff.

Kath Rowley

(Minutes)

Full time member of staff.

Ann Marie Wrigley

 (Vice Chair)

Full time member of staff.

Sue Rae

Full time member of staff.

Emma Horsfall

Full time member of staff.