A NEW community worker has been stationed on an Oxford estate to help residents shape the future of their neighbourhood.

Fran Gardner has taken up the new post with Oxford Citizens Housing Association to work with the people of Rose Hill.

The former charity worker will be based on the estate for two days a week to offer advice on issues from project funding to helping residents get involved in decision-making processes.

Mrs Gardner, who began work at the Children’s Centre, off The Oval, yesterday, will be available to help all residents, whether they are OCHA tenants or not.

She said: “I’m excited to be starting work in such a vibrant community and hope I will be able to really support residents and help bring some innovative projects to the neighbourhood.

“My background is in teaching, development work and fundraising.

“I have spent the past five years working for a small charity, developing their community-based projects, so I have lots of practical experience I’m looking forward to putting to use with Rose Hill residents.”

The estate is in the midst of major changes, with 254 new homes replacing 103 post-war prefabricated houses by 2011.

OCHA spokesman Nick Taylor said: “Alongside the housing development, Oxford City Council and Oxford Citizens Housing Association worked with local residents and other agencies working in the area to set up the Rose Hill Regeneration Partnership, which focuses on the community and social regeneration of the area to make Rose Hill a better place to live.

“Fran will be supporting the work of the partnership and making sure residents’ views on core funding for the estate are heard.

“She will become a member of the Rose Hill News editorial team and is keen to get residents’ stories and opinions for the newspaper.”

During her time as a charity worker in North Devon, Mrs Gardner helped to set up a women’s gym group and a cooking class that taught mothers to cook for their children while also learning IT skills through creating their own recipe cards.

She added: “I want to get out and talk to the residents from different age groups and every cultural mix, and from these conversations hopefully I can get some indication of what they would like to see and what their needs are.

“To really make a difference, you’ve got to be on the ground for a couple of years to get to know people and really understand the workings of the community.

“Hopefully community workers can be used elsewhere, like Blackbird Leys and other areas, because it’s a wonderful way to engage with people.”

To contact Mrs Gardner, call 0800 980 9272 or email fran.gardner@ocha.org.uk tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk