AN OAKLEY mum who gives up her spare time to get involved with her community has been chosen to be the town’s ambassador for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in the area.

The organisation’s key priority is supporting initiatives to improve health and employment prospects for those who live in coalfields areas, and now CRT want Ann Farrell to act as a familiar face and help alert them to the community’s issues and needs. She will help in her role by speaking to community organisations to find ways in which CRT can assist them with funding.

Ann told the Press why she thinks it’s so vital for people to get involved in opportunities such as this one.

“I was approached by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, probably because I have been a member of a few community groups for some time,” she explained. “I was involved in the steering group in 2012 which produced the community action plan for Oakley and Comrie Community Futures.

“I live in Oakley and have kids at the school involved in various groups. I’m doing it because I want things to be there for the children.

“I’m very passionate about getting involved, I really love it when the community comes out in force. They come forward and put ideas in and are participating. There are new groups that have formed in the community, organising the gala and fireworks display, lots of people are coming forward and it’s about pushing them in the right direction.” Ann explained that her role was to facilitate a relationship between CRT and the groups who could use funding to benefit the Oakley and Comrie communities.

“I’m sort of a middle-person,” she said. “As part of the role I’ve been learning about the funding that CRT has available. If any group has ideas for projects they can contact me and I can get them in touch. We’re more likely to hear – we’re on the ground and can make contact.” As well as hoping that more people will get involved, Ann thinks that everybody can benefit by pulling together and working to improve the communities.

“I’m really looking forward to getting involved,” she said. “It’s about more people doing a little bit, and that has happened. More people come forward and that means there’s less burden on others and there’s more happening. Even if someone just has an idea, they can come forward and get help from a group.” If any community groups want to get in touch with Ann, email: oakleycomriecommunityfutures@gmail.com.