Community

Jim Cunningham - Bio

Jim has 25 years’ experience working in lifelong learning and community development, both in the public and private sector. Joining Southern Regional College in 2004, Jim’s role is focussed on bringing about economic and social change to local communities in the greater Craigavon and Banbridge areas through funded interventions and mainstream College learning.

Jim’s particular focus is to work with people in the local community to assist them in taking those first steps back into education and helping hard to reach communities overcome barriers into work, training and further or higher education through advancing cohesive approaches with other statutory and community partners.

Lesley has worked in community development within the public sector since 1998. On joining the College in 2004 she initially managed numerous externally funded programmes aimed at making education and training more accessible for those living in socially deprived areas.

Lesley’s role has since extended to encompass setting up and managing community based courses in the Newry and the South Down region. Lesley works closely with statutory, voluntary and community groups to identify local needs and put in place programmes to meet this need, removing barriers for those who would otherwise not normally engage in College based study.