Simon Dale

Member

I’ve lived and worked in the North-West all my life.  In 30 years of Local Authority work I was in turn a social worker, regeneration programme manager, partnerships and strategic planning manager – primarily focused on the policy and practice of community development and local governance.  For the last 10 years I’ve been working in the voluntary and charity sector supporting a range of projects and development activities.  I currently manage Gearing Up – a social enterprise in Wigan that recycles and refurbishes bicycles – working alongside the anti-poverty charity, The Brick.

A wide variety of non-paid roles have included membership of a local Advisory Committee for Magistrate Recruitment, Local Authority Remuneration Committee, Trustee of an anti-poverty Charity, Director of a Social Housing Agency, and Chair of Governors at a 6th Form College.  Recent new ventures include becoming a member of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Preston and also a Trustee of Good Vibrations – a music charity offering therapeutic sessions in prison and other health settings.

I see people on a daily basis whose school and college experience did not bring out the best in them – or enable them to develop to their full potential.  I understand the value of good governance as one of the foundations for ensuring the quality of teaching in all settings.  That’s why I’m here.