Wandsworth

Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Wandsworth

Mrs Colleen Harris MVO DL

Appointed Rep DL: 2021

Colleen is a communications professional and writer who has spent 30 years developing and managing strategies for Government Ministers, the UK Royal Family and multilateral organisations including as the Press Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales, PRO to the former PM, Baroness Thatcher and as Communications Consultant at the WHO and the UN. Wishing to spend more time with her family, Colleen built her own PR and coaching consultancy. She serves on not-for-profit boards the YMCA (Central) and Dulwich Picture Gallery and is also a Member of Cancer Research. Colleen studied as a teacher and supports projects that support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential, such as Ebony Horse Club in Brixton and the Tutu Foundation.

Further information about the London Borough of Wandsworth can be found at http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/

Power to Connect

In April 2020, Power to Connect was set up as a partnership between Wandsworth Council and Battersea Power Station. They set out to raise awareness of digital exclusion and to support local families across Wandsworth who were struggling to access home-schooling due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

To date they have collected, updated and delivered laptops, tablets and desktop computers to schools and community organisations in Wandsworth, so far delivering over 2,000.

They are committed to continue to work with local businesses, residents and corporate partners to recycle, refurbish and redistribute more devices to children and young people in Wandsworth.

If you have devices or know of companies that have devices they no longer need, please contact Isabel@powertoconnect.co.uk.

Thank you.
Colleen Harris MVO, DL

Power To Connect, Megan Barrett with volunteers met Colleen Harris and Trisha Windsor, DLs

Convoy of Hope – 4 March 2023

David Kemmis-Betty, Deputy Lieutenant, bids farewell to the Convoy of Hope, which were five ambulances bought by local Wandsworth residents. The Convoy of Hope left the UK on 5th March and was en route to Ukraine with medical supplies.

Wandsworth Memorial Service

Louise Ireland – Deputy Lieutenant – attended a memorial service in Wandsworth

Wandsworth Borough Council’s Proclamation Ceremony – Sunday 11 September 2022

Colleen Harris, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Wandsworth, presides at Proclamation ceremony alongside the Mayor and Council Leaders

Ms Louise Ireland DL visited the Happiness Garden at St George’s C of E Primary school, on the 26th May. Also in attendance was the Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Jeremy Ambache.

A note from the headteacher

Our Happiness Garden is designed to stimulate wonder, imagination, well-being, storytelling and learning through nature for everyone who uses it. It is a magical space for wildlife and children, a natural woodland garden for play and outdoor learning and a habitat for insects and birds.

Based at St George’s CE Primary School the garden is surrounded by estates which are rated in the top 10% for deprivation in the UK. Because of this our children’s housing conditions can often be very cramped, and few of them have access to a safe green space to play in. When the pandemic struck our little garden became more important than ever. Our school has over 60% pupil premium pupils and over 25% SEND pupils (mostly related to social and emotional mental health). We felt that a space to experience the healing powers of nature and connect with the outdoors was vital for them.

We are a trauma informed school, and we are very aware of the negative impact the pandemic has had on the mental health and wellbeing of our young people and their families. The opportunities to get out into the gardens, learn how to make fire, toast marshmallows, and have storytelling under the trees has been invaluable. We’ve all taken such joy from seeing them relax, excel and enjoy things that many of us take for granted.

A core purpose of our garden is to offer safe challenges so that children can learn to solve problems and, in the process, build confidence, and develop an understanding and love for the natural world. It is also a place which encourages each of our children to explore, push the boundaries of their knowledge and working as part of a team inspires them to be the best that they can be.

Key Elements of our garden are: fragrant plants, colorful plants, nectar rich plants fruit trees, fire pit/stage/nature table, bird and bug boxes, a storytelling circle, fixed den building poles and kit, Happiness Garden mural, rain/sun awning, forest school resources and gardening tools. It is designed so that activities can be set up and packed away quickly, with resources stored close by, to provide a space which is multi-functional and accessible for many different of activities.

The Happiness Garden now provides the structural changes/improvements necessary so that outdoor classroom activities are fully resourced, accessible and can be adaptable, so that each one of our children can experience practical, nature-based learning.

The Happiness Garden, is used for the following:

BREAK TIMES EVERY DAY The identified space is in the KS2 playground area and therefore will be used every day through play.
LESSON TIME Planned activity takes place during lessons, as an outdoor learning area for a whole class, for teaching the curriculum with a hands-on approach.
LUNCH TIME AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLUBS The Happiness Garden is now used for forest school themed clubs, storytelling etc. and will extend our gardening, nature-based resources.
PICK UP AND DROP OFF This space is accessible for the whole school and community to enjoy.
OUT OF SCHOOL TIMES For use by pupils and the wider community.
HOLDAY SCHEMES will also be developed to utilise the resources.

Some quotes from the children:

“I’m putting things into the soil and then watering all the plants”, Jackline, age eight.

“I can dig flowers and make life”, Emir, age seven.

“I enjoy spending time with worms and the soil”, Nikkita, age six.

‘’can help the plants grow and adding flowers makes everything look better,” Emmanuel, age eight.

“I like finding lots of worms, snails and creating all the plants”’Aidan, age six.

“it’s such fun to get into the gardens and get muddy. I don’t have a garden at home so this is where I can play”. Child at forest school

Forest School Leader: “To see the children engaging with nature is such a joy. One of these little girls really struggles to speak in class but out in the garden she’s a different character.”

On the 24th March, the Representative Deputy Lieutenant of Wandsworth, Mrs Colleen Harris MVO DL, planted a cherry tree as part of HM’s Green Canopy to mark HM’s Platinum Jubilee. Also in attendance was Cllr Ravi Govindia (Leader Wandsworth Council), Fleur Anderson MP, Alex Mitchell, CEO Tideway and Mayor Field (Wandsworth).

On the 17th November 2021, The Lord-Lieutenant, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE presented an Oak sapling to the Mayor of Wandsworth to commemorate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and to promote The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. The Representative Deputy Lieutenant of Wandsworth, Mrs Colleen Harris MVO DL, was also in attendance.

The Mayor and Representative Deputy Lieutenant of Wandsworth, visit the Remembrance Garden at Wandsworth after laying wreaths in memory of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 12 April 2021.