Your neighbourhood board 

Who is the independent chair for your neighbourhood board? 

Who is your vice chair?

Dr Leslie Burns 

Dr Leslie Burns currently volunteers at Eighton Banks Village Hall which is proposed to be included in the revised boundary as it is a key community asset. He is a highly experienced community leader, educator, and governance specialist with over 40 years in youth work, 38 years in teaching and educational leadership, and extensive expertise in SEND curriculum development. 

As Chairperson andTrustee of Eighton Banks Village Hall Trust and Managing Executive at Tyne View Health and Wellbeing, Dr Burns leads strategic community initiatives focused on inclusion, wellbeing, and local resilience.

Mary Burns 

Mary Burns currently volunteers at Eighton Banks Village Hall. Mary is a long-standing community volunteer with over 25 years’ service at Eighton Banks Village Hall as a committee member, youth worker, and Secretary for the past 10 years.

She played a key role in the successful asset transfer from Gateshead Council to the Hall’s CIC charity, writing the business plan and leading fundraising efforts. 

Mary’s professional background is in post16 and SEND education, with over 23 years at Gateshead Council Learning Skills, where she progressed to Unit Curriculum Lead and Lead Internal Verifier. She joined the Parish Council in 2021.

Nicola Dixon 

Nicola has lived in the area for 48 years, which is most of her life. She has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.

She also work at Larkspur School. Nicola has worked there for 22 years, seeing many pupils return with their own children. She loves living in Beacon Lough East, it has a true community feel.

Through the years the community has faced many challenges but have always been there for each other no matter what.

Nicola feels it is now time for her to give a little back. Nicola wants to be able to help her estate and the surrounding area be the best around, because we deserve to be. 

Brendan Robson

Brendan currently works as a Headteacher at Cardinal Hume Catholic School, with extensive experience in educational leadership, local authority liaison and governance.

He is deeply committed to the transformative power of education and to communities working in strong, purposeful partnership. Having worked in the Wrekenton and Beacon Lough areas since 2002, Brendan has a long standing connection to the locality and a clear understanding of both its challenges and its potential. He brings strategic insight, collaborative leadership and a strong belief in building on the strengths already present within this community. 

Paul Gray

Paul left school in 1984 with no formal qualifications and began working as a roofer.

After two years in the building trade, he was invalided out and moved into vocational training to develop office-based skills. Shortly after completing 12 months of training, he secured a position with HMRC and has continued working there for the past 34 years.

Paul has lived on the estate for more than thirty years. Paul applied to be on the board to try to make a positive difference to the community. 

Kathryn Walker

Kathryn worked in the banking industry leading compliance teams in some of the biggest names in the financial services world. She also spent five years working in the financial services regulator in policy development and research support.

She was the Chair of a small consumer organisation for four years and sat on the council of a statutory regulatory body as a government nominee. Dedicated to ensuring fairness and equality she has demonstrated her continuing commitment to ensuring everyone is given the opportunity to succeed through her more recent work as a local councillor. Kathryn has strong family roots in the area. Born in Newcastle, she moved back to the North East in 2017 and lives in the High Fell ward.

Fiona Pollard

Gateshead is very close to Fiona’s heart as she was born here and spent her early years living on Leam Lane.

Fiona has been working in Gateshead for nearly 20 years, firstly for a homelessness charity, and more recently for Edberts House community charity, of which Larkspur House on Beacon Lough East is a part of.

Fiona is very passionate about social justice and people, and she can’t wait to be a part of supporting the Pride in Place areas to thrive.

Diane Kindred

Diane has lived in Gateshead all her life, first Felling, then Bensham and then back to the Felling again.

She joined Gateshead Foodbank as a Local Organiser in April 2024, forming groups that campaign for change in Gateshead, prior to that she had volunteered there for 8 years.

Diane has campaigned for several charities throughout her life including, NSPCC, Tearfund and Compassion UK, by lobbying Parliament and raising funds through the church where she worships.

Keith Wood

Keith has lived in Wrekenton all his life and has been an active member of the community through Wrekenton Methodist Community Church, The Boys’ Brigade, and as Chair of Governors at Harlow Green Community Primary School.

Keith served as a local councillor for 25 years and worked closely with council services and local partners. A passionate advocate for community improvement, he has led initiatives such as the annual Whitehills Nature Park crosscountry event for over 20 years.

Recently retired after 20 years as a secondary school teacher, he brings strong communication, listening, and collaborative leadership skills rooted in integrity and fairness.

Claire Ellison

Claire is the Strategy & Partnership Manager in Gateshead, working across the system with colleagues and partners to deliver place based service transformation.

Her role focuses on developing sustainable, community centred models of care, with a particular emphasis on improving women’s health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.

Having lived in Wrekenton for over 40 years, she brings a strong local perspective and is committed to ensuring that effective partnerships and community insight shape the design of sustainable services that improve outcomes across the area.

Mitali Deypurkaystha 

Mitalyi has lived in Beacon Lough and Wrekenton since 2007 and cares deeply about the area and its future. Over nearly two decades, she has seen both the strengths of the community and the challenges it faces and believe Pride in Place is key to positive change.

Professionally, she runs her own business as an AI strategist and consultant, working with organisations of all sizes, including charities, and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds. Previously, she ran a publishing company supporting social entrepreneurs and community leaders, ensuring voices were clearly heard.

Mitali brings strong communication, organisational, and partnership working skills to community leadership.

Emma Bell

Emma has lived in Wrekenton all her life and has seen both positive and challenging changes within the community.

She is a parent to three daughters who attended Fell Dyke School, with two going on to study Law and Drama at York St John University. Emma helped establish Wrekenton’s first charity shop, St Vincent’s, and in 2022 founded the Embells Community Support Project to address growing needs for food, advice, and practical support.

The project supports residents in Wrekenton and Beacon Lough, bringing lived experience and community insight to her work and board membership.

Mark Ferguson

Mark wanted a Pride in Place board in Beacon Lough and Wrekenton because local people know this area best.

They know what’s working, what isn’t, and what would actually make a difference. He didn’t want this to be another thing done from above, with decisions made by people who don’t live here.

Mark wanted residents round the table, shaping what happens next. Now is the time for people in Wrekenton and Beacon Lough to take control of their area and decide their own future.