Meet the Board
The Pride in Place Cotmanhay Board brings together local residents, community leaders, public representatives and organisations working to create positive, lasting change.
BOARD MEMBER
Jenni Wright
Neighbourhood Board Chair
Jenni is an experienced education leader and currently the Headteacher of Bennerley Fields School, and has spent over 20 years working across mainstream and special educational needs settings. Over that time, she has taken on a range of roles from classroom teaching through to senior leadership, including governance as she is currently also Chair of Governors of Firbeck Academy in Wollaton.
Jenni is a collaborative and inclusive leader – someone who listens carefully, brings people together, and helps navigate different perspectives to reach a shared goal.
Jenni has a strong personal connection to Cotmanhay through her work and has lived in Ilkeston since 2019. She genuinely cares about improving opportunities for the community, which is why she applied for the Neighbourhood Board Chair role. Jenni really values the chance to help residents shape a shared vision and make sure the Pride in Place funding creates meaningful, lasting change.
Email: jenni@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Adam Thompson – MP for Erewash
MP Representative for the Neighbourhood Board
Adam Thompson is the Member of Parliament for Erewash, having first been elected at the 2024 general election.
Born in London and having grown up in Wales, Adam studied Physics at Warwick University, afterward training as a teacher in Southampton. He received his PhD at the University of Nottingham, specialising in Metrology, and afterward worked at the university as a research scientist and lecturer in manufacturing engineering. He is the first metrologist to ever to serve in Parliament. It was through his work at the University of Nottingham that Adam first moved in Erewash in 2015.
Adam was elected as Erewash’s MP in July 2024, winning with the biggest positive swing for any candidate in the constituency’s history. Since March 2026, he has served as a parliamentary private secretary in the Home Office, in which role he works closely with the Home Secretary on some of the most important issues the country faces. Adam is also the chair of the East Midlands group of Labour MPs.
Email: adam.thompson.mp@parliament.uk
Facebook: “Adam Thompson MP”
BOARD MEMBER
Councillor Linda Burns
Local Councillor Representative for the Neighbourhood Board
Linda has lived and worked in Cotmanhay for the best part of 40 years – this is her community and she was thrilled and excited when she heard about the Neighbourhood Board. Linda is a Councillor for Cotmanhay and has had the opportunity to support many residents during her term, and she is looking forward to continuing this through the work with the Pride in Place Programme.
Within the community, she already serves on trustee boards and works closely with local organisations and partners to help promote and deliver community projects that benefit the residents across Cotmanhay and the wider borough. Championing disability rights is particularly important to her; she actively promotes inclusion and accessibility within her community and throughout her work as a Councillor.
Linda hopes to be able to listen and work collaboratively with our residents and groups to leave a legacy for Cotmanhay for many years to come.
Email: linda@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
James Bromley
Representing community leaders, organisers and activists
As Chief Executive of Erewash Voluntary Action, James is passionate about strengthening communities, reducing inequalities, and ensuring local people have access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive. Through his role, James work closely with residents, voluntary organisations, public services, and community groups across Erewash to develop solutions that improve health, wellbeing, and social inclusion.
James has joined the Cotmanhay Neighbourhood Board because he believes local people should play a central role in shaping the future of their community. The Pride of Place Programme presents a significant opportunity to build on Cotmanhay’s strengths, address local challenges, and create lasting positive change. He is committed to working collaboratively with fellow Board members, residents, and partners to ensure investment delivers meaningful outcomes and helps make Cotmanhay an even better place to live, work, and visit.
Email: james@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Steve Wright
Representing local businesses and social enterprises
Steve lives in Ilkeston and runs Framed Wright and Sporting Evenings. He has always believed in giving something back and helping where he can.
Over the last 40 years, Steve has supported local and national charities through fundraising and community projects. Many of his biggest achievements have come from working as part of a team. One of his proudest moments was being involved in the Bennerley Fields School ‘5 for 50’ campaign, running 5 Ultra Marathons in 5 days, where Steve and the school raised £50,000 to provide a fully accessible minibus for the pupils. He was also involved with the University of Nottingham’s Life Cycle fundraising campaigns, helping raise around £4 million for a range of charities and good causes, and was honoured to receive their Exceptional Contribution Award.
Running businesses has given Steve experience in planning, budgeting and making practical decisions. He is looking forward to helping make a positive difference in Cotmanhay and working with others to achieve the best outcomes for local residents.
Email: steve@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Sean Platt
Representing public agencies and anchor institutions
Sean grew up in and around the Ilkeston area, moving to Cotmanhay in his teenage years. With work he travelled and lived in Scotland, Sunderland and Reading. However, his roots and family are here. It’s the place he calls home.
Sean is passionate about fairness and equality. His morals, empathy and compassion have developed from a Christian upbringing. He is a true believer in the benefits of education, lifelong learning, British values and empowering people to be successful in their endeavours.
Since returning to the Ilkeston area he has volunteered in different roles, as a School Governor, now Chair of Governors for Cotmanhay Junior School and Secretary for a local community group, helping to secure funding for residents’ requests to improve their community.
Cotmanhay has a bright future and life in Cotmanhay should be peaceful, purposeful and prosperous, which is why Sean volunteered to join the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board.
Email: sean@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Michelle Roberts
Representing community leaders, organisers and activists
Michelle works for Parkside High, a CIC that supports young people within Cotmanhay. She is also working to deliver the projects for the Mayor’s Funding Award in Cotmanhay, which will provide a helpful link between the two funds.
Email: michelle@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Lizzie Reeve
Representing local residents
Lizzie wanted to join the Cotmanhay Pride in Place board so that she could provide a local voice and representation for the community, as she now resides here and wants it to be somewhere she is proud to live. She know’s that the area has so much potential and hopefully this investment will bring that to fruition. This is a great opportunity for local people to get involved and have their say in what matters most to them. Lizzie is really excited to see what ideas and projects come forward and then seeing these brought to life.
If you see Lizzie out and about in the area, then please don’t hesitate to say hello and ask her anything you might want to know about the Neighbourhood Board and how it works.
Email: lizzie@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
BOARD MEMBER
Richard Dawson
Representing cultural, arts, heritage and sporting organisations
Richard is a lecturer in youthwork, social work and health and social care at the University of Derby. He worked in the voluntary sector running a youth work charity for over 20 years before working in the social care sector with the Charity Safe Families, engaging with local churches and community groups to support isolated families and bring a sense of belonging. He is born and bred in Erewash, and has led and been involved in numerous local social action initiatives.
Richard has a strong interest in the arts and media. As an Actor and Director, he is passionate about the Arts impacting the community and originally trained in Theatre in Education and has recently worked with Derby Theatre in research around their work with care experienced young people.
Richard is also a regular presenter on our local community radio station, Erewash Sound.
Becoming part of this board enables Richard to serve a community that he sees such potential in, help create that sense of belonging and for it to be a place people can be proud of.
Email: richard@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk
Contact the Board
To contact the Pride in Place Cotmanhay Board, please email info@prideinplacecotmanhay.co.uk.