Jean Brazil, local community volunteer and activist, met the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on Monday, to discuss her work on community involvement and community safety throughout Tameside.

Jean Brazil, who has been recognised an expert on working with community groups, was invited to Parliament by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears MP to discuss her work in Audenshaw and throughout Tameside with community groups.

Jean Brazil was a long time community spokesperson on Tameside’s Public Voice on Policing panel, and has recently been involved in establishing 24 new homewatch schemes in the town.

She has also been involved in initiatives to tackle crime and anti social behaviour with the District Assemblies and Police & Communities Together panel. Jean has also been actively involved with community groups at Ryecroft Hall, including on the Management Committee, and has been central to getting people involved in improving the Audenshaw area.

Local Audenshaw and Tameside activist, Jean Brazil, said:

"I was delighted to be invited to discuss my work with local community groups with Hazel Blears. Working with the police, councillors and community groups in Tameside we have achieved a lot to make the people safer, and to give residents a sense of ownership over their streets and public spaces. Hazel Blears has the power to make the initiatives that have worked extremely well in Tameside, work across the country as well, and it was an honour to bring the experiences of Audenshaw and Tameside's residents all the way to the Government."

Audenshaw's MP, Andrew Gwynne, said:

“I was delighted when Jean Brazil was invited. I have known Jean for some time for her work in Tameside. She is very firmly rooted in Audenshaw and Tameside, and has some superb ideas on how to get people engaged with community to make Tameside a better place to live.”

“I was extremely pleased when I was informed that the Secretary of State for Communities, Hazel Blears, wanted to meet Jean Brazil to discuss some of the ideas she has, and to see whether some of the things Jean has being doing in Tameside over the years can be spread out over the country.”