Lisa could be (and indeed is) being honoured today in a number of guises – but this award is as a local worker who works above and well beyond any job description or work plan. Lisa has actually got a job called the ‘Burngreave Messenger project manager’ which she started in December 2003. She joined the Messenger team as a volunteer herself in 2000 and she now has the honour of being centrally involved in maintaining the Messenger – and in particular to support the never ending supply of volunteers who work on the Messenger’s production.
Lisa’s role straddles both putting the paper “to bed” as they say in the trade – working alongside a fine band of volunteers – always on the lookout to involve more people in contributing and shaping the paper – and turning up at all sorts of meetings, events, moments around Burngreave (and Fir Vale) to ask, to contribute, to suggest – not just for the ‘next issue of the paper’ but because Lisa wants to see things done properly, and to be understandable and accountable to the people who live here.
The print trade unions – like NUJ, SOGAT – would be horrified by the hours put in by Lisa, and the conditions at Abbeyfield House. If anyone in this community demonstrates the attitude of “over and above” then Lisa Swift does.