Lara Blanche Ellis

Lara is a long time Heaton resident who cares deeply about community and wellbeing. She is employed as a support worker and is also involved in empowering people with long term mental health issues through peer support. Lara believes that when a neighbourhood is a pleasure to be in it can increase mental wellness, encourage community spirit and combat isolation. She is unafraid to roll her sleeves up and get stuck into whatever needs to be done. Lara is part of the 'Heaton Team' alongside Mehrban Sadiq and Clare Penny-Evans. Together they have achieved a transformation in Heaton over the past few years. You can see them working away through all weathers, year round. It’s The Heaton Team who brought colour to the benches and bike racks, lit Chillingham Road with fairy lights in the trees, brought improvements to the back lanes, got the planters blooming again and much more. They are actively tackling graffiti and are working to re-introduce urban appropriate trees to Heaton Streets.