Jennifer Berbeck – Lewisham’s Woman of the Day

Jennifer Berbeck has tirelessly served her community, Lewisham for over thirty years. The OBV graduate is also the most recent recipient of the Star of South London award for her work in the public sector. Not only has Berbeck worked in various official roles for Lewisham council from a Housing Officer to a Nuisance Project Officer, outside of work, she has offered her expertise on to a number of committees including the Lewisham Black Staff Forum and the Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust in Brockley.

As a member of Lewisham’s Black Staff Forum, Jennifer identified a gap in the service when it came to reviewing race hate crime policy and ultimately initiated the Housing Emergency Support Team - (HEST) an out of hours service for people experiencing hate crimes and anti-social behaviour. The organisation’s fundraising efforts led to Berbeck and her colleagues raising in excess of £25,000 for charities and good causes.

Berbeck is a woman to be admired and we are not the only ones that think so. Her family friends and colleagues alike came together to nominate her for the TV programme ‘You Deserve This House’.

Channel 4 describes the show as,

“for those people who give up so much of their time for others, that they haven't any time left to put into their own homes.”

Presented by Amanda Lamb, the new daytime shows sees the houses of community heroes, such as Jennifer, receive a surprise makeover.

Francine Fernandes, Head of Shadowing Schemes for Operation Black Vote said,

“Jennifer is every inch the finest that Lewisham has. She has a tireless record campaigning for the rights of others and it’s obvious for me to see why she has been nominated for this surprise treat.“

The show will be aired on Monday 12th March 11.00am on Channel 4.

Rhona Asmah

Pictured: Jennifer Berbeck with Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham at OBV and Lewisham Council's Civic Leadership Graduation Ceremony