Involve Northwest's chief executive on 20 years in charge

During Justine Molyneux's time with Involve Northwest, it has grown from a small charity in Tranmere to one of the most well-known in the borough

Known as The Community Village and situated on New Chester Road in Rock Ferry, it supports local residents with issues like unemployment, domestic abuse, mental health support, money advice and well-being.

Looking back on her time there, Justine told the Globe: "I can’t believe it’s 20 years. I've thoroughly enjoyed every single rollercoaster moment.

“Hitting 20 years has made me sit back and reflect and look at the time when I joined. We had six employees, a two-up-two-down house and a turnover of £168,000 a year.

“Now we have 91 employees, we’ve got our own building with other charities, our turnover’s about £3m.

Justine Molyneux cuts the cake during recent celebration marking 20 years as Involve Northwest's chief executive (Image: Involve Northwest)

“Looking back over the last 20 years I realised that 'wow, all of that hard work has paid off'. We just continue as a charity to deliver more and grow more.

On the charity's contribution to the community, Justine continued: "We support an average of about 8,000 people a year.

"This can be in any way; from someone who’s feeling really isolated and helping them to re-engage, or someone who’s looking for a job, it can be someone who just needs some food or someone who wants to come into an outbuilding and have a hot drink and piece of cake and just somewhere safe.

"It could also be someone who’s fleeing domestic abuse, could be anything.”

"We do so many things. Come in and we will do our utmost to try and help you, your family or your community in whatever way you need.”

Justine said the pandemic had seen a sharp increase in demand for services, adding: "The level of support has increased since the pandemic. I’d say a minimum increase of about 25 percent.

"Our domestic abuse service has gone up – we have a bespoke drop-in centre for women and children – that’s gone up by 70 percent since the pandemic.

“There are always peaks and troughs in that area, but the pandemic really brought about hidden domestic abuse.

“Some of the numbers are really scary and I know we’re not the only charity on Wirral experiencing such high peaks in demand.”

 Justine Molyneux has been with Involve Northwest for 20 years (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)

“The demand for our services is just getting higher and higher; we’ve come through Covid and are now hitting a cost-of-living crisis. People that we support can’t afford to put food on the table, heating or the basic essentials they need.

"We cover the whole of Wirral."

Justine, a mum-of-two from Maghull, continued: "When I started here 20 years ago, I never envisaged growing as big as we have.

"If you keep true to what we’re here for, to help people, then you naturally grow.

"Virtually all of our staff team is from Wirral too, so it’s a chance to employ local people. That is a bonus.

"With all of its challenges, I wouldn’t change the past 20 years.

"It’s a privilege to come in and see people helped and see a difference in someone’s life, large or small.

"We’ve got a fantastic team of people.”

Justine's career journey included many roles. For 10 years, she managed private nurseries and day facilities for children.  Then joined a national organisation that creates helplines, working as a business manager and reception manager.

“You can’t help but take the job home with you. I’m not on the frontline, but I do step into the frontline when I need to and take part in some of the events here.

“You can’t help but hear the stories of those families, children and can’t help but take that to heart. It’s not a 9-5 job, but that’s fine.

On the atmosphere within the building, Justine said: "Everyone that comes in says they get a 'really warm hug' when they do so. We've tried to create a really comfortable environment when someone comes in.

"If you’re going to come in distressed, the last thing you want is something starchy, unfriendly and behind big barriers of receptions; we didn’t want all of that.

"We've tried our best to make the environment a nice, comfortable space. People will come in for nothing more than a bit of company and a hot drink.

"We've got activities running most days and a well-being hub where we do free hairdressing and free reiki and crystal healing.

"There's genuinely a real buzz about the place and other groups going on, a slow cooker class for example.

"The best thing for me is always to hear the laughter. We can work in some dire situations with people, but later on there is the laughter"

“There’s the laughter, the camaraderie. It's just a joy.”

"We've done stuff for people, they are benefitting from what we do.

"It's an absolute privilege to do the job that I do."