WHILE most people will have an opinion on how best to regenerate Southend, few are ready to tackle the mammoth task.

But for Sarah Bedell, the call for small business people to join the board of urban regeneration quango Renaissance Southend was a golden opportunity to make her views heard.

The company was set up by the Government to spearhead regeneration projects.

Ambitious plans have been revealed for the seafront and town centre so far.

Ms Bedell, who runs her own arts projects company, Aspi-rational Arts Partnerships, from her Westcliff home, has worked closely with Southend community groups.

When she heard of the new voluntary position at Renais-sance Southend, Ms Bedell did not hesitate to apply, even though she was unsure if her experience would be what was required.

She said: "In my application form, I mentioned my enthusiasm for Southend and willingness to make a contribution.

"The role they have given me is to help with communication with all types of different people. We have to get people to tell us why they want to live and work and invest in Southend. It can only really happen if we all want it to happen.

"Renaissance Southend does not exist for its own sake. It is a facilitator which will do what people want it to do and works with both the community and corporations. What I say is, get involved and make things change."

Ms Bedell has been appointed to the board with a remit to deal with communication, culture and marketing.

With more than 18 years experience in the arts, Ms Bedell has worked for some big names including the Barbican Centre, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and English National Opera.

But it was her capacity as external observer on the highly successful Being Here community arts regeneration project that led her to apply for the Renaissance role. Being Here ran in Southend from 2002 to 2006, and involved more than 1,000 young people in performing, visual and digital arts.

There was positive feedback from youngsters who discovered talents they never knew they had, and artists involved, who gained new expertise.

Ms Bedell, convinced of the need to retain that knowledge, edited a step-by-step user guide, Turning the Tide, for other arts councils, published by Monu-mental Arts. In her day job, Ms Bedell specialises in audience development with theatre companies, organises workshops and seminars, and conducts research.

Ms Bedell volunteers much of her spare time as a member of the Cambridge Road children's centre joint management board, assists her daughter's school with arts information and networking, and is training to become an independent parental supporter and community health educator.

Although not a native of Southend, Ms Bedell has become passionate about the town since moving here ten years ago.

She said: "I would like to live in a town where there is a good choice for my children, for their education needs and their employment prospects, so they do not have to get on a train to London.

"It would be good if we could have a town which offers residents a choice of workplace.

"When people go into London, we are exporting our talent and it should be about getting the right balance and bringing in the investment and employers here.

"All seaside towns have gone through major changes, be-cause there is not the same number of people going there on holiday.

"What is important is how we move forward in the next 10-15 years and if I can help, then that is all I want to do."