Mary has lived on the Austin Estate since January 2000 with her two children. She joined Villages Community Panel in 2003 moving on to become the Local Housing Board South representative and then Panel Chair. She is a founder member and Treasurer of the Austin and Sunnyhill Community Champions, a member of the Austin Community Enterprise (ACE) Board, and has attended Austin Action Group meetings for over five years. She also attends the Austin, Sunnyhill and Old Normanton Forum meetings. Mary is a Freedom Programme Facilitator and Assistant Beaver Scout Leader with the 4th Derby (Derwent) Scout Group.