Hi, I'm Izzy Knowles: I am incredibly proud and honoured to be standing for Moseley ward in the Birmingham City Council local elections on 5th May.

Full statement

If I am elected as Councillor for Moseley I pledge I will:

*Fight for our environment by preventing waste, expanding renewable energy and cutting air pollution.

*Make our neighbourhoods safer places to live by tackling crime, anti social behaviour, speeding and obstructive parking, holding our police to account, supporting the vulnerable and homeless and working closely with community and business groups.

*Campaign for proper funding for health services, especially mental health and social care, for schools and for our youth services.

I moved to Birmingham to work as a nursery nurse in a children’s home in Acocks Green in the 70’s but later I joined West Midlands Police, working on response, criminal justice, custody and with the best part of my career being as a Neighbourhood Sergeant. After retirement I worked as an outreach worker with homeless and vulnerable people in Moseley.

I have been described as a community activist. But I get involved because it is what I like to do. If I see a problem I want to learn what the issues are and be part of the solution. As a result I am an active volunteer in a number of different organisations, these include the district Housing Liaison Board which seeks to include tenants and stakeholders in partnership with city housing officers as well as holding them to account. I am a member of the Birmingham East Police IAG, which acts as liaison between local police senior management and the community. I founded Moseley Litter Busters, a group of volunteers who help to enhance and support a pride in our neighbourhoods. I help run Moseley Farmers Market which has done much to boost the economy and the profile of Moseley as a destination and I set up Moseley Alternative Giving Campaign which provide help and support to homeless and vulnerable people in our community. When the pandemic struck I was one of a key group of volunteers who set up Moseley Together which arranged deliveries of food and medicines to shielding and vulnerable resident, supported businesses and found volunteers for vaccination clinics. I went on to become a volunteer vaccinator with St Johns Ambulance. I was awarded the BEM for 'Services to the community in Moseley, especially in response to Covid 19' in the 2022 New Years Honours list. Most recently I have helped a group set up Moseley for Ukraine in response to the war in Ukraine and to support refugees and host families in Moseley.

Having lived, worked and volunteered in public service for most of my life I feel I am in a good place to understand and tackle the very many issues that matter to people, such as local policing, crime, fly tipping, pollution, poor levels of recycling and dirty streets, and to take on injustices that prevent people succeeding in life such as the housing crisis, lack of funding for schools, inequality, prejudice and racism.

I will be highly visible, hands on, local, accountable and contactable and when someone needs help or advice I will be there for them because it doesn’t matter who they are, or what their politics are, everyone matters and we can always find common ground.

I believe that everyone, no matter their background or starting point in life should be enabled to achieve. Our city is bursting with talent but our society holds it back. I want to see social mobility enabled through economic growth and educational opportunities tailored for all young people. I am suspicious of over powerful corporations, unions and bureaucracies. I recognise that challenges like climate change and the fourth industrial revolution require new and international solutions, rather than backward and inward looking politics.