I worked as a business manager until my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness.

Full statement

I then became her Carer for 22 years. During those years, I decided to create something positive for us to do, and started building and running community projects, working with the Afro-Caribbean community in events and business start-ups, young adults in employment training, and children in performance, arts, crafts and cookery.

I was then invited to work with the local Council, Police and Probation, helping to create music and employement experience projects to help young people into work or college, and into useful, fulfilling lives. I took over the community safety strategy for a local estate and localised crime fell by 25% in the first year. We did this by partnership, community-building projects and tons of fun! I definitely hope to do more of this in Dalgarno!

In my spare time, my husband, who had come to England as a refugee, and I ran a refugee drop-in centre, providing translation, support, and assistance to new refugees. We accompanied them to interviews and helped them settle into a new country more easily with group support and a welcome into our home for a hot meal of something from their own country.

In recent years, having seen how inaccessible the local areas can be for disabled residents, I have worked with Councils, developers and planners to change their vision of what true 'accessibility' is. Moving beyond access, I would like to see everyone in our community being able not just to get around but to have a real say in what we build locally. Let's go beyond mere access to agency.

I am now involved in the development of small housing properties in a voluntary position, and in community safety. As a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for 14 years, I take a keen interest in networking and community building to not only help one another but to ensure our areas stay safe and people feel cared for.

I am standing as a Candidate for Reform UK in Dalgarno Ward as I absolutely love the diverse community, and the clear passion for life that is evident on every street! As a single parent myself for many years, I recognise how the cost-of-living crisis is stretching families to the limit, and how energy and food sustainability is just not there in London. Reform UK's plans to cut waste, streamline services and rebuild our local police forces seem to me to be the only policies really addressing todays issues. I would like to bring the skills that I have learned, in work, in volunteering and in life, to help build on the amazing community projects that are already there, and give them all a real voice and sense of agency in what the local Council does on their behalf.

I live and breathe for community, was raised to serve, and will do everything in my power to ensure that Dalgarno residents and groups get the very best support they can to continue, and build on the work they are already doing to make Dalgarno the very best ward in RBKC to live in!