I’m standing as a Labour candidate because my entire working life has been rooted in service - supporting young people, disabled groups, older residents and vulnerable families across the public, corporate and charity sectors.

Full statement

I spent eight years working in Governance in a FTSE 100 company, having moved into that field after a career in buying departments. That experience gave me a deep understanding of how large organisations set their policies, values and mission, and how those principles shape decisions about budgets, safeguarding, procurement and accountability. It taught me how to scrutinise proposals, challenge systems constructively and ensure that decisions remain anchored in fairness and evidence.

When I left the corporate sector, I first transitioned into a sailing charity in South London that worked with under‑privileged young people and disability groups. The aim was to give young people safe, structured opportunities that kept them off the streets and opened doors they would never otherwise have had. It was incredibly rewarding to see some of those young people go on to build long‑term careers in the maritime industry — opportunities that simply wouldn’t have existed without the charity’s support. We also worked closely with the local police on safeguarding and early‑intervention work, including how to spot signs of radicalisation and vulnerability.

I then joined Age UK at national level, initially in a department delivering services for older people across the country and supporting local Age UK partners. This gave me a clear understanding of the challenges older people face and the importance of consistent, high‑quality local provision. I later moved into the Finance and Corporate Team, where I gained a deep understanding of how a major charity manages its resources, governance, risk and organisational priorities. Before redundancy, I moved into the newly formed CIC — the revenue‑raising arm of Age UK that helps fund the charity’s wider good works. This gave me insight into how sustainable income generation underpins the services people rely on.

Since 2022, I’ve worked with Age UK locally, strengthening my understanding of the needs of older residents in Havering. I have also been a Co‑op Member Pioneer for two years, which gave me insight into the work of many charities across the borough and how they are responding to different community needs. This role reinforced the importance of partnership working and community‑led solutions.

Alongside my professional work, I’ve spent years volunteering locally — coordinating and facilitating suicide‑bereavement support groups, listening to people on a charity helpline, and supporting mental‑health organisations. Through this, I’ve seen first‑hand the pressures that drive people into crisis: the cost of living, family breakdown, abuse, loneliness, caring responsibilities, debt and the gaps in local services that leave people feeling abandoned. These experiences have shaped my understanding of what compassionate, effective local support should look like.

At national level, I supported multi‑agency engagement and advocacy when pension‑access changes left many older people at risk of scams. I’ve taken part in wellbeing events, community campaigns and collaborative work that required bringing together different organisations and professionals to address complex needs and improve outcomes for residents.

That’s the experience I want to bring into the council: practical, grounded, community‑focused work that puts residents first. I’m not a career politician — I’m someone who has spent years listening to people, supporting them and fighting for fair treatment, whether in Parliament, in a charity boardroom or in a community hall.

If elected, I will work for cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, better local services and a council that is transparent, responsive and genuinely accountable. I believe in practical solutions, not slogans; evidence, not fear‑mongering; and community involvement, not top‑down decisions.

Hylands and Harrow Lodge deserves a councillor who understands how systems work, who knows how to advocate effectively, and who will always put residents’ needs above political noise. That’s the commitment I’m offering.

Promoted by Alison Cummerson for Patricia Ann Farrell at Saffron House, 273 South St, Romford RM1 2BE