Karen Rowland is an Abbey ward resident, passionate about achieving the best possible quality of life for everyone in Abbey.

Full statement

She is invigorated by our historic town-centre ward which is also at the epicentre of Reading's rapidly evolving future. However, Karen is determined that this progress does not come at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society, nor does it make Reading a town we cannot recognise in 10 years. She lays a large amount of blame directly at the feet of the current government for the sustained austerity that has negatively affected residents' public services and their quality of life.
Whilst completing her Masters degree in Historic Conservation, Karen has been a very engaged community activist, starting the Baker Street Area Neighbourhood Association(BSANA) in 2012 to resolve issues in her own area. Her natural eagerness to meet and engage with residents has helped to get to the roots of some very challenging issues and she has learned the right buttons to push in order to tackle them. She is a great believer in the power of communities to work with the Council in tackling issues; something that she hopes to encourage if elected.
Additionally, Karen is a proud trustee of both the Reading Association for the Blind and the Reading Community Learning Centre. Both are organisations that work hard to maximise integration and opportunities for our large disabled and BAME communities.
Karen is a pragmatist and prefers to keep her politics real, effective and focused. She knows that the Labour party's goals of a fairer life for all can be a reality. Moving to Reading as an EU immigrant in 2012, the way Brexit is managed in the years ahead is also of personal concern to her. She is eager that residents contact her with their concerns.

Promoted by Chris Gavin on behalf of the Reading and District Labour Party, PO Box 8188, Reading, RG30 9LE