My name is Jamie Gillespie and I was born and bred in Brighton and raised in the Hove and Portslade area, I have lived here all my life, so I have a passion for the City and it is in my heart and I want what is best for Portslade.

Full statement

Having seen many changes over the years, both good and bad, I have noticed that South Portslade seems to have been forgotten and would love to see the regeneration of the area and would make this a priority if elected.

I am a final year medical student studying Biomedical Science at the University of Sussex and hope to pursue a career in medicine or possibly politics. My hobbies include reading, travel, classical music and fitness training.

I have been involved with several charities locally and internationally namely the Salvation Army, Emmaus and the Martlets. Giving my time where possible to help out. I am also involved with the Food and Friendship Luncheon Club (formerly the Hove Luncheon Club) which feeds between 80-90 elderly and vulnerable people of our local community of Hove and Portslade and provides a 3-course meal and entertainment every week on a Tuesday. Many of these people are isolated so it is a great chance for them to socialise and make new friends whilst getting a good meal.

I visited a Thai orphanage in Bangkok at Xmas 2017 and took the children some toys and books to cheer them up. I also helped to renovate a library at a Thai children’s school to provide a better learning environment for the children.

I am very keen on green issues having done a beach clean-up in Thailand and worked on several environmental projects with a World expert on pollution eradication whilst there. I also did a beach clean- up here in South Portslade on World Clean-Up Day in September, there is only one Planet Earth and we need to take care of it as best we can to ensure its survival.