My name is Yetunde Elebuibon; I am standing to be your next local councillor in Wheatley Hills & Intake.

Full statement

I came to Doncaster seventeen years ago for a job interview. As a student under a Labour Party government, I got the opportunity to apply for roles in a shortage sector. I got a job at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospital, and the next thirteen years of my life were dedicated to the National Health Service. Doncaster is my home and where I have raised my children. My connection with Wheatley and the Intake area was immediate through my work at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospital I became a full resident in 2007. I understand fully the community and the issues we face together. In 2019 I created a training organisation from my house with just a laptop. The aim was to support a few people upskill and get better at doing their job. What started as a 1hr weekly digital training turned into a national award-winning organisation that has supported over 700 people. It became a lifeline during the pandemic cutting across old and young, providing free digital devices, internet access, digital guidebooks, and training. I am blessed to have utilised my skills, resources, time and experience to support our community in diverse ways. Digital evolution has led to a skills gap between men and women, businesses that couldn’t catch up with the pace had to shut down. I witnessed two banks closed down on Beckett road one was turned into a block of flats and the other into small shops. The wealth of our community depends on the thriving of businesses. The pandemic revealed the digital inequality and gaps in our society, the lack of inclusiveness in creating digital solutions and the assumptions that were permitted about digital skills we’ve all taken for granted. I travelled miles during the pandemic to fix digital devices connectivity issues that would prevent vulnerable older adults from connecting with their families while self-isolating because there was just nothing in place to solve those problems. This issue created more vulnerability within the aged population. Older generations self-isolation without digital skills couldn’t access online services like shopping, banking, healthcare etc. I cannot over-emphasise the need for digital competency in Doncaster as unemployment is higher here than the national average, and more than 1 in 10 of the population are aged 65+ and at risk of being digitally disadvantaged. To alleviate hardship and reduce food wastage, I collaborated with Greggs to donate their aftersales food to over 200 people in 2021. My passion for technology and science has also led me to become a STEM ambassador in our community. Over the past twelve years, I have been to many schools, e.g., Townfield, Park primary school etc., to promote the participation of students in science subjects. I organise a yearly apprenticeship and careers fair in collaboration with the Doncaster Chamber and Sheffield Hallam University (sponsored by Polypipe). This has successfully provided information to young people and their parents on career choices. My pledges: Build a better road network Crack down antisocial behavior Improve the security in our community Bring back the Wheatley library Thank you