Born and raised in Baffins, I’ve spent most of my life in the area. Growing up, I went to school at Langstone Primary, and then Miltoncross, and I have fond memories playing in the parks at Baffins and Tamworth.
I now live on the other side of Baffins pond and walk past it every week to my job running an exams department. Enjoying the change of seasons on the trees and watching each new brood of cygnets grow-up, I take pride in getting to live in our beautiful corner of the city.
I spend the rest of my time working for Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North. I find it incredibly rewarding helping constituents with their problems, but I want to do more.
Both jobs have illuminated just how frustrated residents are with the council and how much its leadership is failing us. Whether it be the lack of provision for SEN children needing EHCPs (which I see the direct result of in my job organising access arrangements in exams) to their refusal to apply for Government schemes that could provide vital funding to help many of our most vulnerable.
Particularly in Baffins, our issues with anti-social behaviour can be directly linked to the lack of youth provision in the area. I hope that by offering a joined up approach between the Council and our MP, we can work together to help solve these issues.
I know Baffins inside and out and it would be an honour to represent our community as Councillor for the ward I live, grew-up, and now work in.