Having worked with some of Horsham’s most vulnerable residents for the previous 15 years this has given me an insight of how life can look like for some families in the Horsham area and being a Labour Councillor I will be able to voice the views of Horsham’s vulnerable residents during cabinet meetings.
Currently I work as a Portage Home Visitor, a West Sussex County Council service which is similar to that of a health visitor working with parents in their home with pre-school children who have been identified as having a disability
I am also a carer of a young adult with a disability and have extensive knowledge of the legal rights of special educational needs, disability benefits and what parent carers are legally entitled too. Due to austerity and budget cuts parent carers are often deliberately not informed of their legal rights by their local authority that their child/young person is entitled too
Currently Horsham District Council has mainly 2 types political councillor with 3 Green Party councillors, so in my opinion, having this profile results in the same thought processes during decision making. Labour councillors can challenge this non-diversity and bring about another opinion to the benefit of Horsham residents
Supporting Horsham’s residents through a cost-of-living crisis and housing crisis. With the number of new housing developments in the Horsham area this should not even be an issue for a Horsham Family requiring a home. Real affordability is needed and being a Labour councillor can support this
Some Horsham residents may be facing financial hardship due to participating in strike action a Labour councillor opinion allows for understanding and support for these residents.
