As a local girl I know this area deeply. I was born here, went to school here and started my 25+ career in IT just up the road at IBM North Harbour. I have 3 grown up children and 2 school age children and know the demands a full-time job and family bring with them. I think this is a lovely part of the world and we are so fortunate to have so much diversity on our doorstep. But this land of ours is suffering from years of pollution, from a lack of investment, poor maintenance and a lack of vision. I know this area, I’m proud to be from Havant and I believe it deserves better.
In 2019 I founded Wildflower Island a project for improving the bio-diversity of our local area. I built a team of enthusiastic volunteers but we struggled to get in buy-in from the local council for many of our plans. In 2020 I became a member of Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Team Wilder who work to promote wildlife friendly gardens and urban habitats. In 2022 I secured funding for Mengham Infant School’s Community Garden, where children are encouraged to help grow produce and any surplus supports the Hayling Community. This year I am working with the Havant Climate Alliance on the Big Green Week and we have Big Green Plans!
I am standing because I believe it would be wrong of me not to stand. I cannot wait idly by and watch anymore, thinking that other people have society’s best interests at heart. I no longer believe they do. I believe it is time for a fundamental change in the way politics work. Our current system is failing people. Our economy is failing people. Our climate is failing. The old ways of doing things need to go and they need to go urgently. Our seas and rivers are dirtier than they have ever been, yet our politicians seem to be unable (or unwilling) to do anything about it. The inequality in our society grows wider every year. I look back over the past 20 years and wonder where have we gone so wrong?
My campaign is very much focused on getting out and meeting as many people as I can, listening to their points of view and helping them to feel heard. I think the best way to show what I would do for people is to start doing it now. I promise you this - I will work hard, I will speak up and I will listen to you.
Being successful isn’t about achieving individual goals, it’s about teamwork and working together for a common goal. In my working life my job was to bring people together, to listen, to make people feel heard and to bring about a consensus that worked for all sides. If you listen you will understand what people really want and once you know what your own capabilities truly are, that’s when you can deliver something really great. I know that actions are far more important than words and in the end, it is the doing that counts.