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The very people I became a councillor to help often have no idea I'm here The vulnerable people I became a councillor to help have no idea I'm here
(35 minutes later)
I first met Sandra while door knocking for my election campaign. A year later, I bumped into her outside the local corner shop, where she was begging the shopkeeper for any food they could spare.I first met Sandra while door knocking for my election campaign. A year later, I bumped into her outside the local corner shop, where she was begging the shopkeeper for any food they could spare.
She told me that she couldn’t fill her fridge because her employment support allowance benefits had been stopped – she had been sanctioned by the Department for Work and Pensions because she had missed meetings when her mum died. This meant her income went down to about £22 a fortnight.She told me that she couldn’t fill her fridge because her employment support allowance benefits had been stopped – she had been sanctioned by the Department for Work and Pensions because she had missed meetings when her mum died. This meant her income went down to about £22 a fortnight.
I was elected to the local council in south London a couple of years ago. But it hadn’t occurred to her to come to me for help before she got into this desperate place – for her, and many of the most vulnerable residents, local councillors are a last resort or engaged because of a chance encounter like this. The very people I got into politics to help have no idea that I’m here.I was elected to the local council in south London a couple of years ago. But it hadn’t occurred to her to come to me for help before she got into this desperate place – for her, and many of the most vulnerable residents, local councillors are a last resort or engaged because of a chance encounter like this. The very people I got into politics to help have no idea that I’m here.
She couldn’t take her medication on an empty stomach and was increasingly hungry, depressed, unwell and immobile. Every sanction meant she couldn’t afford the cost of the bus journey to the obligatory work programme meetings, which meant she got sanctioned again. Her letters to the department had become increasingly desperate, although her poor health and threats of suicide did nothing to change their minds that she was fit to attend.She couldn’t take her medication on an empty stomach and was increasingly hungry, depressed, unwell and immobile. Every sanction meant she couldn’t afford the cost of the bus journey to the obligatory work programme meetings, which meant she got sanctioned again. Her letters to the department had become increasingly desperate, although her poor health and threats of suicide did nothing to change their minds that she was fit to attend.
I work full time – my council role doesn’t pay my rent and I fit my responsibilities around my day job. But I started taking an afternoon off work each time Sandra had a meeting, and would drive her there and back myself. Her first appointment filled her with such panic that she collapsed and I spent the evening with her in hospital. She used to call me at work and I would duck out of the office, terrified that something terrible had happened. I’d later have to explain to my manager why I was distracted.I work full time – my council role doesn’t pay my rent and I fit my responsibilities around my day job. But I started taking an afternoon off work each time Sandra had a meeting, and would drive her there and back myself. Her first appointment filled her with such panic that she collapsed and I spent the evening with her in hospital. She used to call me at work and I would duck out of the office, terrified that something terrible had happened. I’d later have to explain to my manager why I was distracted.
And then, out of nowhere, she disappeared. Her housing association couldn’t tell me anything and her neighbours hadn’t seen her. Her phone was disconnected and there were no lights were on when I walked past her home. I knew she’d been in despair and was convinced she had killed herself.And then, out of nowhere, she disappeared. Her housing association couldn’t tell me anything and her neighbours hadn’t seen her. Her phone was disconnected and there were no lights were on when I walked past her home. I knew she’d been in despair and was convinced she had killed herself.
In the meantime, my inbox filled with concerns about potholes, tree roots, noisy neighbours and rubbish bins. I’ve started some exciting projects and supported others to run their own. As councillors, we attend regular council meetings, develop policy, campaign against local government cuts and host surgeries where we hear heartbreaking stories every week – residents who are facing eviction from private landlords, who have damp and mould in their homes, who are in limbo waiting for an immigration decision from the Home Office or who work long hours but can’t afford the bills.In the meantime, my inbox filled with concerns about potholes, tree roots, noisy neighbours and rubbish bins. I’ve started some exciting projects and supported others to run their own. As councillors, we attend regular council meetings, develop policy, campaign against local government cuts and host surgeries where we hear heartbreaking stories every week – residents who are facing eviction from private landlords, who have damp and mould in their homes, who are in limbo waiting for an immigration decision from the Home Office or who work long hours but can’t afford the bills.
When you get in touch, I want to demonstrate my value as your councillor by addressing your concerns. Sometimes the answer isn’t one you’re happy with – cuts to local government budgets mean we can’t do everything we used to do or that we want to do. And often our systems at the council still aren’t as joined up as they could be, although we’re working on that. Occasionally, your emails are peppered with anger – I’ve been called disconnected, disgusting, a disgrace.When you get in touch, I want to demonstrate my value as your councillor by addressing your concerns. Sometimes the answer isn’t one you’re happy with – cuts to local government budgets mean we can’t do everything we used to do or that we want to do. And often our systems at the council still aren’t as joined up as they could be, although we’re working on that. Occasionally, your emails are peppered with anger – I’ve been called disconnected, disgusting, a disgrace.
When I saw Sandra on the bus this Sunday, alive, well and pleased to see me, I was overcome with relief. She had been away staying with her cousin while she had an operation. Having come out of the cycle of poor health and missed appointments, she hasn’t been sanctioned since.When I saw Sandra on the bus this Sunday, alive, well and pleased to see me, I was overcome with relief. She had been away staying with her cousin while she had an operation. Having come out of the cycle of poor health and missed appointments, she hasn’t been sanctioned since.
It’s frustrating to know that there are other Sandras in my borough who also aren’t asking for support. Sometimes I spend so much time reacting to problems that it can be hard to find an opportunity to seek out my most vulnerable residents to ask how I can help.It’s frustrating to know that there are other Sandras in my borough who also aren’t asking for support. Sometimes I spend so much time reacting to problems that it can be hard to find an opportunity to seek out my most vulnerable residents to ask how I can help.
And, even more frustratingly, Sandra and others like her only need help because the system has failed. That’s not right. It shouldn’t be a battle for people to access help and support; they shouldn’t be punished for a bereavement or for lack of a bus fare. Rather than simply navigating a broken, convoluted system with people like Sandra, I want to overhaul it completely so that it doesn’t punish the vulnerable in their time of need.And, even more frustratingly, Sandra and others like her only need help because the system has failed. That’s not right. It shouldn’t be a battle for people to access help and support; they shouldn’t be punished for a bereavement or for lack of a bus fare. Rather than simply navigating a broken, convoluted system with people like Sandra, I want to overhaul it completely so that it doesn’t punish the vulnerable in their time of need.
In the meantime, I’m doing what I can to answer your emails, to improve the local services that I have some influence to change, to manage the huge cuts being forced on local government and to juggle a full-time job while doing my best for the local community. This is the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I won’t always get it right but please know that I’m trying.In the meantime, I’m doing what I can to answer your emails, to improve the local services that I have some influence to change, to manage the huge cuts being forced on local government and to juggle a full-time job while doing my best for the local community. This is the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I won’t always get it right but please know that I’m trying.
This series aims to give a voice to the staff behind the public services that are hit by mounting cuts and rising demand, and so often denigrated by the press, politicians and public. If you would like to write an article for the series, contact kirstie.brewer@theguardian.comThis series aims to give a voice to the staff behind the public services that are hit by mounting cuts and rising demand, and so often denigrated by the press, politicians and public. If you would like to write an article for the series, contact kirstie.brewer@theguardian.com
Talk to us on Twitter via @Guardianpublic and sign up for your free weekly Guardian Public Leaders newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you every Thursday.Talk to us on Twitter via @Guardianpublic and sign up for your free weekly Guardian Public Leaders newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you every Thursday.