I’m a Woking local who has lived here for nearly 20 years, or most of my life. I went to school here, my friends and family are here, and so I am very invested in the quality of life Woking offers its residents. Some of my earliest memories are spending sunny days in Woking park and riding my bike through town. In these 20 years I’ve seen it change a lot, but not everything that’s changed has actually improved the lives of residents.
I’m noticing people around me disengage from politics because they don’t believe their concerns will be heard or cared about. Listening, caring, and working with the community is the least a councillor can do, and so I’ve signed the “Our Future Surrey Pledge” committing me to working toward five pillars of a happy, healthy and sustainable community. These range from making transport affordable and accessible, to cutting bills, enhancing nature, and empowering communities. If we work together to address the problems we face, like the cost of living crisis, we can create solutions that do more than look pretty on paper: we can create solutions that make all of our lives better.
To tell you a bit more about me, I graduated from university last year. I studied a Bachelors in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and a Master of Science in sustainable solutions. Having come back with a fresh perspective, it is clearer to me than ever that it is in our power – as a community – to build the future we want. Evidence shows the best solutions come from diverse perspectives, and that even experts can’t compete with the varied experience a group of normal people can offer. I have noticed that people in power are often from similar backgrounds, with similar aspirations and blind spots. We have already seen what this monoculture can offer communities and residents: rising costs, declining social services, and most recently the handing over of our personal data to private companies for profit that we will never benefit from. As an immigrant, a young person, and someone with a disability, I don’t fit the typical political mould or benefit from the interests this monoculture protects. I want more people like you and me, people with different backgrounds and experiences, being a part of decision-making. So that we can solve old problems with a new perspective together.