Constituency update – Autumn 2023
Dear Friend,
I hope you’ve been well.
Like you, I have been watching with horror the scenes of unimaginable human pain and suffering from the Middle East since the Hamas attack on 7 October, and it has been devastating to see so many Palestinian and Israeli lives lost. Gaza is facing a humanitarian emergency and civilians are terrified for their lives. Every life matters, and the Palestinian people should not be forced to leave their homes, and denied basic utilities like water, medicine, electricity, and fuel. We all want the fighting to stop. The US, the UK and many other countries are calling for humanitarian pauses immediately as the first step towards a ceasefire and, we desperately hope, a peace process.
I know many people will feel drawn to donate money – and there are many charities helping with the humanitarian effort such as the Red Cross.
We have seen an increase in antisemitism and islamophobia in Croydon since 7 October and I am keeping in touch with the police as much as possible. I attended a multi-faith event last week and we talked about the role we can play in our local community fostering respect and good relationships. We can all play our part doing that. The situation in the Middle East is horrific, deeply complex and deeply entrenched – but we must not lose hope that progress can be made and we must not stop working towards that end.
Remembering the victims of Croydon’s tram crash
The 9th of November marked seven years since the horrific tram crash at Sandilands: seven years since seven lives were taken too soon. On the anniversary, I joined many people including the families of those lost at the annual memorial service, and the grief continues to weigh heavily on our community. We will never forget. With the trials in the summer, this past year has left many reliving the trauma yet again. I am determined to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.
Croydon comes together to mourn the death of Elianne Andam
The murder of Elianne Andam shook the entire Croydon community, and we will feel the grief of that day for a long time to come. I cannot imagine the pain that Elianne’s family and friends are going through. My condolences go out to everyone who knew her. The way in which Croydon came together in this moment of hardship was testament to the continued strength of our community.
Celebrating Croydon’s suffragettes and suffragists
It was a privilege to unveil plaques on South Norwood High Street commemorating two local women, Ethel Fennings and Mary Pearson, who actively campaigned for votes for women. In the early 1900s, Croydon was a vibrant hub of the women’s suffrage movement. As Croydon’s first female MP, I stand on the shoulders of suffragists and suffragettes like Ethel and Mary who fought tirelessly for women to have a voice and a vote in our politics.
Campaigning in support of our maintained nursery schools
Croydon Council recently consulted into whether to reduce the number of Maintained Nurseries in the borough by closure or amalgamation. Over 800 people responded to the survey and I met with the parents, staff and community members who are calling for all five Croydon Maintained Nurseries to remain open. They told me how these nursery schools provide a unique offer to families whose children have additional needs and how they offer inclusive, affordable and accessible early education to some of our most vulnerable families. I am now waiting to see the outcome of the consultation and will continue to highlight the impact the loss of these vital early education providers would have on our borough, particularly for children with special educational needs.
Fighting for the future of our town centre
I brought together representatives from Westfield and local south London restaurant owners to talk over plans for Croydon’s town centre. We had a constructive discussion about what needs to change moving forward. For nearly a decade we’ve been left uncertain, and we all want to feel proud about Croydon once again. We talked about the incentives that will bring businesses here and Westfield pledged their commitment. I hope this can be a small step towards getting our town centre moving once again.
The Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra comes to Croydon
I had a wonderful evening at Fairfield Halls as we welcomed the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra to Croydon as part of their first tour of the UK in 20 years. In the afternoon they had conducted a workshop with young musicians in Croydon, before playing pieces by Beethoven, Sibelius, and Borys Lyatoshynsky, one of Ukraine’s premier composers. The event was part of This is Croydon, and I am proud that we are London’s borough of culture for 2023.
Ark Oval Primary Academy celebrates its 150th Birthday
Our experiences at primary school play a large role in forming our character in later life, so it was fantastic to hear from Ark Oval alumni stories of their positive experiences at the school as it celebrated its 150th anniversary. The attendees stretched from those who had gone to the school in the 1960s, through to students who had only left this summer. Here’s to another 150!
Learning how to save a life with London Ambulance Service
I would like to thank the London Ambulance Service, who came to Parliament to teach me and others how to recognise a cardiac arrest, perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator confidently. Three quarters of cardiac arrests happen in the home, so by learning these simple skills you could save someone you love.
Celebrating the opening of the brand-new Ashburton Lodge Youth Centre
It was an absolute joy to attend the beginning of the build for a new youth centre in Ashburton Park. The centre will provide support for parents and carers while also being a safe space for young people in the local community. Now more than ever we need to ensure that young people in our town receive the support they need to engage them and provide them with opportunities as they head towards adulthood.
We can all be more like Sally!
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to visit the wonderful residents of Eldon Housing Association, who provide supported housing for the elderly in and around Croydon. The residents were all in high spirits and paid tribute to the high level of service Eldon provide. The highlight was meeting Sally Ingram, who regaled me with stories of her life and her wonderful thimble collection, collated from her many travels around Europe. My personal favourite was an ornate piece from Malta – we can all be more like Sally!
Our next generation of politicians
Some of Forest Academy’s wonderful pupils and staff recently joined me in Westminster for a tour of the Houses of Parliament. We had a great time, and I hope we’ll see some of them speaking in the House of Commons as Croydon MPs at some point in the future. Taking children and students on tours of Parliament is one of the many highlights of my job. If you would like to arrange this for your school, Scouts or Guides group, or if you are part of a volunteer group or community organisation, please do get in touch with me to arrange a visit to Westminster. My email is sarah.jones.mp@parliament.uk
Delivering on casework
Since mid-September I have received 1832 casework emails, and in those two months we’ve had some great wins. One constituent was back paid £5,000 after a miscalculation by the Department of Work and Pensions, while another finally received replacement bins after a four-month delay which we chased up with the council. We also managed to get some paving stones treated that became extremely slippery when wet or icy, causing great concern to residents in the area. And these are just a small selection of some of our many successes over the past few months!
We have received nearly 120,000 emails since my election in 2017. A huge thanks must go to my small team for all their hard work, and their continued ability to get results.
Contacting me for advice or support
My MP advice surgeries across the constituency in the last few months have been very well-attended. These surgeries are a chance for people to bring their concerns to me and my team. We will always do whatever we can to help and support you with whatever you need. The next session will be held at the Croydon Health and Wellbeing Space which is on the 1st Floor of the Whitgift Centre, Croydon, CR0 1LP on Friday 24 November, 1pm-3pm. Please do drop-in and have a chat with me and my team if it would be useful.
If there is anything I can do as your MP to support you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. My team and I are always on hand to offer any advice and support that we can offer. If you think I can help, please email me at sarah.jones.mp@parliament.uk – Alternatively, my office phone number is 0208 191 7066. Lines are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10-12 and 2-4. |