Sarah Jones MP Standing Up For Croydon
| Dear Friend,
Over the festive period, my office will be closed between 20 December and the 5 January. I hope you have a good Christmas, and I look forward to all that will come in 2025. Here is a recap of what I have been doing in Croydon and Westminster. Working to secure funding for family services in Croydon The Family Contact Centre on Friends’s Road in Croydon provide support for families which have been separated by social services or the court due to concerns for their wellbeing. They have 8 rooms in which they provide supervised and supported contacts to enable families to have safe family time together. They also run a food bank for those who need it. I am currently working with them to try and secure funding to provide the centre with a sensory room for the many children with learning and physical disabilities that they support. If you know of any local businesses or organisations who would like to help, please get in touch with me. For more information, contact Swan Family Centre:
Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in South Norwood Harris Academy South Norwood leaders have contacted me recently about the concerning rise in crime around the High Street. Rightly, they aren’t willing to tolerate streets that feel less and less safe to local children and families. Nor am I. In response, I hosted a productive meeting with the MET Police, the headteacher of the academy, local councillors, and Reaching Higher to address this unacceptable situation and ensure the safety of students, staff, and the wider community. During the meeting, we discussed a range of solutions, including additional policing support in the area. We also agreed on the importance of holding regular meetings to ensure everyone has the support they need, that efforts remain coordinated, and that we regularly assess progress. This is just the beginning of many conversations about how we can make the area safer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Our posties are the beating heart of our community Royal Mail is an iconic part of Christmas in the UK – it wouldn’t be the same without our posties! It was a pleasure to Thornton Heath Delivery Office to see Croydon’s posties and their CWU rep ahead of Christmas and thank them for what they do all year round. I even bumped into Clive who has delivered my post for years. He is such an important part of our community and looks out for vulnerable people- he has called ambulances for people several times and even stopped a fire!
Croydon gets new support to support victims of domestic violence I’m really pleased that Croydon is one of the first places to get new abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims. The new orders can force abusers to stay away from their victim, and they can enforce positive requirements, like attending behaviour change programmes. Domestic abuse protection orders mean enhanced protections for victims, and tough punishments for perpetrators. Breach of one of these orders is a criminal offence, punishable with up to five years in custody. I am relieved and I am hopeful knowing that these measures are in place to protect victims and survivors of domestic abuse in Croydon. Watch my video here. The 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline can be reached on 0808 2000 247. If you are worried that someone is being harmed, please call the emergency services on 999. Securing the future of the Harland and Wolff workforce I’ve just got back from Belfast after a deal has been reached to secure the future of the workforce at all four of Harland and Wolff’s UK shipyards. Founded in 1861, Harland and Wolff has a proud history of contribution to UK industry, most iconically having built RMS Titanic and Olympia at its Belfast shipyard. For more than 150 years the firm has built famous vessels for notable shipping companies and organisations including the Royal Navy and the Royal Mail. This has been an incredibly worrying time for staff and everyone impacted by the speculation over the company’s future. The previous government left the staff and the yards in limbo, so I’m pleased that this announcement has come in time for Christmas, giving employees certainty and relief knowing that their jobs are safe. The agreement announced today will maintain the proud role of shipbuilding across the UK – in Northern Ireland as well as in Scotland and England – securing a bright future for the industry and delivering a major investment into our industrial base.
Croydon coming together to support residents Thank you to everyone who came to my most recent public advice surgery in the Whitgift Centre, and a huge thanks to wonderful Croydon organisations who came along to offer advice and support on the cost of living. My next public advice surgery is on Friday 24 January from 10:00 – 12:00 at Broad Green Big Local, 38 Keeley Rd, Croydon CR0 1TF. If you know anyone who needs support, please put them in touch with me.
What business and investment means for Croydon Croydon is home to many talented people and incredible businesses doing innovative, creative and vital work, so I was really keen to speak at this year’s Develop Croydon Conference. I’m pleased that the Government is focused on creating jobs and growing the economy and I am confident the stability and policies we will bring will get Croydon and the country moving again. By the end of this Parliament, I want the centre of our town to have turned a corner, Westfield to be building and the people of Croydon supported by better public services. It’s my job to prove that the right politics can change lives.
New funding to tackle housing and homelessness in Croydon The number one issue constituents email me about is housing. It’s a huge issue facing people in Croydon whether it’s poor-quality housing, damp and mould, families stuck in temporary accommodation, rough sleeping or homelessness. So I’m really pleased to see that we are getting £15 million in new funding to tackle rough sleeping and prevent families from ending up in temporary accommodation. This is part of nearly £1 billion for homelessness prevention services nationwide to support vulnerable people. Watch this video for additional info. Historic vote in Parliament as MPs vote in favour of assisted dying for the terminally ill Last month MPs voted in the second reading of Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Bill would change the law to allow people who are over 18, who have capacity to make a decision, and who are expected to die within six months to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life. I am one of the MPs who votes in favour of the Bill. Before voting I held meetings of people in Croydon West who were opposed to the Bill and another meeting with those who were in favour. Everyone spoke with conviction and compassion and I listened very carefully to all the points that were made. I have concerns around some aspects of the Bill that I would like to see changed. So whilst I voted to continue to debate this legislation, I have not yet made up my mind whether I will support it further down the line. You can read my full statement here. Hot meals for those who need it Winter is fast approaching and I am grateful to Jose who every week provides hot meals to anyone who needs it. He is outside Primark on North End every Tuesday evening from 18:30.
Croydon is at the heart of rail infrastructure Croydon is home to a large number of businesses, both big and small, including Siemens Mobility. Thanks to the team for welcoming me to the local facility to learn about the important role the Croydon team are playing in delivering some of their biggest and most advanced rail infrastructure projects in the UK. They also have an apprenticeship program and it was lovely to hear first-hand from apprentices and graduates who were able to share their stories and journey with Siemens so far.
Visiting some of my youngest constituents I had an interesting discussion with staff at Winterbourne Nursery and Infant School where I heard their concerns regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the upcoming national curriculum review. We know from a recent report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) that families have lost confidence in the SEN system and there has been no consistent improvement in outcomes for children and young people with SEN. Reforming SEN is crucial if we are to meet our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, at every stage. I am committed to restoring families’ faith in the SEND system, and I will continue to work with families, schools, health and local services to restore trust that more children can thrive in mainstream, ensuring specialist places are there for those who need them most. I’m going back in the New Year to do an advice surgery with parents, carers and family members. If you’d like me to arrange a similar event in your school, please email me at [email protected] Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas at Croydon Gurdwara Wonderful as always to be at Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Croydon to celebrate the festival of Diwali and Bandhi Chor Divas – a spiritual event reflecting on the liberation of the 6th Guru and 52 kings, and in memory of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Lovely food and even better company. I’ll be back soon. I am also trying to support them to get the same funding available to our local mosques to help boost their security.
Fundraising for our brilliant local team What a brilliant way to spend a Friday evening, fundraising for Croydon Women’s Football Club. A great evening and a good amount raised for this brilliant team. You can find their fixtures here. Come and join me and show your support if you can. I’m so proud to be the honorary president of this great club.
Young Roots are supporting young refugees and asylum seekers in London I caught up with the staff at Young Roots and saw first-hand the amazing work that they in Croydon. They support young people to improve their wellbeing and fulfil their potential, through casework, sports, mentoring, language teaching and access to specialist therapeutic and legal advice. During my visit I had a good conversation with them about asylum policy and the changes that Young Roots hope to see to help young people rebuild their lives in the UK. Their biggest challenge is housing. Homelessness amongst households with refugee status has risen by over 300%, it is the fastest growing type of homelessness. I met several young people who are intermittently sleeping rough. Young Roots are doing what they can to support them, such as providing sleeping bags, but they need more help. I am working with them to get support.
Standing up for Selhurst Clean-Up Selhurst Resident Association was formed in July 2024 due to the high level of fly tipping in Selhurst. The group organises litter picks on a weekly basis and is trying to get a street champion for every street in Selhurst. Everyone deserves to feel pride in their town and be able to enjoy life in their communities without the blight of fly-tipping. Residents feel let down and that they are not getting what the Council has promised them. I attended their most recent meeting and came out with a lot of actions, including writing to Scott Roche who is responsible for Streets and Environment at Croydon Council. I am holding the Council to account by asking that they: 1. Honour the commitment to do a blitz clean of Selhurst Catching up with Legacy Youth Zone Lovely to pop in and see the team at Legacy who support children and young people in Croydon through the provision of sports and recreational activities. They have a multi-purpose facility in Croydon where children and young people can take part in activities ranging from boxing and martial arts to crafts, music and cooking. Sessions are adapted for young people with additional needs, meaning anyone who wants to get involved can. Parents and carers are also able to attend, which is what helps make Legacy such a welcoming and inclusive place for all our children and young people in Croydon. One of the most significant challenges we face in Croydon is youth violence and the lack of youth provisions. Sport is a powerful tool for children and young people to learn through games, develop their social skills and develop positive coping strategies as an effective tool deal with stressful situations. Legacy is a vital service for our children in Croydon, providing a safe space for them to develop, have fun, and discover their full potential. They’ve recently had their funding cut and as a result have had to reduce the services they provide in terms of hours. I’m working with them to try and source funding so that they can restore the level of service they previously provided which our children in Croydon so desperately need.
Unlocking Croydon’s development I spent a useful afternoon with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, London’s Deputy Mayors Howard Dawber and Tom Copley, and Jason Perry. Like you, I have wanted to see changes to our town centre for a long time. I am in regular contact with Westfield, and whilst changes won’t happen overnight, I am confident that things are moving in the right direction. They have published their masterplan framework which can be read here. I receive a lot of emails about our town centre and I am happy with the work the government is doing already to begin the work to transform our high streets. The business rates system is being reformed so we can raise the same revenue but in a fairer way. We will have an additional 13,000 additional police officers and community support officers on our streets. And we will have a Young Futures programme with a network of hubs reaching every community to stop our young people being drawn into crime. I want the same as you, to have a bustling town centre and thriving local economy. Work is underway and I’m excited about Croydon’s future.
Delivering on casework Over the last month I have received 2,921 casework emails, 40% of these cases are related to housing. 12% are related to physical and mental health and 11% involve the local council. Here are some examples of the positive outcomes for residents involved. For example. A couple contacted me about their teenage son who urgently needed a back operation due to scoliosis. Unfortunately, the operation had been cancelled. They feared the delay would hinder his future. I contacted the NHS who thankfully were able to bring forward his operation date. He is now resting at home, and I wish him all the best in his recovery. Due to the winter weather, I have seen a rise in boiler and plumbing related issues. One lady had no heating or hot water because there was a gas leak in her block of flats. After I wrote to Peabody the gas leak was fixed, and the heating and hot water was back within a week. A gentleman who lives in a high-rise block of flats with mostly elderly residents got in touch with me about the lift being broken and having to walk up seven flights of stairs to reach his flat. Initially the private housing provider were not responding to his emails. I wrote to them and explained how many residents were impacted by this and the issue is now resolved. Another young man who had his Uber minicab driving account suspended because of an administrative error contacted me because he was struggling to support his family as a result. I wrote to Uber asking them to investigate his case – they realised the mistake and reinstated his Uber account within a week. A huge thanks must go to my small team for all their hard work, and their continued ability to get results. If there is anything I can do as your MP to support you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Wishing you a very peaceful and restful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I look forward to seeing you in 2025.
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