This month we had some big news. I have secured £20 million of long-term funding for the areas surrounding Croydon University Hospital (spanning parts of Selhurst, West Thornton, Bensham Manor and Broad Green). This Pride in Place funding will be spread over the next ten years.  

That means £2 million every year for ten years dedicated to improving our community. Residents will decide how it is all spent, not politicians, because they know best what their area needs. I fought hard to make sure this neighbourhood was given support, and I’m proud to have delivered it for our area. 

Along with funding wins, I’ve been out in the community — meeting local organisations, connecting residents with government ministers, and helping residents through casework, from free legal clinics for those facing eviction to getting fly-tipping sorted. Nationally, Labour has been delivering too: abolishing the two-child benefit cap, cracking down on late payments, and more. 

You can read more about what I have been working on below. If you need support or want to raise an issue, please get in touch at [email protected]. I am here to help. 

Celebrating £20 million for Croydon West and Hearing Ideas On How it Should Be Spent  

I hosted an uplifting session at Holy Saviour Church celebrating our £20 million Pride in Place funding for West Thornton, Selhurst, Bensham Manor and Broad Green, and hearing from constituents on how the money should be spent. It was great to have Rowenna and many of our council candidates at the meeting. There will be plenty more opportunities to have your say, so if you’re local to the area please complete my survey here, to let me know what your community needs. Please sign up to receive updates at https://sarah-jones.org/ or email [email protected]. 

Crackdown on Late Payments to Help Small Businesses 

When I connected Croydon small business owners with the Small Business Minister, late payments kept coming up as a huge pressure on cashflow.  

So I’m delighted by this month’s announcement – the toughest crackdown on late payments in over 25 years. This will include: 

• A total reset on terms of payment. 

• A maximum of 60-day payment terms. 

• Mandatory interest on late payments. 

• New powers for the Small Business Commissioner to fine persistent late payers. 

• Prohibiting the deduction of retention payments in construction.  

This is the strongest package of protection of any major economy, and is great news for Croydon West’s small businesses. 

Read more here.  

Hosting the Winner of my Christmas Card Competition at Parliament 

I was delighted to welcome Serah, the winner of my Christmas card competition, and her family to Parliament for a tour. She even gifted me another brilliant painting she’d created — now proudly up in my office! 

Free Legal Advice for Delta Point Residents  

I was shocked to hear residents in Delta Point were issued with Section 21 Notices – no fault eviction notices which have been banned under Labour, coming into force on the 1st of May. I organised a free legal advice surgery at my office to help residents navigate this extremely challenging situation.  

I want to say a huge thanks to South West London Law Centres for providing invaluable advice. A massive thanks too to Angela Rayner, Rowenna Davis and local Labour councillors and candidates for coming to listen to residents’ concerns and offer support. 

Taking Care of Fly-tipping on Nova and Hathaway Road

Residents raised serious concerns about persistent fly-tipping on Hathaway Road and Nova Road. Despite repeated reports from residents, the council did nothing. 

After I visited the site and raised it directly with the council, action was finally taken. The waste has now been cleared, fencing installed, and the area fully boarded up and secured to prevent further dumping. 

March Casework Update 

Since the start of March, I have received just under 2,000 casework emails. Around a third were related to housing, 12% were related to Local Government, and smaller numbers involved transport and immigration. 

The biggest issues this month have been private renters facing eviction, homelessness and temporary accommodation, and fly-tipping. 

Here are some of the cases we helped with this month: 

• A family had been living in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation for too long. We escalated their case directly to Croydon Council and got them relocated. 

• A social housing tenant was living with persistent mould and damp. We chased Croydon Council and got several maintenance jobs completed. 

• A vulnerable constituent dealing with a serious rodent infestation had the problem properly treated after we pushed for action. 

• Repeated missed bin collections were resolved after we raised the issue with Croydon Council and got the refuse teams out. 

• A social housing tenant stuck in an overcrowded and unsuitable flat was successfully moved after we advocated on her behalf. 

• After writing to Moat Housing, we secured confirmation of repairs to communal stairwells and got Russell Court added to a maintenance programme. 

New Clip n’ Climb Facility Opening in Croydon 

I was excited to visit the new Clip ‘n Climb centre near West Croydon Station – a brilliant place for families to get active and have fun. It’s great to see new facilities like this opening in Croydon. Do check out their website here and watch my video here.   

Uplifting Croydon’s Young People 

Be Inspired is a local boxing club that started here in Croydon and has now expanded to four more boroughs. Through boxing therapy, employability programmes, and school inclusion mentoring, Be Inspired is helping to uplift and support Croydon’s young people. 

This is exactly the kind of work we need in our communities. 

Breaking the Fast with Palace for Life 

Thank you to the Palace for Life Foundation for organising such a lovely iftar at Selhurst Park – it was a really special evening. Read more here.  

Bringing Together the Minister for Social Security and Disability and Disabled Constituents 

I brought together disabled members to raise concerns directly with Minister Stephen Timms who is the Minister for Social Security and Disability at the Department for Work and Pensions – making sure local voices reach the people making decisions.  

Connecting a Constituent with the International Development Minister on the Eastern DRC 

I was delighted to welcome a constituent to Parliament who had concerns about the humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC and wanted to raise them directly with the International Development Minister. I set up a meeting between them, making sure the voices of our local Congolese community are heard at the highest level. 

Fixing the Cricket Pitch at Thornton Heath Recreation Ground 

The cricket pitch at Thornton Heath Recreation Ground had been badly damaged, making it unusable and a safety risk for local children and cricketers.  

Despite a constituent reporting it to the council several times, no action was taken. Following my intervention, it was repaired within weeks.  

Local children and the cricket team can now use the pitch safely again.  

Raiding Drugs and Weapons with the Wiltshire Police 

I went on a raid with the Wiltshire Police as part of a week of action across the country on county lines. 

Police forces made 2,100 arrests, closed 335 drug lines, seized 377 bladed weapons, and safeguarded more than 1,300 vulnerable people. 

Twenty Years of Premier League Kicks  

I was glad to be able to celebrate 20 years of Premier League Kicks at Brentford F.C. – a programme that’s opened doors for 600,000+ young people, building confidence, ambition and safer futures. Early intervention works, and Kicks shows what’s possible when clubs, mentors and communities work together. 

Counselling Services for 14-25-year-olds 

Off the Record is a fantastic service offering counselling for 14 – 25-year-olds across Croydon, Merton and Sutton.  

Check out their website or drop them an email if you want to find out more.  

Energy Bill Reductions in Croydon 

We’re taking action to cut energy bills for households across Croydon West. 

From this April, bills will fall by 7%. This is a huge step towards tackling the affordability crisis so many families are facing. This is a step towards tackling the affordability crisis so many families are facing. 

The Tories and Reform opposed the measures in the Budget that raised taxes on the wealthiest in order to pay for this cost of living support. They would leave Britain hooked on fossil fuel markets we don’t control, leaving families to pick up the tab. 

This Labour government will never let that happen, that’s why we’re investing record amounts in homegrown clean power that we control, to bring down for good.  

Read my Column on the Town Centre 

Croydon’s town centre has had a tough decade. But now, with record government investment backing Croydon, falling retail crime, and major economic opportunities ahead, we have a real chance to turn things around. Read my latest column in Your Local Guardian. 

Supporting Young Croydon Women With ‘Loud and Proud’ Public Speaking  

I heard from many inspiring young Croydon women at this year’s ‘Loud and Proud’ public speaking competition.  

The ability to speak publicly and advocate for yourself and others is a skill for life – many thanks to Soroptimist International for organising this event and for continuing to champion women in Croydon. 

Tackling Knife Crime  

I was on BBC London Radio this month talking about our work to cut knife crime in Croydon and across the country. This government is determined to halve knife crime in a decade, and we are working tirelessly to make streets safer in every community. Watch a clip here.  

Celebrating World Book Day 

On March 5th, I celebrated the importance of reading for World Book Day. This January, the Labour Government and National Literacy Trust launched the National Year of Reading. We’re helping families and communities encourage the benefits and joys of reading. It was great to see all the events going on in Croydon to recognise this important day.  

Tailgating Becomes a Criminal Offence 

My interview with Sky News explained why we have made tailgating at matches illegal. No more disrespecting paying fans. No more putting lives in danger. Please share this news so everyone knows they can’t get away with tailgating anymore. 

Tackling Rural Crime  

This month I talked all things rural crime in York. I especially focused on hare coursing, vehicle & farm machinery theft, fly tipping, and violence against women and girls. Fighting rural crime will always be a priority for this government.