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Ladywell 2010 Focus Late October

October Focus

Ladywell Ward October 2010 Focus

Why I'm standing for the council

I have been a resident of Ladywell for over 20 years. I was born in what was once British Guyana in South America. After a childhood defined by poverty, where my richest asset was my loving family, I started work as a Teacher. I arrived in the UK initially to further my education and settled in Ladywell, which I now regard very much as my home community.

I am a single mother with 3 teenage sons and two dogs. Whilst achieving some academic success along the way I have continued studying part- time while working exhaustingly and raising my family with a good moral outlook on life, which is the best gift I can give them combined with judgement. Over the years I have seen my neighbourhood move with the times, although sadly not always ‘improve’ with them. It pains me that some things seem to be degenerating. With the proposed £60 million cuts announced by the current Mayor and his advisers, I fear that we will see yet a further decline to so many of our essential local services. This will threaten the underpinning of our community vitality and cohesion. I want to be a guardian of our local values and standards.

That is why I have decided to stand up now and let my voice be heard, not only for myself, but for my neighbours and those in my ward. I am going to put myself up for the by-election in November. My sons will support me to get their voices and the voices of their local friends and colleagues heard; I will try my hardest to do what is right by my fellow citizens. I may not always get it right but with open and honest dialogue and such forums like these I am sure that we will be able to support each other to make Ladywell a better place to live.

It would be good to hear what some of the issues are that concern you and how you would like to see the area and our living standards improved; there is no magic cure and it will be a struggle in the coming years, but perseverance and hard work always pays off, I have found.

I have two disabled brothers in care and have had numerous occasions of stress when it seems like I was hitting my head against a brick wall to get their needs and my concerns heard. But thankfully, with one home closing in Brockley, we have found another home nearby (fingers crossed that they will be happy there). I have also worked as a Counsellor for 2 Drug and Alcohol agencies in Lewisham (supervising work in rehabs across the Borough and particularly 2 Supported Houses in my ward). I have also managed a Homeless Crisis Day Centre in Deptford, worked with groups of young people/gangs/prisoners, ex offenders, victims and perpetrators of domestic violence/sexual abuse and now work with mental health residents who are in supported housing. My work experience has taught me how degenerating communities can implode and how individuals can become delinquent, abuse substances and become criminal, which in turn can create victims. I am also a realist and know that services have to be paid for from what we can afford. The issue is to get our priorities right and this requires local consensus.

If voted in as Councillor for Ladywell Ward, I believe that my knowledge, experience and judgement will enable me to serve you as your local community representative.


Ingrid Chetram

Welcome to Ingrid's website

This website is about Ingrid Chetram, the Liberal Democrat council candidate for the Ladywell by-election.

Legal stuff: Published and promoted by Janet Hurst on behalf of Ingrid Chetram, Liberal Democrat, both care of 8 Woodham Road, SE6 8SD. Published (hosted) by Blogspot.