Three days

Another month, another Public Transport and Buses Working Party. These come around with alarming frequency. This working party meets more often than all the other working parties combined. Some would consider this a good thing - well the Chair would anyway. Cllr Stephen Aylen enjoys this talking shop.

Julian Elliott of First Buses was amongst the attendees (eleven males, two females). I questioned him about the changes to healthcare provision and what impact this would have on bus services.  I also asked about the possibility of new routes, and received a somewhat unsurprising, and unconvincing, reply (which suggested that new routes might come, in spite of the overwhelming evidence that suggests that no routes have been created in decades, and that buses routes are shrinking nationally). I also asked whether any buses that would be removed from London owing to new directives regarding emissions would be recycled to Southend-on-Sea - not from First Buses.

The working party agenda also included an item on Bus Service to Poppies:Wave Sculpture and Other 125 Years Celebration. It turns out that the plans include access by bus, taxi, coach, walking, and by motor vehicle.

SEMF event, Bollywood music

That was Thursday. Friday saw my last stint at the Winter Night Shelter at Ferndale Baptist Church. Saturday night, and the Southend Ethnic Minority Forum Spring Event at St Aiden's in The Fairway. At the SEMF event I not only had Sir David Amess MP join my table, I was name-checked from the stage. I was only a spectator, but SEMF always seemed pleased when a councillor attends their events, and I was one of two yesterday (West Leigh Cllr Fay Evans, the deputy mayor, was also there.)

Stint number four

Stint number four at the homeless shelter. Always something to look forward to, always something to lift the heart, always a humbling experience.

 

Ashleigh Condon, helper/receptionis, with James Duddridge, Member of Parliament

Julian Ware-Lane with borrowed cup, and Gerald/Chris the cap's owner

The many guests, each with a story. 'Gerald' (who turned out to be a Chris); fun and musical. TJ, the tall, polite, serious Dane. Patricia, a mother hen in search of a brood. Kenneth, cheeky and humble. The recently pregnant young lady; quiet and self-contained. And more.

The visiting Member of Parliament I am sure learnt something, if only that privilege often creates ignorance. Yet who can even begin to know what it means to be homelessness. It means being cold, hungry, vulnerable, bored, ignored, invisible.

Well done to John Barber for managing this centre, for all the helpers who give of themeslves, for everyone for tolerating me.

Homelessness, dementia, NHS

Friday, and another interesting stint at the Ferndale Baptist Church night shelter. This week there was an increase in the number of guests eating and staying, and my four hours there were a busy four hours.

Southend Labour becoming dementia friends

Amongst those that I spoke with was a twenty year old who had been living on the streets since the age of twelve.  His story was equally touching and scary. The thought of such a young person sleeping rough is difficult to imagine.

Today I attended a dementia awareness event organized for Southend Labour by Ashleigh Condon.  Becoming a dementia friend is important, especially as so m any of us are affected at some by this disease.

I also ended up doing a spot of leafleting in Milton, on the equally important subject of the NHS.