ACHIEVING 'social change through community organising' was the theme when MP Shailesh Vara met with members of Peterborough Citizens UK, the local chapter of a national organisation founded in 1989.
Hosted by the Nene Park Trust, the meeting covered several areas where Citizens UK is striving for improvement to make the city a better place for all to live and work. These include equality in education, concerns around crime and mental health. One of their current campaigns is for a network of school-based counsellors and a bespoke mental health sanctuary space to be set up in Peterborough.
The prevalence of racism in schools and society in general was raised as a particular concern, along with the need for more affordable housing, ideally on brownfield sites, an issue Shailesh promised to take up with the city council. Shailesh told us afterwards he was impressed by the knowledge and commitment of those attending, which included key members of several community groups.
Citizens UK represents a diverse alliance of schools, faith groups, charities, trade unions and others whose aim is to build a 'better, fairer society'. The Peterborough chapter, set up in 2022, has campaigned successfully for improved lighting in Central Park, a project led by a team of sixth form students from several schools to help make the park safer not only for young people but for all park users.
For more information on Citizens UK and how to get involved, please see their website
