Along with my partner and son, I moved to Sutton upon Derwent from central York in late 2017, having spent much of my early adult life living around the south of England and London for education and work. A key motivating factor for this move was to give my son, who is now 8, better access to nature and wildlife as he grows up. I think it's fair to say that the village, along with the school and its excellent outdoor spaces, have not disappointed us in that respect!
I became aware of the Parish Council when volunteering as part of a team, carrying out maintenance work at the playground, and became aware of a vacancy on the Council the following year, eventually joining in November 2020. Becoming a Parish Councillor felt like a good way to put something back into the community and make a tangible difference to the place my family now calls home.
Watching my son grow up in the village and walk to school every day, I am acutely aware of road safety issues in the village and am keen to look to address these. I am also passionate about our local environment and wildlife, and ensuring that key facilities, such as the playground and the school, get as much support from the Parish as they can, to ensure that the village has a strong future and families like mine can continue to enjoy living in Sutton upon Derwent for years to come.