News
Celebrating a decade of people power in Stockwell
Friday, 18 December 2009
From left, Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey, Lambeth Mayor Christopher Wellbelove and Patmos tenants management association director Adeline Aina (Martin Pitchley)
A DECADE of people power has been celebrated.
The Patmos Area Community Conservation Association (PACCA) was set up 10 years ago by a group of mums who wanted to make a difference in their community.
The group, which represents people living in Patmos Road and around 13 neighbouring streets, held a party at their refurbished office in Lothian Road, Stockwell, on Saturday last week.
Young and old members of the community enjoyed Christmas carols, lights and good cheer at the bash, which also marked the group establishing the new PACCA tenant management organisation (TMO).
TMO director Adeline Aina said: “PACCA is about conservation and integrity of the community.
“It was a bunch of people, mainly women who felt disempowered in the community, saying ‘We want something better for our kids’.
“It all started with wanting to cross the road.
"We didn’t have a zebra crossing and when we got it, we knew it was possible to get things done.
“Then we got together and put a play on that had a three-week run at the Oval House Theatre in Kennington Oval.”
Lambeth Mayor Christopher Wellbelove, Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey and Cathy Deplessis, chief executive of Lambeth council’s housing firm Lambeth Living, all attended the event.
Adeline said: “The TMO is made up of the same grass-roots people that have been around for years deciding that we wanted a say in housing issues.
“It took us five years of battling resistance to get here.
“The history of black people and women is the same, you know you’re going to struggle, but to actually get here is amazing.
“We are delighted that Cathy Deplessis came to recognise what we’ve achieved and joined us in celebrating that and Kate Hoey, who has supported us all the way.”
Email: nadia.gilani@slp.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment