Gospel Oak

Meet your 2010 Gospel Oak Ward Candidates...

Sean Birch

Sean has lived in Camden for 10 years and in London for his whole life. He is married and has one daughter who attends a Camden school.

Sean works for a global environmental consultancy. Prior to this, he worked in the public sector for the Environment Agency.  He is a member of the "Socialist Environment and Resources Association" and the "Green Alliance". He believes the sheer scale of the world's environmental challenges means local government should tackle environmental challenges with greater urgency. He supports Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the WWF.

In his ward, Sean is a committed supporter of the safer neighbourhoods team. He has shown a commitment to improving the lives of local people by campaigning for increased youth provision, an improved school admissions policy and an end to Camden Council's money wasting. He opposes the current administration's policy of selling-off Council housing stock.

In his spare time, Sean enjoys being active in the community and running the City of London speakers club. He is a member of AMICUS, a long time Action Aid donor and a volunteer speaker for the NSPCC.

Councillor

Theo Blackwell

Theo Blackwell grew up locally and has lived in Camden for over 21 years. Theo has represented local people on a range of issues such as housing repairs, making our neighbourhoods greener and reducing traffic.

He currently works as a consultant, but in the past has worked for trade unions and on national campaigns on employment rights. Theo has also written a published widely on how to improve public services.

Theo is a former Deputy Leader of the Council and was executive member for Regeneration for 3 years.

Larraine Revah

Larraine, mother of two, has lived in Camden for 35 years. She has been active in her local community starting by working to set up facilities for children on the estate where she lives.

She has developed her community involvement volunteering to support families with disabled children and becoming a leader in the tenants’ movement.

Currently she is Chair of the Gospel Oak District Management Committee which gives her the opportunity to represent tenants’ concerns and work with councillors and Council Officers to resolve issues. She also participates in a range of tenants’ organisations.

Larraine is also a member of the GO Partnership Board, Vice Chair of Fleet Community Centre, Vice Chair of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel and Chair of the Belsize Wood Nature Reserve Committee. She sees her role as knowing what the local issues and highlighting them wherever possible on behalf of her local community.

Larraine is standing as a candidate because Camden used to be a caring and listening borough and she wants the chance to work with others to make it so again.