Safiya Saeed

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I came to UK in 1985 with my mother and siblings seeking a better life and a chance in education. Speaking no English I was determined to learn and achieve more in my life. I have five children in education so I decided to become more involved in local schools, by offering advocacy and translating. I became a Chair of a local secondary school and work with other schools educating about knife crime and mental health.

I am the Founder of Big Brother Burngreave Project which is a mentoring programme.

What do you think makes a good local councillor?

I live in the area and have suffered from the same issues the local residents have.

I am passionate and very good at problem solving.

I have the skills to empower the residents to be more involved and active.

Promoting equality and diversity.

Finding resources to local grassroots organisations that are struggling.

I raise awareness and help to build bridges between the local and other services eg.police, benefits, housing, education.

I work with a lot of young people and giving them a platform.

Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for your ward during your term as councillor

Focusing on the resident voices and concerns, so having a regular consultations and follow up to make sure change and progress has been made.

Being more visible in the community meetings, on the streets, at the local cafes and shops.

Regular jobs & benefit fairs to help with the poverty and high unemployment rates.

Drugs and ASB needs more effective tackling by working together and increasing young people to get in activities while accepting qualifications.

Implementing the Labour manifesto for a Green Industrial Revolution.

Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for the city of Sheffield during your term as councillor

The climate change emergency is top of my list, I want to approach it because our future depends on it. Our New Deal aims to achieve most emissions reductions by 2030 in a way that is based evidence. Greener transport, greener jobs, carbon free housing.

Families and young people are my passion, we must address the pandemic and the suffering for many families, and aid access to help and advocacy. As a youth coordinator I know many young people haven’t got the support of a clear pathway to recovery for their mental health and access to support with education, jobs and regular activities. Labour is investing £2 million into youth services.

Connecting the local businesses together, and creating more forums to support and introduce large businesses to invest in our areas.

Supporting and creating more resources for grassroots organisations and charities and highlighting their success, which will help their sustainability

Transport: The Sheffield City Region bus services should be taken back into public ownership

• Strongly Agree
• Agree
• Neutral/Other
• Disagree
• Strongly Disagree

If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here

See the Labour Manifesto for a Green Industrial Revolution.

Economy: A Universal Basic Income pilot should happen in Sheffield

• Strongly Agree
• Agree
• Neutral/Other
• Disagree
• Strongly Disagree

If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here

Democracy: How would you like Sheffield City Council to be run?

Local Area Committees are my interests, finally giving the community visibility and decision making, and backed up by a budget.

I don’t have enough information about the referendum – I am determined to ask more questions and happy with a way where the city can run more fairer. I come from a community is treated unfairly everyday and suffers from “one size fits all” actions. I will make a decision soon.

Social: Do you agree with the finding of the Government's Sewell Report stating the UK is no longer institutionally racist?

• Strongly Agree
• Agree
• Neutral/Other
• Disagree
• Strongly Disagree

If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here

Our Town Hall needs to be more connected to communities and listen to the grassroots BAMER communities more. I want to represent the voices who are underrepresented and the vulnerable ones.

More Black & ethnic minorities need to be sat on top and be involved in the decision making. We have to work and scream twice as hard to be heard, and at the end we are used as a data collection service which results in calling us “hard to reach communities”.