On Thursday 28th April, Coulsdon College students joined over 6000 voters from across the capital at the Copper Box Arena for the London Citizens’ Mayoral Accountability Assembly, one week before the London Mayoral elections, to demand a radical solution to tackle the city’s housing crisis.
In the biggest event of the Mayoral Campaign, community representatives from all boroughs in London witnessed negotiations live on stage with the mayoral candidates at the Copper Box Arena – home to the London 2012 Olympic boxing matches. Coulsdon College students have been involved in putting together proposals through their involvement with London Citizens, a unique democratic listening process which commenced in July 2015.
The front running candidates Zac Goldsmith (Conservative) and Sadiq Khan (Labour) – were called on to publicly respond to London Citizens’ specific asks around the London Living Wage; Jobs and Employment Opportunities for Young People; London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis alongside 4 concrete proposals on housing.
“It’s great to be involved in this kind of event,” says Business and Law student Chaneille Gaynor, “You really feel like your voice is being heard.”
