Camden Labour last Thursday selected youth provision champion Awale Olad (pictured here with Nicky Gavron) to fight the Kentish Town ward by-election, caused by the sudden resignation of Lib Dem Cllr. Philip Thompson after his secret move to Arizona, U.S.A.Awale is a well-known community worker with the Somali Community in Kentish Town, and has argued for more funding for youth services - a key plank of his campaign.
Awale grew up in Camden on a council estate, and went to William Ellis school. If elected, he will be Camden's first ever councillor of Somali origin, and only the second Somali councillor in London, and an asset on the council on how to make youth services better and reduce conflict.
Awale recently came to prominence when he criticised the council for not doing enough to look at the root causes of youth disorder and violence.
Examples of Awale's youth and community work in the area include:
- raising nearly £100,000 for community work
- brought local youth together by organising community football matches
- organised the annual Somali GCSE celebration for parents and pupils at the Irish Centre.
Awale said:
"Better youth clubs are my priority. The Lib Dems cut funding for Kentish Town, but kept over £10 million back last year at the Town Hall. All of the Kentish Town Lib Dem councillors voted for these cuts, local people need some one who will argue for local priorities, not someone who tows the line."
Labour leader Cllr. Anna Stewart said:
"Awale's local track record speaks for itself. His concern for better youth provision has already delivered results, and on the council he could do so much more. The Lib Dems abandoned Kentish Town for Arizona and then tried to cover it up, while the Greens just don't think they can win. Awale will represent everyone in Kentish Town, and be a historic first for Camden and Camden's Somali community."
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