Residents, community groups, and local election candidates came together on Thursday 16 April 2026 for a Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) hustings at Haringey’s Alevi Centre, N8. The event provided a platform for informed and constructive discussion ahead of the upcoming Local Council Elections on 7 May.
Hosted by the Haringey Community Collaborative, the event drew an audience of residents and community leaders and created a vital space for community voices to be heard, ensuring local perspectives were at the centre of pre-election discussions.
Local election candidates Ajda Ovat (Labour), Alison Davy (Haringey Socialist Alliance), Nicholas Orford-Williams (Liberal Democrats), and Ruairidh Paton (Green Party) were all in attendance.
The candidates were provided with a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about the issues affecting local communities, including the closure of community centres, paid employment opportunities for young people, and better support for community-led organisations assisting vulnerable residents.
Speaking after the event, Dan Rogers, Chief Executive of Public Voice, emphasised the importance of dialogue between candidates and the community:
Attendees welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with candidates, with many highlighting the value of hearing detailed responses to community-driven questions. The event also underscored the role of the Community Collaborative in supporting meaningful dialogue and civic engagement in the lead-up to the vote.
The hustings form part of a wider effort to encourage participation in local democracy and ensure that community voices play a central role in shaping the future of Haringey. With the elections approaching, organisers hope the conversations sparked at the event will continue across the borough in the weeks ahead.
