• AFTER almost a decade of government cuts Camden faces a huge financial challenge. Like many places around the country our public services stand at tipping point.

Next week the government announces its Budget. Since 2010 the government has cut Camden Council’s funding in half. Meanwhile we’ve seen stark increases in homelessness, poverty, and foodbank use. Camden’s NHS, police, fire brigade and voluntary organisations are all facing rising need for services in our community.

Over the next three years government cuts will leave Camden with a £40million-a-year gap in our budget, on top of the £169million we’ve already lost. The council funds vital services like libraries, sure start centres, youth clubs, community centres, green spaces and support for older and disabled people in their homes. Even rises in council tax are not able to make up for this level of austerity.

We are proud of our public services and Camden’s vibrant mix and want this to continue. We will work together to find a practical and responsible way through this difficult time – but are united together as public service providers in saying “enough is enough”.

If you care about the future of public services in Camden, please stand with us to send a clear message to government: please fund our public services properly.

SIGNATORIES: CLLR GEORGIA GOULD Camden Council leader, CLLR FLICK REA Camden Liberal Democrats leader, CLLR SIAN BERRY Co-leader Green Party of England & Wales, SIR KEIR STARMER MP, TULIP SIDDIQ MP, DR NEEL GUPTA Chair Camden Clinical Commissioning Group, NIKKI MORRIS Chief Executive Age UK Camden, JULIE CHRISTIE WEBB Chair Voluntary Action Camden, GERALD CLARK Secretary Camden National Education Union, VAUGHAN WEST GMB London Region Political Officer, DOMINIC PINKNEY Chief Executive Camden Volunteer Centre, ROBERT TAYLOR Camden Federation of Private Tenants, OLIVER GREENE Chair Camden Disability Action, SEAN CANNING Director Camden Community Law Centre, PAULA TWIGG Manager Mary Ward Legal Centre, SHARON GORDON Director West Euston Partnership, ELEANOR BOTWRIGHT Chief Executive Castlehaven Community Association, NASSAR ALI Strategic and Operations Director Bengali Workers’ Association, ABDIKADIR AHMED Somali Youth Development Resource Centre, NICOLE FURRE Director Dragon Hall, ANDREW SANALITRO Director Highgate Newtown Community Centre, ALLEGRA LYNCH CEO Camden Carers Centre at Charlie Ratchford Resource Centre, KHADIJA SHIREH Director British Somali Community, JOHN BOYLE Director SHAK, MARION PIKE Director Maiden Lane Community Centre, SARAH ELIE Executive Director Somers Town Community Association, RASHID IQBAL Chief Executive The Winch, SARA HOYLE Manager Kentish Town Community Centre, YVETTE HIGSON Director Kingsgate Community Centre, EVERTON COUNSELL Director Swiss Cottage Community Centre, FOYEZUR MIAH Chief Executive Queen’s Crescent Community Association, GUS ALSTON Chief Executive Kentish Town City Farm, SNEZANA BULATOVIC Manager West Hampstead Women’s Centre.