Dr Cecilia Hughes will be standing for election in Ifield and Ifield West ward in May 2020.

Cecilia grew up in Hampshire and studied medicine at the University of Dundee, before going on to train as a General Practitioner in Watford. She moved to Crawley in 1989, and has three children who were educated at Three Bridges and Maidenbower Primary schools, Oriel High and Hazelwick.

Cecilia worked as a Community Paediatrician, based in Redhill for over 27 years. She worked with children with a range of additional needs, physical and learning disability, and with children who were vulnerable due to their home circumstances. She remains a multi-agency trainer for Surrey Children Safeguarding Board and has seen the impact of poverty, poor housing and domestic violence on children’s lives. She was Designated Medical Officer for Education for Surrey County Council before she retired in 2017 and has a strong interest in children with special educational needs.

Cecilia was a Community Governor at Three Bridges First and Middle schools for a number of years, the last few as Chair of the Governing Body at the First School.

In retirement, Cecilia has continued to be a Trustee for Jigsaw (Southeast) a small charity based in East Grinstead, which supports children in Sussex and Surrey who have been bereaved or are facing the death of a family member. She also volunteers for the charity.

She has been a lifelong Labour supporter, and been active more recently in supporting the local Labour Party. She would aim to support Ifield residents locally and promote Labour values on the Borough Council, with a particular view to supporting the many families and individuals who have been most affected by the Tory austerity agenda. She is getting actively involved in the campaign against West of Ifield development with the other Ifield councillors.