Councillor Andrea Robinson
Andrea is Labour Councillor for the Edenthorpe and Kirk Sandall ward in Doncaster
My name is Andrea. I’m married to Alan and I’ve got three lovely daughters and three grandchildren. And I am now a local councillor. Prior to that I worked for the Bible Society, which was a wonderful job to have.
In my last year working with Bible Society, I went to Spring Harvest and because it was 2015, election year, we shared our stand with Christians in Politics.
Part of their campaign was around the strapline “Just show up”, so they were encouraging people to get involved in a political party and to go along to some of the meetings to show appreciation and just stand with those who were actively involved.
I felt quite challenged by that, so in the election campaign as I thought about some of the issues, I did feel prompted to join the Labour Party. Having done that I thought I really ought to go along to some of the meetings and then a little handwritten note came through the door inviting me to the local branch meeting, which is in the bowling club and I went along. It was amazing really because I was made so incredibly welcome and they were so pleased that as a new member I had gone along.
And if you had labeled the meeting Christian concern for the community, apart from the fact that we didn’t begin and end in prayer, that’s really where I could have been. It was interesting and it only lasted an hour and they were just grateful that I’d attended.
So I duly went along to the next meeting as well. And that’s when they said to me that they didn’t have a gender balance in the officers in the branch and so they really needed a woman to be vice chair, and would I perhaps consider it.
They assured me it wouldn’t involve much because the chair attended every meeting. Unfortunately and very sadly our chair who was also our sitting councillor became poorly and passed away within the next few months. The question came then where we could find a strong local candidate to fight the seat.
That’s how within little over a year I found myself with the challenging and responsible role. Thankfully I was wonderfully supported by my home group who prayed with me through the selection and election processes, coming out to canvass, deliver leaflets and attend the branch fundraiser.
I thanked my church in my acceptance speech when I won, the council chief executive commented afterwards that it was good I’d acknowledged their support.