Welcome

Sanchia Alasia is a Labour Councillor for Alibon Ward in Barking and Dagenham and a specialist in equality and diversity.
Sanchia was one of the Labour Party candidates for the European elections in 2014 and 2019 in the London region. She also served as Mayor of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham from May 2018 to May 2019.
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Read the rest of this entrySanchia named as one of the UK’s 50 MOST INSPIRATIONAL BLACK WOMEN

I was delighted to find out at the end of Black history month 2019, that I had been named as one of the UKs 50 most inspirational Black women in the UK by African Glitz
Celebrating the work of black women working at grass-roots levels, the dynamic list carries names of women who are not often portrayed in mainstream media but whose contribution to various black communities in the UK is very visible.
I combine a strong political career with being a mentor and am passionate about helping those with disabilities and endometriosis – I was diagnosed in 2010 with severe endometriosis. Former civic mayor of the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, I have been a Labour councillor for the borough since May 2010 and the first of three black women to be elected there, and as deputy leader of the UK delegation to European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, I am the first BME person to be in the leadership team.
I am humbled to be honored in this way and it just spurs me on to keep doing what I do.
My biography
My book has been launched! Please click on ‘my book’ at the top of this website page to find out more and how to purchase a copy.

Only four days to go……
The countdown begins, only four days to go until the local and European elections on Thursday 22nd May. Please ensure you vote on Thursday as it’s your way of getting your voice heard for who will represent you in your local councils and European parliament. Last week I was very busy on the campaign trail with the London Labour European team in Haringey, Waltham Forest, Islington, Southwark, Lambeth, London School of Economics, Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Battersea as well as meeting with Andy Burnham MP to talk about the damaging changes to the NHS this Tory led government is imposing on us. I also represented the Labour party at the European Parliamentary debating event at London Sivan Kovil Trust – a leading Hindu community organization in Lewisham.
This the final week of the European campaign trail, I will be campaigning in Lewisham, Lambeth, Dulwich and West Norwood, various parts of West London and Barking, Newham and Tower Hamlets. If you wish to join in on any of the sessions then do drop me a line on sanchia4europe@yahoo.co.uk, I would be delighted to see you.
I was thrilled last week when I won a Grassroot Diplomat Initiative award under the Policy Driver category for my long-standing work on equalities and diversity issues, which still has a long way to go for improvement. Minority women are still underrepresented in the field of politics, maths, engineering and science . The awards were hosted by TV Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos. In partnership with The May Fair Hotel, the Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Awards recognises the achievements of UK-based diplomats and politicians who are representing civilian interests at the highest level in areas of policy, social and business.
Register to vote by the 6th May
Less than 50 days to go……
April 2014
1 Glynnis Kinnock MEP Fundraiser
5 Campaigning in Dulwich and West Norwood
March 2014
3 MEP Candidate hustings hosted by the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) at Europe House, London from 2pm-5pm.
4 Kings College Labour students society debate on Europe and interview on Colourful radio
5 Ilford North and Milton Keynes South fundraiser
7 Brent Central fundraiser
15 Three seats campaign day, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham and Rainham
21 Hornchurch and Upminster fundraiser
22 European campaign day in Newham
25 Launch of the Labour Black Network, Portcullis House
26 Guest speaker at the Leyton and Wanstead fundraiser
27 Guest speaker at the West Ham Labour party meeting
28 Ealing Labour European fundraiser
29 Campaigning in Twickenham
February 2014
4 London Labour pub quiz
6 Campaigning in Tower Hamlets with John Biggs AM and mayoral candidate
11 John Biggs fundraiser, Tayyabs restaurant in Whitechapel
16-19 Visit to the European parliament in Brussels and speaking at ‘My MEP is just like me, Gender Equality and Diversity in European Political Life’ on the 18th, Hosted by MEP Claude Moraes, European Parliament A3G2
25 Brunel University politics society European debate
After two rounds of the Clegg vs Farage European debate, I am inviting all women to come and hear a positive debate about how the European Union has benefitted women. This will take place at the GMB Offices, Euston, and you can find out more about the event here.
I was on BBC Radio London last week Sunday 30th March, taking part in their Europe debate on the weekly Dotun Adebayo show. You can listen to it here
I recently wrote an article about how the welfare reforms are having an impact on mental health and well-being and you can read the article on the 2020health website.
I will be campaigning with Eddie Izzard on the 15, 16 and 18 April with a European fundraiser with him on the evening of the 16th.
We need more debates on Europe
I have spoken at two debates about Europe this month, one hosted by the Havering Fabian Society and one by the London School of Economics, Labour and Cooperative society. I think these debates are healthy and many more of them should be organised. I am a pro-european, but think we should have discussions about how we can reform Europe to make it work better for ordinary hard working Londoners. I addressed the Redbridge Young Labour AGM about the importance of young people and Europe and the Romford Labour party and the Enfield Labour womens forum about the importance of the European elections.
I have been invited to a MEP candidate hustings being held by The National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) in March. The hustings will be attended by a diverse range of young women (16-25 years old) from across the United Kingdom. The young women will be part of a project funded by the Directorate General for Communications of the European Parliament that will be facilitated by NAWO. Through working to create a manifesto of demands that reflect their needs and aspirations, in addition to direct contact with MEP candidates and increased engagement with the work of European Parliament the young women will be encouraged to use their vote in the upcoming elections of May 2014.
I will be heading back to the European Parliament next month, to continue my capacity building sessions with the European Women’s Lobby, European mentoring project where I shall be receiving training on communication skills. I will also have a catch up with me mentor, Mojca Kleva MEP since she had her baby and find out more about how she is juggling motherhood and politics. I will finalise arrangements for her to come and help me campaign here in London and for me to return the favour in her country, Slovenia. I will be a guest speaker at an event the European Women’s lobby is organising at the European parliament on the 18th February, hosted by Claude Moraes MEP called ‘My MEP is just like me, Gender Equality and Diversity in European Political Life’.
Three seats Labour challenge
Today I joined in with the last leg of the three seats Labour challenge and campaigned on the doorstep with over 30 Labour party members and activists in Ilford North, Redbridge with the parliamentary candidate, Wes Streeting. The challenge went off to a flying start yesterday, with teams going out and campaigning in Brighton and Hove and Crawley, with over 1,500 contacts being made over the whole weekend. The challenge will continue over the coming months, with a number of fun road trips being organised, to help campaign for three Labour candidates in a weekend in key target seats. You can keep up to date with the campaign sessions being organised via their twitter account @lab3seats #lab3seats. I will be out on the Labour doorstep again on thursday with London MP’s, AM’s and MEP candidates in Finchley and Golders Green wirth the parliamentary candidate, Sarah Sackman.
I had a nice break over the festive season, but now it’s back to work with only four and a half months left until the local council and European elections on May 22nd. This week I will be attending the North East London, Joint health overview and scrutiny committee, where we will be discussing how Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust deal with major emergency incidents, changes to cancer and cardiovascular services, where I have been raising issues about increased transport costs and travel times, the experiences of patients at Barts Health NHS Trust and an update on the NHS 111 service, which has been receiving complaints since it took over the NHS direct service.
I have my councillors surgery on wednesday from 7-8pm so if you have any issues or concerns do feel free to drop by and then i’ll be heading off to the Redbridge Young Labour AGM to speak about why Europe should be on young people’s agenda. A recent ICM poll showed that young people understand that leaving Europe, would jeopardise your job prospects at home and abroad.