Local elections take place on May 5, a chance for you to elect the people who will represent you on Newham Council for the next four years.

As well as our pre-election coverage across the Borough Newham Voices has been awarded a grant to target Canning Town South ward to see whether action by a local community newspaper can increase voter participation.

We chose Canning Town South as a focus for our attention not just because it had the lowest turn-out in Newham at the last election, but also because the area is changing so much with huge redevelopment that could transform the area.

It has never been more important for people in Canning Town to make sure they make their voices heard. Newham Voices is here to help you do that with our “Speak Up, Vote on May 5th’ Campaign to improve local democracy.

In the coming weeks we will be extending our circulation throughout the area, and we want to hear from you about the issues that really matter in the area.

Our campaign is funded by the Public Interest News Foundation’s Impact Fund. The results will be analysed as part of a research project that could influence community news media into the future.

Let us know what would get you to the polling station on May 5? If you are not planning to vote, then we want to know why. Would you like to become a local Newham Voices ambassador?

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

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£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.