Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Sam has a long history as a campaigning lawyer, trade unionist and local Bristol activist. 
 
Sam believes that everyone is entitled to fair and proper representation.  He ran the Free Representation Unit, a national charity which provides free representation for people on tribunals, such as employment tribunals and social security tribunals, who cannot otherwise afford it and for which there is no legal aid.  He was also a founding member of the Pupil Barristers' Association, set up to advocate for better conditions for the apprentice branch of the legal profession.  For three years Sam was an elected member of The Bar Council.  Sam works as a barrister in the construction and engineering field, but continues with his campaigning work by advising Amnesty International and Greenpeace.
 
Sam is a strong advocate for decent pay and working conditions.  He has long championed a living wage- a minimum decent wage of £7.60 per hour for all workers and is active in the GMB Union.  He is the chairman of his branch.
 
Sam is married to Tamara, an NHS radiologist, and has two children, Albert (2) and Lucy (6 months).
 
Sam campaigns for local people from his home in Henleaze.  Recent local campaign successes include forcing Bristol City Council to provide essential bathroom adaptations for people with serious disabilities unable to get in and out of the bath themselves; saving the job centre in Shirehampton; and ensuring the job advice centres, closed by Bristol's Lib Dem Council were re-opened in Lawrence Weston, Southmead and Lockleaze.  Sam is doing what he can to combat recent threats to the services provided by the libraries in Lawrence Weston, Henleaze, Lockleaze and Westbury on Trym by the Council.