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Belinda, local resident

Our neighbourhoods: Meet Belinda

Published: 3 March 2023
Filed under: Neighbourhoods

We spoke to local residents to find out why they love their local neighbourhood, what makes them proud to live here and what they’d like to be improved.

I had to start all over again

Belinda moved to Church Hill 30 years ago with her husband and daughter.   

“The first week after we arrived in Walthamstow – we uprooted ourselves from Manila where I had my neighbours, my friends, my career. I had to start all over again. 

We love living here

That was very disorienting so in the first week I felt intimidated. I was anxious that nobody would understand my English or understand me. My favourite place was the Market… there was this stall that sold cooked meats and I could buy ingredients and vegetables I know from the Philippines. I was like ‘woah! It’s just like in the Philippines!’ That matters to me a lot. 

Over time I got over that fear because I had this neighbour across the road. They came to our house just to say hi – I’ll never forget that. That kindness, that welcomeness from the people around you, the diversity in Walthamstow. I’ve appreciated that so much, we love living here.” 

To find out more about our new neighbourhoods approach, visit our webpage.