Chuka Umunna MP

Christians Against Poverty is a charity reaching out to those stuggling with debt. It operates through a network of advice centres based in churches, including in Tulse Hill at Holy Trinity & St Matthias Church, where Keith Hill MP holds surgeries.  The charity offers a debt counselling service which empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and eases the burden of overwhelming debts.

CAP’s support workers help those with debt problems by working out sustainable budgets based on income and living expenses, ensuring that essential bills are prioritised. Because the charity is recognised within the finance industry, it is able to work with creditors to stop unfair interest and charges where possible for those who need help. The charity can set up a CAP account, meaning debtors can pay a weekly or monthly sum through CAP to cover all their bills and debts in affordable repayments, allowing them to work their way out of debt without feeling pressured. This helps those who have experienced debt problems to get back their self-respect and take control of their lives again. Christians Against Poverty’s advice is free, non-judgmental and open to those from all backgrounds.

The charity has just been named – for the second year running – the Sunday Times best small company to work for and the Tulse Hill Centre was runner up at the CAP annual conference for best new centre. Chuka and Keith applaud their work and wish them every success in the future.

For more information, visit the website: CAP

Streatham Hill resident Stone Walters seems destined for great things after making this year’s Brit awards album. The Brit school graduate has avoided the major labels and recorded his album on his own independent label, Fivestone Records, which he runs witrh his sister and wife

Here is Stone being interviewed on the red carpet at the Brit Awards launch:

You can find out more about Stone, and hear some of his music by visiting his website.

Local lad, Alexander Amosu, has just appeared as a one of the famous ‘dragons’ in BBC2’s Dragons’ Den programme.

Alexander Amosu was named as one of the most influential black Britons in the recently published Power List of Britain’s most influential Black people which Prime Minister Gordon Brown (left) described as,
“a celebration of the contribution of black people to British culture and to British public life – and a testament to what can happen when talent meets opportunity in our country today.”

Amosu (right) became a millionaire at the age of 25 when he launched Rnbringtones. The company was one of the first ring tone companies to be set up in the UK in 1999 and generated a turnover of £6.3 million in 4 years before being sold. Amosu now runs a luxury mobile phone company.

The Power List panel said of Amosu “Alex is a serial entrepreneur whose influence in the mobile telecoms arena grows yearly.”  You can watch Amosu appearing on a Christmas edition of Dragons’ Den here: BBC2 - Dragons’ Den – Around the World.

Streatham Drop-in Centre for Asylum Seekers and Refugees has been awarded a Lottery grant to help it to continue all the hard work it does in the community.

The grant is for £8,781 and is from Awards for All, a Lottery grants scheme for community organisations. The money will go towards providing opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees to integrate and adapt into the community, introducing them to local resources.

The Drop-in Centre was founded in 2002, and provides vital services as well as a safe and welcoming environment for refugee and asylum seekers in the local area. Based at English Martyrs Church Hall, the centre offers English lessons, complementary therapy and access to health advice as well as a crèche, weekend family support group and homework club. It works in partnership with a range of local organisations including Lambeth College and PCT. All services are free of charge.

Chuka congratulates the Drop-in centre on its recent funding award, and the good work it does for local asylum seekers and refugees.

Carys Afoko

Streatham Vale Park is a charming piece of green space in the south-west corner of the Streatham constituency. Originally built in 1930/31, following campaigning by the Streatham Vale Property Owners Association, the park is wooded in areas and contains a selection of trees, flowerbeds and shrubs. The park is home to tennis courts a disused bowling green and pavilion, a playground, an adventure playground and the One O’ Clock Club, which offers activities for children under 5 and their parents.

Unfortunately, the park is hardly visible from the outside – many people in Streatham are unaware that it exists, but that is changing thanks to local residents.  It is accessed by two very small, almost hidden entrances on Abercairn Road and an even smaller one on Lonesome Way (the access road into the park). It is a real gem.

The Friends of Streatham Vale Park was formed in 2003 by local residents interested in maintaining this wonderful communal area. The organisation aims to promote the park, campaign for its development, provide community views on it and organise events there. The Friends’ main event of the year is the Fun Day held in the park each summer.

Chuka is pictured (right) in the the Park with Streatham South ward Cllrs Dave Malley and John Kazantzis.

Last year alone, the London Ambulance Service responded to over 1.2 million emergency calls, saving countless lives across London due to their diligence and quick response.  The service, which is made up of 70 ambulance stations, covers a huge 620 square miles of London making the residents of Streatham very fortunate to have one on their doorstep.

Just two years ago there were nearly 9000 people in serious or life treating conditions in Lambeth who made the call to the London Ambulance Service. It was this need that led to a £1.1 million new ambulance station being opened in Streatham in 2006.  As Keith Hill (below), MP for Streatham, said on its opening:
“Despite facing increasing 999 demand, they continue to show enthusiasm and professionalism. This new station is a credit to the NHS”.

With the need for a quick response the London Ambulance Service is at the forefront of vehicle technology. London has utilised transport units, varying from motorcycles to fully equipped helicopters, to answer emergency calls.  Streatham has continued this trend with top of the range ambulances and fast response vehicles on hand to help save lives in Lambeth.

The heroics of the London Ambulance Service have led to a new fly on the wall documentary that follows ambulance crews as they respond to real life emergencies across South London.  You can follow their progress in a six part series on Thursdays from 10.40pm on ITV starting this week.

Jack Clark

The Rev Lisa Wright, retired curate at St Leaonard’s Church, Streatham, is one of Streatham’s gems. Having taught for over 30 years, including at Tulse Hill school, in 1987 Lisa became one of the first women in the Church of England to be ordained as a deacon having campaigned for many years for the ordination of women in the Church of England. She had to wait another seven years before she became one of the first women to be ordained as a priest. She started her life as curate at St Margret’s Church in Streatham Hill, before moving to St Leonard’s Church in 1995. To read more about her colourful career and life, there is a great piece on Lisa here.