Chuka Umunna MP

Chuka explains the importance of keeping the Streatham Ice Rink open during his visit to support our ice hockey team, Streatham Redskins, in action this evening against Milton Keynes Thunder.

(more…)

A coalition of community groups led by the Scout Association has succeeded in campaigning against new water company charges which would have seen their running costs soar.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn recently announced that the government will prevent water suppliers from putting in place the new rules, under which community organisations and churches would have been charged on the same basis as commercial premises.

Chuka strongly backed the campaign against the ‘Rain Tax’. At the Labour Party conference last month he attended attended a youth forum event organised by the Scouts Association to discuss their concerns and applaud the huge contribution scouts make to local communities. More than 5,000 youngsters belong to scout groups in South London.

Earlier this month Chuka attended the premiere screening of the film Minority Report, which focuses on challenging stereotypes associated with young black men.

The event was held in London’s City Hall, and after the screening a panel including Chuka discussed the film. Chuka features in the film, alongside actor David Harewood, broadcaster Henry Bonsu and musicians the Mitchell Brothers.

Minority Report has been produced by the Generation Next Foundation to coincide with Black History Month. It looks at the representation of black men in the media and ways of addressing negative stereotypes.

The foundation, of which Chuka is a trustee, empowers young people by providing opportunities to develop skills in fashion, journalism and film production. It was set up by Streatham brothers Hamdi and Ludvig Bonin to increase opportunities for personal development outside school and college.

To watch the film, follow this link.

Recently, Chuka visited Brixton-based youth magazine Live to do a Q&A session with a group of young volunteers from the area.

The magazine is supported by Live Futures, a youth initiative led by the Livity Trust to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters, from college students to former young offenders. Live magazine is created and edited entirely by 12 to 21 year old volunteers with the support of professional journalism, design and photography mentors, and over 150 young people contribute to each issue. Through the magazine, they are able to gain gaining valuable skills and experience. Live is distributed free to thousands of teenagers across the capital.

Click here to visit Live magazine’s site and find out more about the project.

This is a quick post to wish everyone (and their extremely supportive families), who will be collecting their A Level and GCSE results this Thursday and the next, the very best of luck!

No doubt there will be the usual so-called experts popping up in the media over the next fortnight claiming it is easier to hit the grade but I know – having spoken to many pupils, parents and staff in this constituency – just how hard our young people work. That hard work is reflected in the recent results here:

- the percentage of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grade GCSEs in this constituency’s schools has risen by 32.9% to 69% since 1997 (which is 7% above the English average); and,
- the numbers of young people from this constituency getting the grades and going into higher education has increased by 81.7% in the last decade.

I have absolutely no doubt that our GCSE and A Level students will continue to do us proud this fortnight.

Best wishes,

Chuka

Chuka and Keith Hill, Member of Parliament for Streatham, headed down to enjoy and lend their support this afternoon to Brixton Splash, the Brixton street festival.   The festival includes live music, poetry, art exhibitions, street theatre, crafts, children’s activities, food sales, sound systems and domino competitions.  The event aims to involve people from all walks of life, providing something for everyone to participate and enjoy themselves.

 More Brixton Splash 2009 photos can be found here: Brixton Splash

Here in Lambeth there is so much going on for young people at the moment, and the work of Lambeth’s Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) goes from strength to strength.

Over the summer, the CYPS is running an extensive Holiday Activities Programme for children and young people, with activities ranging from creative arts to sport. Under 16s will also benefit from free use of the borough’s swimming and tennis facilities.

The Lambeth Summer University programme gives young people the opportunity to take part in courses and gain qualifications over the summer break. These include sport, photography and digital media as well as performing arts such as capoeira.

These projects dovetail with Young Lambeth’s recently-launched ‘Check the Label’ campaign to tackle the negative image of young people which is too often portrayed, as well as highlighting the support on offer for young people. The campaign focuses on real examples of local youngsters doing positive things in the community.

Last year, Lambeth launched a Young and Safe action plan which included an additional two million pounds investment in provision for young people, ensuring that youth facilities can open seven days a week.

The Young Lambeth website has more information on the summer programmes and the youth service’s work.

London Young Labour activists joined Chuka campaigning in the Streatham constituency this weekend, despite the dodgy weather!

Dunraven School has opened a landmark new sports hall complex, constructed from recycled shipping containers. The innovative building has been shortlisted for Britain’s top public architecture prize, as one of the 24 buildings vying for this year’s Prime Minister’s award for Better Public Building.

The sports hall, which took only three months to construct, was built under the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme. Dunraven has benefitted from £20 million of investment under the programme, and a large-scale redevelopment and rebuilding programme at the school will begin next year.

Because of the structure of trade between the developing world and the west, the number of sea containers being shipped to Europe is significantly more than the return traffic and it is not worthwhile shipping back empties. Re-using them as building materials is an environmentally-friendly way of solving this problem, and is extremely cost effective: Dunraven’s sports hall would have cost an additional £0.75m using conventional materials.

Many environmentally-friendly features were incorporated into the building. These include a rainwater harvesting system, weather-controlled heating and motion-sensor lighting controls.

Last year, Chuka was honoured to be invited to speak and present prizes at Dunraven’s annual student awards ceremony.

Chuka was invited to No. 10 Downing Street by Sarah Brown last week, attending an event to help promote Chance UK, the mentoring charity.

Both Chuka and the Prime Minister’s wife are supporters of Chance UK, which provides one-to-one mentoring for children aged five to eleven with behavioural difficulties. Mentors help the children, many of whom are on the verge of being excluded from school, to build self-confidence, stability and to channel disruptive energy into attaining personal achievements, acting as positive role models. The charity has a track record of success in helping children overcome behavioural problems, helping them lead happier lives at home and motivating them in school. After passing through the Chance UK mentoring programme, 98% of children achieved a reduction in hyperactivity, emotional issues, conduct problems and problems with peers.

At the 10 Downing Street event, Sarah Brown praised the work of Chance UK, in particular its strength in being able to replicate its programme nationally. Chance UK is established in seven local authorities in the UK including Lambeth, where work commenced in May.

Chuka, commenting on the event, said:

“I am proud to be associated with Chance UK and it was an honour to be invited by Sarah Brown to Number 10 to promote its work. The charity has had a hugely positive impact for children wherever it has been involved, and I am pleased that last month Chance UK began operating in Lambeth.”

After the event, Sarah Brown tweeted Chuka to thank him for attending.