 Great to be part of the panel at Chestnut Grove Academy today. I joined some amazing women to discuss the importance of feminism.
The incredible young men and women from Year 9 showed themselves as real future change-makers: not only did the students ask thoughtful and challenging questions, they were engaged throughout, and gave me the warmest welcome. Thank you to the students and inspiring staff for a wonderful morning.
0 Comments
 Honoured to host a roundtable on child slavery today with my friend, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and pupils from schools across Tooting. What started with the screening of 'The Price of Free' at Parliament, continued with inspirational discussion, and was topped off with lots of pledges made by everyone in the room. It was exciting and so motivating to have all that energy in one room. Now to take action!  Today it was an absolute pleasure to celebrate one of Balham and Tooting Community and Social Club's founding patrons, Carmen Williams, for her 49 years of service. The local institution provides a safe haven for, and those that feel affiliated to, the West Indian Community. It was such a pleasure to share this special occasion with Carmen and the community. What a great way to spend a Sunday!  Today I had the privilege of helping launch the Tooting Community Kitchen.
The volunteers provide (hot and cold) food and drinks to the homeless and those in need from their stall on Tooting High Street every Saturday. But it doesn't stop there - they also offer toiletries and winter clothing, recently donating 30 winter packs to local homeless shelters. I've said it before and I'll say it again, our community is warm, welcoming, and always comes together for those in need.  Tooting is such a great place to live - I am proud to be born and raised here, and to now represent our wonderful community.
However, every week I am contacted by residents with concerns for the state of our streets. And we can all agree it would be great if Tooting were cleaner. I will be putting forward proposals to the Council in coming weeks demanding change and would like your suggestions on how we can Clean Up Tooting. Please submit here: https://www.drrosena.co.uk/clean-up-tooting.html
 It was a pleasure to meet with Tooting campaigner, Hope Virgo, today to support her Dump The Scales Campaign.
Following Hope's experience of being turned away from services for not being "thin" enough, the campaign was born. But this didn't happen to just Hope; it happens to hundreds of people weekly across the NHS. Over a million people in the UK have suffered from an eating disorder at some point in their life, but many are not properly diagnosed because they are told by GPs they are not under or overweight enough. Hope is calling on the Government to implement guidelines around eating disorder diagnosis - and Dump The Scales. I am unbelievably proud to represent such a strong change-maker in Parliament.  It was with mixed emotions I today heard the news teachers at Furzedown Primary School have volunteered to take a pay cut to save the jobs of colleagues.
Whilst I am proud that five teachers have stepped in to save their colleagues and agreed to take a salary reduction of up to £7,000 - enough to safeguard the jobs of two classroom assistants - this should not be happening. Schools across the country are so short of funds that headteachers are being forced to make drastic cutbacks. In fact, school funding per pupil has fallen has fallen by 8% in real terms over the past eight years. Heads are being forced to fund raise for basic items such as pens and glue sticks, close at lunch time on Fridays to cut back on running costs, and make difficult redundancy decisions. Education is not a luxury, and our children deserve better. These volunteers at Furzedown - some of whom now earn 80% of their previous salary - are a fantastic example of the passionate, committed and caring educators shaping the next generation.  Thank you to the 2,300 local people who filled in my ‘Brexit Options’ survey - which helped inform my votes.
 After a couple of busy days (or weeks!) it was back to Tooting where Dee Light Bakery put together one of her legendary baking parties for my little girl's birthday. Needless to say, there were a lot of happy, cake-filled little ladies in Balham and Tooting this afternoon. Thank you Dee - already looking forward to my next visit. |
