Monday 16 December 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • Saturday 14th December- Attending the Lloyd Park Sharing Heritage celebration event
  • Sunday 15th December – Attending the X-factor live finals in Wembley with the lucky winner of the 7days4stow  volunteers prize draw
  • Monday 16th December–  Attending the Sheltered Housing Christmas lunch in Walthamstow and later hosting the 7days4stow volunteers Celebration party in Parliament
  • Thursday 19th  December – Running an event to support Women's leadership development in parliament.Details here of how to join. 

Sunday 8 December 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 7th December- supporting Small Biz Saturday by holding a drop in advice surgery for residents and small businesses in the former Evans store in the Selbourne Walk Mall between 2-4pm. 
  • Monday 9th December - Helping to host a Women in Business event in Westminster
  • Tuesday 10th December- speaking for Labour in a debate on Trading Licences Private Business Bill in Parliament 
  • Wednesday 11th December-  participating in Prime Ministers Question Time 
  • Thursday 12th December- Speaking at the Ipsos MORI end of year event in Westminster
  • Friday 13th December- speaking at a Labour party fundraiser in Gloucestershire 
  • Saturday 14th December- Attending the Lloyd Park Sharing Heritage celebration event

Friday 8 November 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 9th November - speaking at the Mumsnet conference on cyberharassment. 
  • On Sunday 10th  November– taking part in marking Remembrance Day at the Walthamstow Town Hall – more details are available below.
  • On Tuesday 12th November– speaking at the Institute for Government Woman Leaders event in central London and attending the last sitting of Parliament before recess.
  • On Wednesday 13th November– my office will be closed for the day for a team planning event. If you are a resident with an emergency you can speak to Waltham Forest Council on0208 496 3000
  • On Thursday 14th November– appearing on the Question Time panel in Portsmouth. 
  • On Saturday 16th November– speaking at the conference of Labour Students in Manchester and then leading a campaign discussion in Bury

Sunday 27 October 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 26th October – visiting Lincoln and Broxtowe to meet local Labour campaigners and young activists and to speak about the #sharkstoppers anti legal loan sharking campaign
     
  • On Tuesday 29th October – helping to host a networking event for the Federation of Small Business  in Walthamstow- details of how to book in the diary section of this enewsletter. 
  • On Thursday 31st October – helping to host an arts and regeneration roundtable at the William Morris Gallery with Cllr Mark Rusling 

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Gourmet Dinner with Jim Murphy - 21 November - feast and fundraise!

Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party
invites you to a fundraising feast:
a Gourmet Dinner and Debate with 
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
JIM MURPHY MP 
at THE MALLINSON SUITE
on Thursday 21st November
Drinks and free canapés from 7pm; dinner starts at 7.30

Jim Murphy is MP for East Renfrewshire, 
and Shadow Secretary of State for 
International Development
The Mallinson Suite is part of Waltham Forest College (scroll down for directions and map)
Disabled access available. All party members, friends, family, supporters very welcome.

The Mallinson Suite is a professional restaurant, staffed by catering students at Waltham Forest College, who prepare and serve the meals as part of their practical studies. They provide a fantastic standard of cuisine and service at a bargain price. For our gourmet special dinner we have a choice of four starters, four main courses, and two desserts, followed by coffee and petits fours. Vegetarian and Halal options are available. Alcoholic and soft drinks can be bought from the licensed bar, including wine by the glass or bottle.
Waltham Forest College


TICKETS
(price includes canapés, 3 course meal, & coffee with petits fours)
Single — £32
Groups of four or more — £28 each
Unwaged / pensioner — £26

3 WAYS TO BOOK: (places must be booked in advance)
When you book your ticket(s) make sure to choose your food, by calling, or emailing as above. Do it by November 13th ! The full list of menu choices is below


[All proceeds from ticket sales, raffle tickets, and donations go to the Walthamstow CLP campaign account.]
Event promoted by Simon Redfern, chair of Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party, 23 Orford Road London E17 9NL
________________________________________________

MENU

STARTER

London  Pea & Ham soup
or
Chilled Cucumber and Watercress soup (V)
or
Poached Asparagus with Warm Butter sauce (V)
or
Goujons of Plaice with Lemon Mayonnaise, served with Avocado and Pink Grapefruit salad

  
MAIN COURSE

Chicken Kiev on a bed of Puy Lentils (H)
or
Steamed Steak and Kidney Pudding
or
Poached Haddock with Poached Egg and Spinach
or
Vegetables en Croute with Sweet Pepper Sauce (V)

 All main courses served with seasonal vegetables


 DESSERT

Ginger  Cheesecake with Home Made Ginger Ice Cream (H)
or
Tropical Fruit Salad

Coffee
Petit fours
 ________________________________________________

Don't delay! When you have booked your ticket(s) choose your food, by calling 07957 228019, 
Do it by November 13th - the students need to know so they can order the correct quantities of food!
  ________________________________________________

How to get there:
From Walthamstow Central Station it's 15-20 minutes walk (follow the grey line below), 
or catch Bus 212 from bus stop D.
Click the map to go to google maps online


_______________________________________________

PS:Watch out for 
  • a guest appearance by Sadiq Khan MP (after attending a Labour Group reception for newly selected Labour candidates, in the Town Hall)
  • Unique raffle and auction - top notch prizes!

Sunday 20 October 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 19th October – attending the Ascham Homes Residents conference – details can be found below.
  • On Monday 21st October holding meetings in Parliament as part of my role as a member of Labour’s shadow Business team.
  • On Tuesday 22nd October– attending a citizenship lesson for children at the Holy Family School in the morning and holding meetings with local groups in Parliament in the afternoon.
  • On Thursday 24th October– attending the Business, Innovation and Skills Question Time in the House of Commons as part of my role as a member of the frontbench team.
  • On Friday 25th October– attending debates in the Houses of Parliament in the morning and holding an appointment only surgery in the afternoon. For an appointment on a future date you can book by calling my office on 020 8521 1223.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • Saturday 21st September - speaking at a workshop organised by End Violence Against Women on tackling domestic violence in Brighton
  • Sunday 22nd September- speaking at the Movement for Change rally about Walthamtow's Sharkstoppers campaign, then the Progress Rally, Labourlist Rally and the Guardian 'Big Ideas' event at Labour Party Conference in Brighton 
  • Monday 23 September - speaking at the Intern Aware campaign event, the IPPR debate on Public Services and Innovation and the Smith Institute discussion on Personal debt in Brighton 
  • Tuesday 24 September - Speaking at the Amnesty International event on tackling violence against women, the British Institute of IT debate on cybercrime, the Fabian Society discussion of Ed Miliband's speech, the Cooperative Party meeting on personal debt and the IpSoS Mori debate on polling 
  • Wednesday 25 September- Speaking at the Counterpoint Discussion on UKIP and the Labour Student debate on legal loan sharking
  • Thursday 26th September- visiting the opening of the Eco-Gym at George Monoux College 
  • Saturday 28th September holding a drop in surgery for local residents at the Mall Shopping Centre 2-4pm. 

Saturday 14 September 2013

Refounding Walthamstow - workshop with Stella Creasy - Sunday 15th at St Mary's Welcome Centre

Click the map to go to google maps
This is a quick reminder that we have a special consultation event this coming Sunday - a workshop with Stella Creasy MP at St Mary's Welcome Centre (next to St. Mary's Church) on this Sunday (15th September) at 3pm(Directions: at the top of the High Street continue up the hill on Church Hill for half a mile; just past the Girls School on the right take the right turn leading into St. Mary's churchyard; as you pass the church entrance on the left the Welcome Centre is on the right, the other side of the graveyard. Note - the google maps marker is slightly too far to the right!)

Local party members have of course been invited but we very much want to hear as well from other local residents who have joined with us on various campaigns, such as with #7days4stow, the Heat or Eat activists and so on.

We'd particularly like to hear from you about how you think we could make our party and work more inclusive and attractive to local people who have similar concerns to us. Arising from this, and other consultations we've had, we'll be deciding during the autumn on some changes we want to make and your ideas could be very helpful to us.

If you have already expressed an interest in this I do hope to see you there if you can make it. If you do intend to come it would be very helpful to know so we can make sure there are enough biscuits and tea! Just reply to this message. Let us know too if you need directions for the Welcome Centre. 
Email: walthamstowclp@yahoo.co.uk

As Stella says: "The event is part of our local party discussions about how best to organise ourselves so that we can work for the causes and concerns that brought us together. I could not do anything for Walthamstow on my own as the MP, and the local labour movement is a vital source of support and help with many volunteers whose time and effort is invaluable to both me and to our community activism. However, in any voluntary organisation there is always a danger process and structure can drown motivation and enthusiasm. That can lead to people being inadvertently excluded from our work or us undertaking activities that are counterproductive and frustrating for all - we want to reform our working practices to make sure that we are able to act together in ways that are fun, meaningful and fit with the rest of our busy family and working lives!

"I know that being part of a political party can sometimes seem alien to wanting to change the world! That's why I'm asking people like you who may not be part of Labour but are broadly supportive of what it stands for, or who may be members but don't want to come to meetings, to help us think about how we can work in a way that means we get the best out of each other as we try to make Walthamstow and indeed Britain a more socially just and prosperous place for everyone.

"In keeping with the theme of our efforts to change, I promise this will not be a boring meeting and there will be biscuits! The idea of the workshop is that it will be interactive and offer an opportunity for you to help us understand, in chatting with existing members of the labour movement, what your experience of political parties or campaigning is and how you feel change can be achieved either in our local community or our country. 

"The discussion will be informal, and the outcomes of the conversation (which will be anonymised so you can be as honest as you want!) will then be fed into the 'refounding labour' decision making process for Walthamstow labour party. 

"I hope you will feel able to join us at this event and give your feedback - please do feel free to let me know if you have any questions about this workshop or the refounding Labour project."

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • Sunday 15th - holding a workshop for members and supporters on refounding the Labour Party in Walthamstow 
  • Monday 16th - holding an appointment only surgery. For appointments on a future date please contact my office on 020 8521 1223.
  • Tuesday 17th - holding a meeting with members of local community groups and services on forming the E10 Hub to support educational attainment in Walthamstow 
  • Wednesday 18th - holding a meeting with stakeholders and providers of health services in Walthamstow to look at the support for elderly residents discharged from hospital.
  • Thursday 19th - meeting the UK Business Forum in central London
  • Saturday 21st - Wednesday 25th at Labour Party Conference in Brighton and speaking on a number of fringes and other events. My office will still be open on 020 8521 1223.

Thursday 12 September 2013

TESSELLATING with TESSA! 10 October at The Bell

Walthamstow Labour Party 
proudly presents its fundraising pub quiz

THURSDAY OCTOBER 10th 

617 Forest Road, London E17 
Doors 8pm, Quiz starts 8.30
Top prize £100!
Click the Map to go to Google Maps
  • RAFFLE (the usual top notch stuff) 
  • CAKE BREAKFree delicious home made Walthamstow cake during the break
  • Pay bar & great food  
  • Exclusive to all ticket holders: 10% discount on all Bell food bought at the bar
YES — our next pub quiz special guest is TESSA JOWELL. In 2005 she led London's Olympics bid. Many said Paris would win but it went to London. In 2010 she was made ‘Deputy Mayor of the Olympics Village’ in recognition of her achievement and, just like the 2012 Olympics, everything fits together for our Tessellating pub quiz — YES — there will be questions with a ‘Tess’ in them!*

TICKET PRICES
IN ADVANCE
  • Single—£12, two—£22
  • table of six—£60
  • Unwaged / pensioner - £10
AT THE DOOR
  • Single—£14, two—£24
  • table of six—£70
  • Unwaged / pensioner - £12
SAVE MONEY! BOOK IN ADVANCE

*Don’t be ‘Tessa late’ - join us at 8 and tessellate!

All proceeds from ticket sales, raffle tickets, and donations go to the Walthamstow CLP campaign account. 

Event promoted by Simon Redfern, chair of Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party, 23 Orford Road London E17 9NL 

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Walthamstow Labour Party: Free seaside trip - Charabanc to Brighton!

It seems the summer weather is not over quite yet, and we can help Walthamstow Labour Party members and supporters take advantage of it with an offer of a free day trip to Brighton on Sunday September 22nd!

This offer comes courtesy of Movement for Change (M4C) who would like to invite you to their event at the Labour Party Conference Fringe. The event itself starts at 1.30pm and has a number of high profile speakers, who will cover some of the many M4C campaign initiatives underway across the country: our very own Stella Creasy MP will talk about the Sharkstoppers campaign, and there'll be Alan Johnson MP, Rachel Reeves MP and several more. Many people will already be familiar with some of Stella's work, but this is a great opportunity to find out more about community campaigning with Labour members and supporters nationwide as well.

The event will finish around 3pm, and there will be a couple of hours to take in more of the Conference and fringe, to stroll along the prom, lose graciously to the piers' one armed bandits, or play on the beach, before returning to E17.

The 'Charabanc' (depending on numbers anything from a minibus upwards in size) will leave from 23 Orford Road at 10am returning by 7pm (precise times subject to confirmation) and all you have to do is confirm you'd like to come, to our M4C organiser Jack Madden - see below. It's expected the party will get to Brighton in plenty of time for lunch in cafes nearby, but you'd be very welcome to bring a packed lunch.

For more details have a look at these links:


To confirm a place on the bus:
Call/text Jack: 07805 825809

PS: The Movement for Change Main Fringe Event is outside the conference zone itself, so you DO NOT need to purchase a full security pass in order to attend. And in case you've made other arrangements to get to Brighton and would like to go to the event it's at:
Brighton Odeon, Kingswest, West Street, Brighton BN1 2RE

Monday 2 September 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • Monday 2 September parliament returns and so I will be in Westminster for a series of meetings and debates including attempting to speak in the general discussion on cycling
  • Tuesday 3 September speaking at the Women's Aid conference on Cyberstalking, then participating in Foreign Office questions
  • Wednesday 4 September taking part in Cabinet Office Questions 
  • Thursday 5 September taking part in the general debate on high cost credit to discuss legal loan sharking and then attending the Eat or Heat Comedy Fundraiser at the Rose and Crown Pub. 
  • Friday 6 September holding an appointment only advice surgery for local residents. To book an appointment please contact my office on 020 8521 1223
  • Saturday 7 September speaking at the Progress 'Winning With Women' conference on women's representation in Camden Town Hall and then attending the Higham Hill Common Allotments Prize Giving
  • Sunday 8 September attending the Wingfield Road and Randolph Road street party. 

Sunday 18 August 2013

FREE TRIP TO BRIGHTON! (22 Sept)

Would you like a FREE TRIP TO BRIGHTON during Labour Party Conference 2013?

As activists in Walthamstow CLP and 7days4stow are continuing their work alongside Movement for Change, here in Walthamstow we are organising a coach to take CLP members to Brighton for the day on Sunday 22nd September, to hear what our activists are working on.

There is guaranteed entry to the Movement for Change Fringe event, promising to be one of the most engaging and interesting events at conference this year.

As well as hearing what Walthamstow activists are getting up to, you will also get to hear what other Labour and trade union activists from across the United Kingdom and across the Labour movement are working on in their communities using the power of community organising with Movement for Change.

It would be fantastic to get as many Walthamstow Labour members down to Brighton to support our activists, take in Conference 2013, and enjoy a day out at the seaside in Brighton.

Movement for Change will be funding the coach if we fill the required number of spaces - meaning that this trip is FREE TO ALL LABOUR PARTY MEMBERS, if enough people are interested.

The Movement for Change Main Fringe Event is outside the conference zone itself, so you DO NOT need to purchase a full security pass in order to attend.

If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to the event here, or call Jack on 07805825809, or emailjack@movementforchange.org.uk

Sunday 4 August 2013

Refounding Walthamstow - how should the local party be organised?

Following the 'Refounding Labour' consultation launched by Peter Hain, and its adoption by last year's conference we are now considering what we should do in Walthamstow. We are in the process of moving our AGM to November as requested by the National Party, so this will be a short 'year' (started in February) and one decision to be taken in November is what other changes (if any) we should make.

From now till the November meeting we are consulting with local members and supporters in various ways. Today sees the first of a series of 'brainstorming meetings', which is to quote our chair Simon Redfern 'a session where you can bring any idea to the table – sensible, crazy, anything goes – no idea is a bad one.' Don't worry if you can't make it today. There will be more sessions over the summer. There will also be discussions at branch meetings, and we're planning to launch an online survey shortly, so even if you can't get to any meetings (or you just don't like meetings - something we'd also like to hear about) you can still have your say. In addition you can also email any comments you'd like to make to: walthamstowclp@yahoo.co.uk (preferably with 'refw' in the subject line).

So what's it all about? There's a whole set of documents you can download from the party's members' website Labour membersnet refounding pages here. If you're a supporter and not yet a member (or if you just find it difficult to log in to membersnet) you can get some of them here, in slightly different format. Many of the points raised can be dealt with at informal meetings and discussions, but there are a few questions that need a formal decision at the November meeting:

  • How do we take formal decisions (see below for some examples) - do we continue with a General Committee, or with a smaller Executive?
  • How often do we meet, and when?
  • What are meetings for?


Some examples of recent and forthcoming formal decisions:
  • Who should be our conference delegate?
  • Resolutions on blacklisting, and effects of housing benefits changes
  • Should we change how we organise the party?
  • Should we submit a 'contemporary resolution' to conference
  • Who should be our officers (chair, vice-chairs, secretary, treasurer)?

Thursday 25 July 2013

"Cash for Petitions" - MP for Walthamstow involved

l-r: Mark Carney, Stella Creasy, Caroline Criado-Perez

The campaign to retain a famous woman on at least one of our banknotes has won a significant advance. Since Elizabeth Fry - the previous sole woman - was replaced on the fiver by Sir Winston Churchill, under the benign governorship of Mervyn King, it looked like our folding cash was an indication that women don't really count. 

However thanks to a campaign started by Caroline Criado-Perez and spread very effectively through change.org, yesterday the new Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, announced the design for a new £10 note showing the (only surviving) image of Jane Austen. 

The Guardian today reports on the significant role played by Walthamstow's MP:

"Stella Creasy MP, who helped organise a letter from 46 Labour MPs to David Cameron in support of the campaign, said: "Britain has many women in its history of whom we should be proud, and today's decision is part of creating a culture of expectation that there will be many more in our future too." Read the full article here.


The new design launch took place yesterday at the Jane Austen Museum in her old house Chawton Cottage in Hampshire. As well as the portrait of Austen, the new note will include images of her writing desk and quills at Chawton Cottage, in Hampshire, where she lived; her brother's home, Godmersham Park, which she visited often, and is thought to have inspired some of her novels, and a quote from Miss Bingley, in Pride and Prejudice: "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!"




Tuesday 23 July 2013

Wood St. al fresco - Sunday August 11th 2pm

"Summer's here and the time is right for (dining) in (Wood) Street"

Following a tremendous Chapel End ward pub quiz in April, East Walthamstow Branch Labour Party continue their fundraising drive with an invitation to all members and supporters from tribute band Angie and the Vandellas (aka Cllrs. Bean, Sweden & Barnett) to the Wood Street al fresco buffet on Sunday 11th August, starting at 2pm:



Tickets are strictly limited, on a first come basis
To book, and for more details:
  • call 07702 436793
  • or email cllr.angie.bean@walthamforest.gov.uk
  • or contact any of the Wood St councillors

All proceeds go to East Walthamstow Branch Labour Party campaign funds, 23 Orford Road, London E17 9NL

Thursday 18 July 2013

Walthamstow CLP Euro Hustings - July 25th

First of all a big 'welcome to Walthamstow' to all members who have joined recently - whether new party members or transfers from other CLPs. A recent update means we have a sizable number of new members locally. 

Our final event this month (after yesterday's sweltering KING SIZE QUIZ - jam packed at the Rose & Crown, despite the heat) is the all member GC(General Committee) meeting on Thursday 25th July at the CLP offices at 23 Orford Road in Walthamstow Village. The meeting starts at 8pm.
  • The main business of the meeting is an informal hustings for the London MEP candidates selections. 
All 6 of the new candidates will be joining us and this will be a chance for a 'question time' session to get to know more about them. No formal voting will take place in this session; there won't be a 'no latecomers' rule, but of course you wouldn't want to miss out on any of the debate! At the end of this post are links to the candidates' websites for more information.

Voting closes in the party's OMOV ballot on July 31st, so there is still time to vote, by post or online, after this meeting. If you haven't had your ballot papers (during early June) let me know and I'll try to find out what's happened. You can read more about the MEP selections process here.
  • The hustings question time will last about 90 minutes, and there is then a short session of more formal business, finishing by 10pm at the latest. 
This will be the last meeting before the summer break. The next will be in September. Members will have been sent an agenda and the minutes of the June meeting. Discussion is open to all members, but in voting only delegates may take part. If you're interested in becoming a delegate to the GC let me know.

The six newly nominated Labour Party candidates in London are
Clicking on each name links to the candidate's website.
Note there is also a separate ballot for the two sitting MEPs - Claude Moraes and Mary Honeyball

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Friday 12 July 2013

Selection2014 - assessment interviews this weekend

As part of the process by which the local Labour Party chooses its candidates for the local council elections in 2014 a series of assessment interviews is scheduled to take place over the coming weekend. All eligible party members who wish to be considered as potential ward candidates have had to submit an application, and reports will have been submitted on them by branch secretaries, and in the case of sitting councillors wishing to stand again the Labour Group Whip will also have been asked to submit reports. Progress on this will be reported here as it becomes available.

For more information on this process see the Elections 2014 Local page here. (Also accessible from the link in the right hand column of your browser)

MP Pay: IPSA Consultation and Expenses Panel

Stella Creasy MP writes in this week's Working for Walthamstow newsletter:

"This week many residents have been in touch with me regarding the widely reported proposals by IPSA – the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority which evaluates and manages the MPs expenses and pay - on the next phase of its review of MPs’ pay and pensions. It was set up after the expenses scandal in 2009, to take decision making and policy about these matters out of the hands of MPs entirely. 

"This independent body has suggested an increase in salary for MPs from 2015, as well as bringing pensions in line with other parts of the public sector, changes to redundancy packages to business costs and the expenses scheme. You can find full details of the proposals by visiting IPSA’s website. A consultation on the proposals is now open for submissions until 20thOctober 2013 and you can email your comments to IPSA or visit the website for more information. I would encourage anyone concerned about these proposals- which I personally do not support- to participate in this consultation and raise their concerns. In addition, since my election I have held a regular residents panel to oversee my own parliamentary expenses proposals and approve my annual budget. Any resident who wishes to participate in this process should contact my office."

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Friday 12th July – speaking at the Women’s Aid Conference in Warwick and then running a workshop on tackling violence against women in Dudley 
  • On Saturday 13th July – attending the Ditchley Foundation lecture on national security issues
  • On Monday 15th July – taking part in questions to the Home Secretary in parliament as part of my role within the shadow home affairs team.
  • On Tuesday 16th July – holding a number of meetings with organisations and campaign groups
  • On Wednesday 17th July – attending the Walthamstow Labour Party fundraiser with Baroness Oona King- see below for more details. 
  • On Friday 19th July – holding a number of meetings with local campaign organisations in Walthamstow
  • On Saturday 20th July – holding a drop-in surgery at The Mall from 2pm till 4pm. For an appointment at a future appointment only surgery contact my office on 020 8521 1223. Then speaking at the Croydon Labour Party Dinner. 
  • On Sunday 21st July  - attending the Walthamstow High Street Art project

Thursday 11 July 2013

Ascham Homes go PV in Waltham Forest

Have you noticed a recent outcrop of solar pv panels in places you might not expect them? Ascham Homes has been installing them on the roofs of houses in Waltham Forest. 

According to Ascham Homes Chair Paul Lowenberg: 
"We won the NFA National Award for Best Green Initiative. I thought I should let you know that at the National Federation of ALMOs conference yesterday we won the national award for best Green Initiative for our Solar PV scheme. It was really great getting the positive feedback from so many people, who commented on the fact that the award was an illustration of how much the organisation has improved over the past 3 years. It was also really nice to see how pleased our staff that attended the event felt about us winning a national award.

"I look forward to seeing you all at the Board meeting on the 22nd July if not before.

"Very best, Paul"
Chair of Ascham Homes
020 7263 9797

To see the National Federation of ALMOs awards page click here 
and scroll down to the 'Best Green Initiative' category

Sunday 7 July 2013

Project 2013 6mth progress July 2013 - what's building in and around E17


Waltham Forest Council leader Chris Robbins writes:

"At the start of the year I promised that 2013 would be the year we would start to deliver on our regeneration commitments to residents, and as you can see from the hoardings that have gone up, the diggers that have started work and the bricks that are being laid we really are delivering our ambition of creating a better place for residents.

"We have secured over £160 million of investment to make this happen and all the developments will benefit the borough and the people who live here, offering them better high streets, leisure facilities, schools and housing. All of the projects are now well underway either behind the scenes or on site and I look forward to seeing the borough develop and change over the coming months creating a better place to live."

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 6th July – attending the Edinburgh Primary School Summer Fair 
  • On Sunday 7th July – attending the Shakir Youth Trust AGM at the Asian Centre and then supporting the Stand Up For Women event at the Garrick Theatre
  • On Monday 8th July – holding an appointment only surgery for constituents – for an appointment at a future date ring my office on 020 8521 1223 and in the evening speaking at a fringe event at the Methodist Conference.
  • On Tuesday 9th July – holding a number of meetings as part of my work as a shadow home affairs team meeting in Westminster.
  • On Wednesday 10th July – holding a summer party for those involved in the #7days4stow project in Parliament. Details below.
  • On Thursday 11th July – attending the launch of the Paladin network to tackle stalking and sexual harassment
  • On Friday 12th July – speaking at the Women’s Aid Conference in Warwick and then running a workshop on tackling violence against women in Dudley 

Friday 28 June 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

  • On Saturday 29th June – heading to the Royal British Legion Community Covenant ceremony at the Town Hall from 12pm.
  • On Sunday 30th June – attending the Eat or Heat event at the Quaker Meeting hall, the Farmers Market and the Walthamstow village fair at vestry house 
  • On Monday 1st July – hosting a number of meetings in Parliament and then attending an event on Tackling Female Genital Mutilation in the UK.
  • On Tuesday 2nd July –Attending the All Party Parliamentary group on Trafficking and then attending the fundraising dinner for Karna Nirvarna at Walthamstow School for Girls.
  • On Thursday 4th July – visiting Hammersmith and then going to the Art of Embroidery event at the William Morris Gallery
  • On Saturday 6th July – attending the Edinburgh Primary School Summer Fair

Selection2014 deadline is 28th June at 5pm

More details here and here

Wednesday 26 June 2013

A ‘KING SIZE QUIZ’ on July 17th - with the Baroness of Bow


Here is the poster for our latest CLP fundraiser, and here's the link where you can 
(or email: campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or call: 07957 245221)


buy tickets online: here at the Labour Party Shop
or email: campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk
or call: 07957 245221

Saturday 22 June 2013

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week


  • Saturday 22nd – running a short workshop at the Sheffield Central Labour AGM on campaigning and the #7days4stow project
  • On Sunday 23rd – attending the Queens Road Boundary Street Party in the afternoon
  • On Monday 24th – holding meetings as part of my duties as a member of the shadow Home Affairs team
  • On Tuesday 25th – speaking at a conference on social enterprises in Waterloo and then running a workshop on tackling domestic violence in the evening in Battersea for London campaigners.
  • On Wednesday 26th in Parliament for the Chancellor’s Spending Review statement and then attending the Walthamstow CLP GC in Orford Road
  • On Thursday 27th – attending the Lea Valley Boat Club
  • On Friday 28th – holding an appointment only surgery for constituents. For an appointment at a future surgery

Selection2014 - what's happening?

The Selection 2014 process is under way and all Labour Party members in Waltham Forest with a valid email address have had an invitation to apply to be considered. The application deadline is June 28th. It is expected the assessment interviews for members who have applied will take place during the weekend 13-14 July, and for there to be further meetings and events over the summer to encourage members applying to become council candidates for the Labour Party. The ward selections from those who pass the assessment will begin in September/October. The autumn will also see a process of consultation about the Labour Manifesto for the Borough. All members will be invited to contribute their thoughts on a number of policy issues and proposals.

Selection2014 deadline is 5pm on 28th June

Selection2014 - Messages have gone out to all Labour Party members in Waltham Forest inviting them to consider self nominating for the panel from which we will choose our candidates for the 2014 local elections. Members for whom we have email accounts should have received this by email. Others will have received a letter in the post. The deadline for receipt of nominations is 5pm on June 28.

If you are a member of the Labour Party living within the borough of Waltham Forest and you have not had an invitation from Procedures Secretary Mike (by email or post) by June 21st you can email him directly at: WFLabour2014@live.co.uk, or call 07763319207

Friday 21 June 2013

Jennette Arnold AM on 'Holding our rail operators to account' in Walthamstow


In her latest newsletter Jennette Arnold our London Assembly Member for NE London writes:

HOLDING OUR RAIL OPERATORS TO ACCOUNT

One of the big issues I have working on this month has been deficiencies in information provision at Walthamstow Central during engineering works. Whilst the works are important and we all want to see an upgraded and efficient railway network, rail operators have a clear obligation to keep passengers fully informed and publicise alternative travel arrangements.

I have heard complaints about a lack of available staff, no posters with replacement bus times and display screens asking passengers to await announcements and then no announcements being made.

This is completely unacceptable and I have written a letter of complaint to the Managing Director of Greater Anglia and will shortly be meeting Station Staff to discuss what measures will be taken to see that passengers are not abandoned again.

If you have experienced similar problems on main line rail services within North-East London then please contact me at jennette.arnold@london.gov.uk.
___________________________________

To receive Jennette's newsletters email: daniel.carey-dawes@london.gov.uk

Removing Elizabeth Fry from the five pound note isn't a small fry issue


Writing in the New Statesman Stella Creasy MP says:
"Mervyn King's decision to put Winston Churchill on our five pound notes rather than Elizabeth Fry might seem trivial, but by not commemorating any women on our cash, we're encouraging the perception women are secondary to men . . . .

. . . "Philanthropist and prison reformer Elizabeth Fry has been on our smallest bank note since 2002. While the Queen remains on all legal tender, King’s decision, whether consciously or not, removes the only historical female commemorated in this way. The decision is out of kilter with protocol as, while no figure remains in perpetuity, Darwin has featured since 2000 and thus could be considered first in line for replacement. It’s also out of step with other countries - Scotland has two series of five pound notes, each with one woman on, the Norwegians and Swedes who have five-value notes with two women on each and the Australians who have fifty-fifty representation. . . .

. . . ."If Britain is to be a place where potential is realised, we need to be willing to confront these speedhumps on our road to equality; becoming a country in which women from all walks of life are seen and speaking out as well as spoken about and shown. Even if Fry's time is up, the range of women who could be acknowledged is immense; from Mary Seacole to Mary Wollstencraft, Emily Davison to Rosalind Franklin. In showcasing them we generate an anticipation of future success for 51 per cent of the population that helps build a more just, more equal and so more prosperous world for all.

"Mervyn and his fellow members of the Court of Directors of the Bank of England - gender balance of one woman out of twelve - need to hear deleting Elizbeth Fry isn’t a small fry issue. That’s why I’m backing the Women’s Room who have until the 24 June to raise the remaining £7,000 required for a judicial review – please help by donating a Darwin this week to send a message it matters that women are on the money."

Read the full article here.