Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow, this week

• Monday 1 September - returning to Westminster for the resumption of Parliamentary business 
• Wednesday 3 September - speaking on the importance of enforcing the minimum wage in parliament 
• Thursday 4 September- attending the funeral for Nicholas Russell and then speaking at the West Walthamstow Branch Meeting 
• Friday 5 September - attending the re-opening of Stoneydown Park School
• Saturday 6 September -campaigning and running circular firing up squads to support women's leadership in Harrow and Ealing. All women welcome. 

Nicholas Russell's funeral 4th September - an open invitation

Until his untimely death on the 17th August Nicholas Russell was a committed activist within the Labour Party in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. A biography is available on Wikipedia, but it doesn't do justice to the extent of his commitment to campaigning on behalf of the Labour Party, the Co-operative Party, and above all for the cause of disability rights. A much fuller account is given by his sister in law in an obituary in The Guardian. 

As a party member in neighbouring Leyton his campaigning and activism nevertheless had a major impact in Walthamstow, and he is sorely missed. His partner Georgina, and his brother John have issued the following invitation (which can also be seen in its original form on facebook):

"Georgina Farrer and John Russell would like to extend an open invitation to Nicholas' funeral to all those people who knew or worked with him. The funeral will take place on Thursday, 4th September 2014 to start at 3.15 at the North Chapel, City of London Cemetery and Crematorium, Aldersbrook Road, London E12 5DQ.

We kindly ask people to wear one item of red and to bring a single red flower. If guests would like to make a donation, we will be supporting three charities to reflect Nicholas' political work. These are:

Whizz-kidz, a children's disability charity - www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
Stay Safe East, a local charity tackling abuse - www.staysafe-east.org.uk
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) - www.cnduk.org

The wake will be held at Waltham Forest Resources Hub (South) Disability Resources Centre at 90 Crowfield Road, London E11 2BG (wfdrc.org.uk). Food and drink has kindly been provided by the Star of India Restaurant (www.starofindiauk.com) with support from Waltham Forest Labour Party (www.walthamforestlabour.co.uk).

We look forward to seeing all of Nicholas' friends and colleagues on 4th September. 

With best wishes, Georgina and John."

Mayoral Garden Party for the Soul Project - Sunday 31st August

Councillor Terry Wheeler, Mayor of Waltham Forest 2014/15, writes:

One of the things I do as Mayor is to help raise funds for Charity. I have chosen this year to focus on projects for local young people and to focus on young people.

I am  writing to  to invite you to support a Garden Party on 31st August (from 4.00-7.00pm) being held  at my Home to raise funds for the Soul Project who are based in Wood Street and whose main aim is to “engage young people throughout the Borough in positive activities to prevent social exclusion”  

The event is being hosted by the Young Mayoress Karishma Mahomed who has chosen the Soul Project as the focus for this event- I will be helping the Borough Youth Engagement Team in the kitchen.

The Garden Party will feature “Jazz Atmosphere”- a locally based Jazz Trio –there will be opportunities for anyone who wishes to sit in”

It is a fund raising event so there will be a charge of £20 (£12 concessions) and children will be free ( but appropriate donations would be welcome). In return you will be able to enjoy Jazz- themed  Music provided by Jazz Atmosphere, a substantial buffet meal, a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage and a tour round the garden. You are welcome to bring your own refreshment supplies as well. All meat used will be Halal unless otherwise indicated and there will be vegetarian options.

We obviously need to know who is coming to ensure there is adequate catering and to manage numbers- we do not want to annoy our neighbours, and the Jazz Band will moderate their sound levels. Please “hassle me”: 

text 07903755943, 

email cllr.terry.wheeler@walthamforest.gov.uk   

or contact the Town Hall:

Phone - 020 8496 4399 (ask for Mariam Ifzal).

Or write - 

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Terry Wheeler 2014–15

The Mayor’s Parlour                                                     

Waltham Forest Town Hall

Forest Road, London E17 4JF                     

Day trip to conference on the M4C bus - Sunday Sept 21st - FREE!

Movement for Change have offered to run another bus to Conference for us on Sunday September 21st - and entry to the M4C showcase event (more info about M4C on facebook). This invitation is for all Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party members and all local Labour Party supporters (and especially to those who came on the Brighton day trip to Conference last year.)

Conference is in Manchester this year so there is rather more travel time and it will be a longer day (but we don't have to get across London . . .) The planned timings for the day are:

• 8.15am - meet at 23 Orford Road, London E17 9NL [this will be the only pick-up point]
• 8.30am - depart
• 12.30pm - estimated arrival in Manchester at Conference and M4C venue
• 1.30-2.30pm - Movement for Change Conference event at Screen 2, AMC Great Northern 16, Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN; you do NOT need a conference pass for this as it will be outside the ticketed zone. Conference itself is at Manchester Central [formerly known as the G-Mex exhibition centre, and before that as Manchester Central Station].
• 2.30-4.45pm - free time in Manchester [there are numerous free events outside the ticketed zone, or party members can buy a day pass for Conference by following the link here, or you can just enjoy the sights of Manchester!]
• 4.45-5pm - meet at departure point
• 5pm - depart Manchester
• 9pm - estimated arrival time back at 23 Orford Road

There will be a short stop about half-way in both directions [unless severe traffic problems on the way there would make us late for the M4C event]. This will allow you to get refreshments, use toilets etc, but not a sit-down meal. You are welcome to bring sandwiches to eat on the bus, and there will be plenty of time in Manchester to look for somewhere to eat, though we can't guarantee how much time you will have before the event. We expect to use the same bus in both directions so you should be able to leave belongings you don't wish to carry around locked in the bus while we're in Manchester. 

Last year's trip was a tremendous success which everyone greatly enjoyed. The bus was almost full with around 40 members and supporters (some of whom gathered on the beach for a photo). The enjoyment was crowned on that occasion by the award of 'Campaigner of the Year' to our very own Yemi Osho -  now councillor for Lea Bridge ward.

If you'd like to join us just send an email. The invitation is open to all CLP members, all local Labour Party supporters, friends family etc. There is no charge for the bus, but if you were able to make a small contribution on the day to M4C expenses for booking it that would of course be very welcome. Last year was great fun; do join us if you can this year. If you've already asked to reserve a place you should get an email soon [if not email: walthamstowclp@yahoo.co.uk to check]. You can also check this page for any news or updates to this event.

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Wednesday 20th August holding an advice surgery for Walthamstow residents - to book an appointment please call 020 8521 1223
• Thursday 21st August holding an advice surgery for Walthamstow residents- to book an appointment please call 020 8521 1223 
• Monday 25th to Friday 29th August-out of my office. Please note my office will remain open so if you require assistance please call on 020 8521 1223. 

Home Sweet Home E17: Day of Public Action, Town Square, 1.30pm, Saturday

This Saturday 9 August from 1.30pm we will be in Walthamstow Town Square with our campaign to highlight the good and bad behaviour in our local housing market. 

With Walthamstow seeing the biggest increases in the country in house prices in the last year, and rents going up by nearly 10% in our area at the same time, only through collective action to tackle the behaviours that are distorting prices and encouraging exploitation can we ensure that all residents can access quality housing. Please join us on Saturday to show your support and send a strong message we will not tolerate these practices in Walthamstow. 

Damp, extortionate charges and misleading information are all too common for many residents - and the good landlords, estate agents and letting agents find their reputations tarnished as a result too. Please join us and the Movement for Change with our 'wheel of misfortune' activity (plus a few 'cockroaches' and other uninvited guests) as well as encouraging residents to nominate in our Local Living Awards: 

• Click here to nominate a Letting Agent 
• Click here to nominate an Estate Agent 
• Click here to nominate a Social Housing Provider 
• Click here to nominate a Landlord 

All nominations are confidential - categories include topics such as from 'Best' and 'Worst' letting agent, 'best' or worst' offer to completion and  even 'Most Inventive Excuse’!

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Saturday 9^th August – Attending the Home Sweet Home community action in Walthamstow Town Square and then helping run a training session for young campaigners in Ilford. 
  
• Monday 11th August to Wednesday 13th August- visiting the Scottish Parliament and campaigning in the Scottish Referendum in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cumbernauld 
• Friday 15th August - Attending the display of Walthamstow's bus history in Walthamstow Town Square and then heading to Stoke to run a campaigning workshop 

'Home Sweet Home community action' 1.30-3pm this Saturday in the Town Square

One of Stella Creasy MP's campaign priorities this year is to work with Walthamstow residents to tackle the impact of rising rents and house prices on our local community. This dovetails with the council's announced scheme to licence all landlords across the borough. We're seeking to challenge those letting agents and landlords who exploit London's housing market to rip off tenants with excessive fees and rents for poor quality housing as well as to support those who treat local residents fairly.

A number of meetings have already been held with local party members and residents to get this going, and  next up is our . . .

'Home Sweet Home community action'

this Saturday in the Town Square from 1.30-3pm

One of the attractions will be a housing 'wheel of misfortune', where you can test your luck trying to find accommodation, and see what sort of obstacles you could face. Do come and join us - find out more about the campaign and maybe offer your support.

'Local Living: SOS! awards'

As part of our 'Home Sweet Home' campaign in Walthamstow we're going to hold landlords, letting agents and estate agents to account for their conduct by creating the 'E17 Local Living: SOS! Awards' to highlight the good, the bad and the ugly of our local housing. 

You can support this scheme by submitting your nominations for the 'Local Living: SOS! awards'. They're in three sections - renting, buying and selling, and social housing, and the nomination forms are here:

• Letting Agents
• Buying and Selling from Estate Agents 
• Social Housing providers

Categories include topics such as from 'Best' to 'Worst' letting agent, 'best' or worst' offer to completion and even 'Most Inventive Excuse’! The idea is to make it easier for people trying to find accommodation to know the standards of the agents they have to deal with, and maybe make more informed choices. The more local residents who contribute the better our info will be - so get submitting!

We're also planning a meeting on this issue to take place in November, so watch out for more news of this nearer the time.

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Saturday 2nd August - attending the Walthamstow Village Festival  
• Monday 4^th August – Attending  the WW1 Commemorative event at Walthamstow Town Hall
• Wednesday 6^th August – meeting with women's groups in Parliament to discuss female representation 
• Friday 8^th August – giving a speech to twitter about campaigning
• Saturday 9^th August – Attending the Home Sweet Home community action. If you would like to attend please contact Ruby in my office or call 020 8521 1223.