A Jubilee treat: Free swimming for all Wandsworth’s children

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Simon Hogg

It was wonderful to hear the council has taken up a suggestion from my colleague Sheila Boswell to treat the children of Wandsworth to free swimming during the summer half term in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. UPDATE: The scheme runs from Saturday, June 2 to Sunday, June 10 at all leisure centres in Wandsworth.

Cllr Boswell, pictured above celebrating with local children, said: “On the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, it was proposed to give ‘a treat’ to the poor children of Battersea in the form of a Jubilee meal. I thought it would be great to replicate this in a modern day universal gift to mark the occasion of this Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and so proposed the idea of free swimming during half term week for all Wandsworth children under 16” Continue reading →

An inspiring true story: How Jess became a Labour councillor and you can too

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Simon Hogg

“My name is Jess Phillips. I’m a working mum, and a newly elected Labour Councillor from Birmingham.

“I live with my two lovely boys, Harry and Danny, and my husband Tom, and I go out to work full time at a local charity.

“I’ve been active in my local community since the street I live in was blighted by a spate of anti social behaviour a couple of years ago.

To find out more about my story, take a look at this video: Continue reading →

Know Your Rights Day: Get free legal advice on debt, jobs and housing

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Simon Hogg

South West London Law Centres have teamed up with Eversheds law firm to organise a ‘Know You Rights Day’ in Wandsworth on Friday May 18 in Balham Library Hall, 16 Ramsden Road SW12 8QY.

Know Your Rights poster

Continue reading →

The Olympics come to Battersea: The good news & and the bad news

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Simon Hogg

Simon Hogg at the Olympic Park

This week I was excited to tour the Olympic Park. As I missed out on tickets to the athletics, this is the closest I will get!

There is good and bad news about the Olympic effect here in Battersea.

Continue reading →

Tory Tales: The retro cartoon that reveals what they really mean

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Simon Hogg

Why young people are the key to tackling youth crime

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Simon Hogg

Stella Creasy

Guest post by Stella Creasy MP

In 2008 Boris Johnson put the issue of knife crime and youth violence front and centre of his campaign to be London Mayor with his Time For Action programme.

Yet since 2008 the number of young knife crime victims in London has risen by 29% and the genuine fear of crime continues to dominate many young Londoners’ lives.

Tackling youth crime in London requires a fresh approach. Resources are scarce, confidence in the police is low among young people and the voices of young people are too often ignored.

Continue reading →