This year marks the tenth anniversary of Labour passing the National Minimum Wage Act.  It is one of our proudest achievements, having benefited millions of people – in my work as an employment lawyer I see the affect it has every working week.

Almost everyone who works in the UK is legally entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage – that includes people employed permanently, by an agency, part-time workers, casual workers, or people on a short-term contract.

On Wednesday the national minimum wage will be increasing:

• for adults (which means people aged 22 and over), from £5.52 to £5.73 an hour;
• for workers aged 18-21 (the “development rate”), from £4.60 to £4.77 an hour;
• for young people (those older than school leaving age and younger than 18; you’re under school leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which you turn 16), from £3.40 to £3.53 an hour.

To find out more, click here: The National Minimum Wage

Chuka appeared on Richard Bacon’s show on BBC Radio 5 Live last night. Chuka was discussing Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s big speech to the Labour Conference and, amongst other things, how Labour has delivered for the people of Streatham. To listen to the show, click here: Richard Bacon – BBC Radio 5 Live.

As of last week, everyone in Streatham (a parliamentary constituency overing Streatham, parts of Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton) will be eligible for at least 50% off loft and cavity wall insulation, with everyone on low incomes and all pensioners able to get these for free.  Cold weather payments for the most vulnerable will be increased from £8.50 to £25 a week.

Improving the insulation in your property could save you £350 a year on energy bills. Call 0800 512 012 to find out what help is available to you.

Chuka has been concerned about rising energy costs for some time, calling for the Government to help those hit hardest by recent price rises immediately and also invest more resources in schemes to reduce energy use in the long term.

On hearing about the new measures, Chuka said: “These measures will help local people to reduce the impact their energy use has on the environment – and on their wallets.”

Gareth Williams

Streatham Hill is host to ASC studios, home to more than 40 artists and a hot bed of talent. I had the pleasure of meeting many of the artists there and enjoying what they have to offer on Friday. Never one to miss the opportunity to promote what Streatham, Balham, Brixton, Clapham and Tulse Hill have to offer, I have posted a selection of photos from the Open Studios event held there over the weekend below.

The works of Ann Pownall, the photographer – www.annpownall.com.

Chatting with Urban Art top honcho, Tim Sutton in his studio, surrounded by his paintings of the patrons and staff of the Streatham Bingo Hall – www.timothysutton.com.

Admiring the work of Shiroma Ratne – www.shiromaratne.com.

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Last Sunday Chuka spoke at Love Difference, a festival that took place at the Cargo music venue in East London that involved discussions, film and live music, aimed at promoting relations between, in particular, recent migrants to London from those states which joined the European Union in 2004 (including Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, and others) and the more settled populations.  The Festival also explored the political and artistic issues surrounding immigration and cultural exchange. 

The London leg of the festival is part of a one-off series of exceptional and unique all day long mini-festivals in London, Northampton and Bristol, organised with European Alternatives to mark the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Chuka was asked to speak in part because Streatham is one of the most multicultural constituencies in the country, but also because of his own diverse background. In Streatham, 35.7% of the population is non white and 22.6% of the population is African and/or Caribbean. There are also long established Polish, Portuguese and Hispanic communities, in addition to newer, growing East African communities.  You can view photos of the London festival event here: Love Difference, Cargo.

You can  watch the accompanying video for the Festival below.

The Streatham Artists Summer Open Studios 2008 gives you the rare opportunity to buy work direct from the best of local up-and-coming contemporary artists.  Work on show at 47c Streatham Hill will include paintings, photographs, print making and sculpture.

Streatham Artists Open Studios are always eagerly anticipated, and this summer there is a whole weekend of opportunity to see this diverse range of contemporary creativity.

Chuka Umunna is proud to support this exciting local event and will be attending the preview, to which everyone is welcome, on Friday evening between 6 and 8:30pm.  If you can’t make it then, don’t worry - the studios are also open this Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

With all kinds of artwork included, from the pretty to the provocative and from landscapes to strange shapes, there is definitely something for everyone in the heart of Streatham Hill.  For more information visit the Streatham Artists website.  So see you there!

Gareth Williams

I never fail to be impressed by the sheer resilience of the people of our wonderful community in the face of the dreadful British weather!  This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Streatham Vale Park Fun Day organised by the Friends of Streatham Vale Park.  Despite the grey and the rain, local people turned out to celebrate this communal local area profiled here: Streatham Vale Park. I am pictured talking to local residents at the Fun Day below.  Whatever the weather, Streatham Vale Park brings a ray of light to the local residents of Streatham South!

Streatham Vale Park is a charming piece of green space in the south-west corner of the Streatham constituency. Originally built in 1930/31, following campaigning by the Streatham Vale Property Owners Association, the park is wooded in areas and contains a selection of trees, flowerbeds and shrubs. The park is home to tennis courts a disused bowling green and pavilion, a playground, an adventure playground and the One O’ Clock Club, which offers activities for children under 5 and their parents.

Unfortunately, the park is hardly visible from the outside – many people in Streatham are unaware that it exists, but that is changing thanks to local residents.  It is accessed by two very small, almost hidden entrances on Abercairn Road and an even smaller one on Lonesome Way (the access road into the park). It is a real gem.

The Friends of Streatham Vale Park was formed in 2003 by local residents interested in maintaining this wonderful communal area. The organisation aims to promote the park, campaign for its development, provide community views on it and organise events there. The Friends’ main event of the year is the Fun Day held in the park each summer.

Chuka is pictured (right) in the the Park with Streatham South ward Cllrs Dave Malley and John Kazantzis.

On Tuesday the government announced that homebuyers will not have to pay stamp duty on properties costing £175,000 or less for the next 12 months.  Tonight Chuka will be discussing Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s big speech this evening to the Scottish CBI and what else the government is doing to help ordinary working people in Streatham and beyond with writer and broacaster, Lance Price, and others at 10pm on BBC Radio 4.  To listen to the programme, click here: BBC Radio 4 – The World Tonight (4 Sep ‘08)

Last weekend, Tooting Bec Common played venue to the first annual Carnival of the local areas, Balham, Streatham and Tooting. The carnival was a complete charity fundraiser for 4 chosen charities – Re-Play Music (Merton Abbey Mills), Raw Material Music and Media (Brixton), and the Friends of the Neo Natal Unit at St. George’s Hospital (Tooting) – all with a focus on improving the lives of children in South London. The event certainly proved to be a family crowd puller. As Saturday’s sunshine rays scorched the grass beneath them, revelers bathed in the heat while listening to live acts, eating Carribbean jerk chicken, sipping rum punch and evidently enjoying the community vibe.

Two stages continuously hosted more than 40 live bands and DJs, both locally bred and from the international circuit. One group helping to give community support to up and coming talent were given the opportunity to showcase their members on the smaller of the two stages. What started as a few pre-positioned bystanders soon became a significant audience, giving welcomed appreciation to the young acts.

Despite the downpour on Sunday morning, the carnival did not fail in producing some phenomenal soul vocals, punk beats and, amongst others, the eagerly awaited acoustic wonder of Rodney Branigan – ‘a sensational instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who… [has a] show-stopping ability to play two guitars simultaneously to awe-inspiring standards’ (www.CroydonGuardian.co.uk)

Besides the kids’ area, fully equipped with fun fair, music and art workshops, and nearby face painting, a small collection of local businesses and charities offered their festival wares and services to the carnival punters. Bargain fashion sunglasses and Bikram Yoga were amongst some of the delights on offer. A great mix of organic, halal and exotic food stalls also added to the true communal representation of diversity within the locality.

The carnival sponsors should be commended for their breadth of thought in securing such a wealth of volunteer support, which helped recycling and waste reduction throughout the weekend. The bank of fluorescent bibbed rubbish collectors added to the sense of wellbeing and sustainability.

A thorough success from the eyes of a debutant punter – the Balham and Tooting Carnival should be the start of something special, a South London special!

Chichi Umunna