Chuka Umunna, Member of Parliament for Streatham, has challenged ministers from the Liberal Democrat-Conservative government over their announcement of severe cuts to funding for tackling youth unemployment.

In the House of Commons chamber, Mr Umunna asked the Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP why the Future Jobs Fund jobs programme is being cut when data on the effectiveness of the scheme is not yet available.

Posing a question to Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young, he also called for a full debate on the Future Jobs Fund so that its impact can be properly assessed.

This week, Mr Umunna met with local Jobcentre Plus representatives to discuss the impact of the Future Jobs Fund in the Streatham constituency and learned that full data is not yet available.

Last month the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition government announced that the Future Jobs Fund would be axed as part of £6 billion of spending cuts.

The Future Jobs Fund, an investment programme launched by the previous Labour government to tackle unemployment among young people, provided funding to create 110,000 new jobs for 18 to 24 year olds unemployed for six months or more.

Any organisation in the private, public or third sector was able to apply for funding for new jobs through the scheme.

This week, as part of £2 billion of additional cuts the Liberal Democrat-Conservative government announced the axing of the ‘young person’s guarantee’ introduced by the last government which meant that young people out of work for six months were guaranteed a place in a job or training.

In the chamber, Mr Umunna said: “When I visited my constituency’s district Jobcentre Plus office on Monday, I was told that it was far too early to judge the effectiveness of the scheme, because no data are yet available.

“May I suggest that we have a debate on the scheme, so that we can work out whether what we are being told about the DWP’s view of the matter is a reflection of what is happening on the ground?”

Mr Umunna added: “In their manifesto the Liberal Democrats promised to begin their term in office with an economic stimulus and job creation package and are reneging on that by axing this very important scheme with their Conservative coalition partners.”

Writing in the New Statesman, leading economist and former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee Professor David Blanchflower said: “Youngsters without skills or qualifications are especially at risk. The danger is that they lose self-esteem and do not make a successful trans¬ition from school to work, potentially scarring them forever. That is bad for them: it means more unemployment, lower wages, less happiness and worse health later in life.

“It is also bad for the rest of us, not just because of the lost output, but because of the social costs. Crime rates in general and property crime in particular tend to rise in these circumstances. Above all, these are our children and it’s our problem. Unemployment makes everyone unhappy.”

What they say (on Streatham High Road):

What we say:

● Young people who have been out of work for six months are guaranteed a place in a job or training. Thanks to this pledge, Streatham Jobcentre is placing young people in work who otherwise would have been left on the scrapheap.

● Unemployment in Lambeth is 56 per cent lower than it was during the last recession when the Tories were in charge in 1992.

● Through the September Guarantee, school leavers are guaranteed a place in education, training or an apprenticeship.

● The government is backing new job creation for unemployed young people, investing £1 billion through the Future Jobs Fund. Any organisation from the public, private or third sector can apply for funding with the long term aim of creating 150,000 additional jobs

● Labour’s blueprint for a low carbon economy will create up to 1.2 million green jobs in areas such as renewable energy.

● Thanks to the steps the government has taken, the UK’s youth unemployment rate is lower than Portugal, Finland, Belgium, France, Sweden, Italy and Spain, and below the EU and Eurozone average. (Eurostat, from labour force survey 2009 – most recent statistics)

● Unemployment is falling. The number of people claiming Jobseekers allowance fell by 32,300 during the last quarter of 2009. (ONS Labour Market Statistics)

● Compared with the 1980s and 1990s recessions, when the Tories were in charge, Britain’s unemployment has been consistently lower thanks to the action the government has taken to help people through tough economic times.

Last Saturday Dunraven High School played host to Celebrating Streatham; an event organised by Chuka Umunna to mark the retirement of Keith Hill MP, who has represented the area for eighteen years, and to celebrate the vibrancy, talent and diversity of the people of Streatham.

Dozens of local businesses, artists and community groups set up stalls in the afternoon including Chili Chutney, SPIRES and Sustainable Streatham. The stalls sold food, paintings and provided workshops for interested residents.

In the video below, which was shot at the event, residents explain what they love about Streatham:

Later in the afternoon local schools, community and youth groups had the chance to showcase their talents in the ‘Streatham Presents…’ show, judged by Keith Hill MP, Mercury Music Prizewinner Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho, singer with the Streets.

The audience voted for their favourite act, and the winner of the chance to record a music video with Generation Next was dancer Jerayle of Urban Sport Life. Speech Debelle was so impressed with Jerayle’s performance that she also asked him to star in her next music video!

Chuka Umunna had a chance to catch up with Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho before Streatham Presents…:

Chuka Umunna said that, if he is elected, he will organise a Celebrating Streatham event every year.

Click here to see more pictures from the day.

On 2nd of March 10,000 young people cast their votes to elect a new Youth Mayor of Lambeth. In an incredibly close election Darren Tenkorang from Bishop Thomas Grant School was named Youth Mayor of Lambeth for 2010-11. Runner-up Sara Zouhir, a student at Lambeth Academy, was named as Deputy Youth Mayor.

As Youth Mayor of Lambeth Darren aims to “destroy the stereotype the youth have…by uniting the community”. As well as providing a link between young people and the media, members of the council and service providers Darren will be responsible for a budget of £25,000 which will be used to fund projects designed for and run by young people.

Last year the Youth Mayor of Lambeth funded, among others, a performing arts project organized by G.A.S youth group, a music video project organized by Child of Zion youth group and gave funding to improve the facilities at the V.Y.G youth club in Brixton (full details can be found on the Lambeth Youth Council website).

If you are interested in applying for up to £3,000 of funding for a youth based project then details of how to apply can be found on the Youth Mayor Fund section of the Lambeth Youth Council website.

Congratulations to Darren and Zouhir and everyone who took part in the elections.

An investigation by structural engineers last November revealed widespread structural problems at Streatham Leisure Centre. Lambeth Council consequently decided to close the Centre on 25 November 2009 for the foreseeable future while further investigations took place to find out the extent of the work needed.

In the meantime alternative arrangements for users and all schools have been arranged during the period of the Leisure Centre’s closure at other locations including Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Future of Streatham Leisure Centre

Many local residents have raised the issue of the future of the pool with me in person and in correspondence. I started using Streatham Swimming Pool as a child when my swimming club, Leander S.C., used to compete there against other local clubs such as Streatham S.C., Battersea Jacs S.C. and others. Until recently we used to hold Keith Hill MP’s constituency surgeries there too, where Keith and I dealt with hundreds of constituents problems. So, rest assured, I completely understand the strength of feeling on this issue – the current situation regarding leisure provision here is clearly unsatisfactory.

The closure of the pool has become somewhat of a local political football but all local residents want is for their pool to re-open – that is their priority.  The fact is that Council administrations of all different political persuasions have not invested enough in the pool for a long time and they should all be big enough to admit as much.

Streatham Hub Scheme

Why have Council administrations underinvested in the pool? Because they expected the Streatham Hub scheme – of which a brand new leisure centre and ice arena are a part – to be developed by Tesco in return for the retailer being allowed to build a big supermarket in the area. Both the current administration and the Lib Dem/Tory one before that spent much time negotiating with them and pinned their hopes on Tesco sticking to their promises.

Next week at a special public meeting organised by Streatham Action, the Council and Tesco will tell us the result of their negotiations on the future of the scheme. The meeting takes place at Hideaway at 7pm on Wednesday 10 February 2010.

Action

I have lobbied my Council colleagues to take a tough line with Tesco – I do not see why the community should put up with Tesco’s dithering and prevarication any longer. I have sought to put as much direct pressure on Tesco to live up to their promises in relation to the Streatham Hub scheme through the Keep Streatham Skating! campaign and in other ways.

In the short term, I think the Council should at least look into providing temporary arrangements for non-pool activities (e.g. Step classes, gym facilities) at other locations in Streatham area.  This is something I will be pressing the Council to do to the extent it is not already happening.  Please do not hesitate to contact my office for further information.

Chuka

Streatham has been boosted by news of falling unemployment figures both in Lambeth and nationally. Across the UK, unemployment is 450,000 lower than expected at the time of the last budget and 53% lower than during the last comparable recession in 1992.

In Lambeth, there are 14,901 fewer unemployed people compared to 1992. This means that thanks to the government’s efforts, unemployment is 56% lower here than during the last recession when the Tories were in charge.

The government has provided extra investment in Job Centres, education and training to help people through the economic recovery.

The Future Jobs Fund was launched to tackle employment for young people, while the government’s September guarantee ensures that there is a place in education, training or a job for every young person leaving school.

Speaking to the BBC, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said that Labour government investment in jobs would continue in the long term, even after full economic recovery.

Job Centre Plus in both Streatham and Brixton, alongside the local Connexions centre for young people, are all working hard to help people out of work find jobs and training.

Follow this link to see a map showing the difference in unemployment rates from 1992 to 2010.

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new investment programme to tackle unemployment for young people aged 18-24.

The government has pledged £1bn, and any organisation from the public, private or third sector can apply for funding with the long term aim of creating 150,000 additional jobs aimed at young people who have been out of work for nearly a year to deliver real benefits to communities.

During these tough economic times, it is important that our young aspiring men and women have access to work, training and education. This is a new approach for creating jobs and will provide hope for young people and job seekers in deprived communities.

Organisations in Streatham, which is one of the youngest constituencies in the country, can take the lead in providing new jobs for young people.

Lambeth First has already been awarded more than £1.2 million to help 18-24 year olds into local work under the Future Jobs Fund. The new central government funding will help create 198 new jobs in the borough over the next six months for young people who would normally be at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.

The government anticipates that 10,000 new jobs are to be created within the culture, media and sport sectors following successful bids to the Future Jobs Fund.

For more information visit the Future Jobs Fund site.

Chuka explains the importance of keeping the Streatham Ice Rink open during his visit to support our ice hockey team, Streatham Redskins, in action this evening against Milton Keynes Thunder.

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A coalition of community groups led by the Scout Association has succeeded in campaigning against new water company charges which would have seen their running costs soar.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn recently announced that the government will prevent water suppliers from putting in place the new rules, under which community organisations and churches would have been charged on the same basis as commercial premises.

Chuka strongly backed the campaign against the ‘Rain Tax’. At the Labour Party conference last month he attended attended a youth forum event organised by the Scouts Association to discuss their concerns and applaud the huge contribution scouts make to local communities. More than 5,000 youngsters belong to scout groups in South London.

Earlier this month Chuka attended the premiere screening of the film Minority Report, which focuses on challenging stereotypes associated with young black men.

The event was held in London’s City Hall, and after the screening a panel including Chuka discussed the film. Chuka features in the film, alongside actor David Harewood, broadcaster Henry Bonsu and musicians the Mitchell Brothers.

Minority Report has been produced by the Generation Next Foundation to coincide with Black History Month. It looks at the representation of black men in the media and ways of addressing negative stereotypes.

The foundation, of which Chuka is a trustee, empowers young people by providing opportunities to develop skills in fashion, journalism and film production. It was set up by Streatham brothers Hamdi and Ludvig Bonin to increase opportunities for personal development outside school and college.

To watch the film, follow this link.