Columns

VIEW from Westminster

15 May 2009

This spring there have already been lots of new, good and positive things appearing locally, for our community, and young people in particular.

The new Mayflower garden at St Saviour's and St Olave's school at Bricklayers Arms is a lovely new space which will be much valued by the girls. Pupils at schools like Boutcher in Grange Road have been taking part in the 'Big Read', raising money for the millions of children elsewhere in the world who still have no education.

The Salmon Centre in Old Jamaica Road has now recruited all its youth workers and is fully up and running after its great rebuild. A couple of weeks ago I launched the new sailing boat for Tideway Sailability at the Surrey Docks Water Sports Centre.

There was another good St George's Day event at Ilderton Primary School. Many young people supporting the local charity 'Invisible Children' camped out in Potters Field at Tower Bridge to draw attention to the plight of child soldiers in Africa. Remploy's new branch was opened in Union Street to help people with disabilities find training and employment.

Young people from the 'Enough! Make Youth Violence History' campaign came with me to make their case to a top Treasury minister for more money to expand local youth activities effective in preventing gun and knife crime. And a lad who is doing his apprenticeship at London Bridge underground station was one of the stars of the launch of the National Apprenticeships Scheme in Parliament.

In Southwark Cathedral there was a big service to give thanks for the life of Richard Carr-Gomm, whose family gave their name to Gomm Road and include a previous local Liberal MP.

Last Saturday there was a great gathering at the Soviet War Memorial by the Imperial War museum to commemorate VE day - and give thanks for the sacrifice of over 20 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who gave their lives in the allied cause to defeat fascism. (And in this context we must also give thanks for Jack Jones, one of Southwark's greatest residents who died recently).

And Millwall at last won a play-off game in the really exciting match against Leeds and where Neil Harris yet again showed why he is so valuable to Millwall and so much appreciated. We will all be cheering on the Lions today, and send them our very best wishes.

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