Tuesday, September 20, 2005
is there life on Mars?
The last week has been particularly memorable. It began with news that a former Tooting resident who now works for NASA (Planetary Scientist, Dr Pete Mouginis-Mark) and lived in Tooting in the past, has named a crater on Mars – Tooting crater. This is getting a lot of attention, not only because of its twinning to our fantastic area, but also because this is probably the youngest large meteorite crater on Mars. For those of us who live in Tooting, it is confirmation of what we have always known, which is that Tooting is the centre of the universe! I am looking forward to the end of recess, so I can compare notes with my 644 parliamentary colleagues and ask them how many of their constituencies have been linked to a crater in space.
As a school governor, one of the important tasks is to be an active member of a sub committee. As governor of Fircroft Primary School, my role is to sit on the personnel sub committee. At the most recent meeting last Friday, we discussed the review of the school staffing structure which all schools are now going through. This involves changing the way teachers are paid additional amounts for undertaking extra responsibilities.
I also had the pleasure on Friday of visiting the Cancer Resource Centre on York Road. Their website is here.
The Cancer Resource Centre does some amazing work and I met the senior team as well as a patient living with cancer who runs the ‘Naya Rasta’ project at the Centre. The Resource Centre is facing a very difficult year due to the Tory Council withdrawing a grant of £38,000, without justification. In addition to trying to raise replacement funds, the Centre is extremely busy continuing its excellent work. Examples of the services offered include: therapy sessions (counselling, massage, healing, reflexology, meditation, relaxation); a support service; home visits; outreach; and wider activities. I am hoping to play a larger role in the work of the Resource Centre over the coming months and years.
On Saturday, after my very busy surgery at Tooting Library, I spent the afternoon at Prison Awareness Day, organised jointly by Brixton and Wandsworth Prisons at Tooting Islamic Centre. The theme of the day was to raise awareness for what goes on in our local prisons, to promote recruitment for the Prison Service, aiming to engage the local community to participate in prison related voluntary work, encouraging volunteering for chaplaincy and involving the local community in the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and ex-prisoners. There is a particular problem around a lack of Muslim volunteers, and the Awareness Day was targeted towards the local Muslim community.
As well as speaking on the role local communities can play in the strategy prepared by the Government (in partnership with key stakeholders), I took part in the question and answer session, and the rest of the day’s programme.
My Sunday was spent canvassing with the local team in the heart of Tooting.
After my surgery at Balham Community Centre, on Monday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Tooting Rotary Club. They have bestowed upon me the enormous privilege of being made an honorary member. I was also reminded by the Rotarians that this is the centenary year of the Rotary Club. Rotary was founded in 1905 and is a worldwide association of local clubs of men and women in business or other professions who provide humanitarian service to the community at local, national and international level. They also encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and work for good will and peace in the world.
Sadiq
As a school governor, one of the important tasks is to be an active member of a sub committee. As governor of Fircroft Primary School, my role is to sit on the personnel sub committee. At the most recent meeting last Friday, we discussed the review of the school staffing structure which all schools are now going through. This involves changing the way teachers are paid additional amounts for undertaking extra responsibilities.
I also had the pleasure on Friday of visiting the Cancer Resource Centre on York Road. Their website is here.
The Cancer Resource Centre does some amazing work and I met the senior team as well as a patient living with cancer who runs the ‘Naya Rasta’ project at the Centre. The Resource Centre is facing a very difficult year due to the Tory Council withdrawing a grant of £38,000, without justification. In addition to trying to raise replacement funds, the Centre is extremely busy continuing its excellent work. Examples of the services offered include: therapy sessions (counselling, massage, healing, reflexology, meditation, relaxation); a support service; home visits; outreach; and wider activities. I am hoping to play a larger role in the work of the Resource Centre over the coming months and years.
On Saturday, after my very busy surgery at Tooting Library, I spent the afternoon at Prison Awareness Day, organised jointly by Brixton and Wandsworth Prisons at Tooting Islamic Centre. The theme of the day was to raise awareness for what goes on in our local prisons, to promote recruitment for the Prison Service, aiming to engage the local community to participate in prison related voluntary work, encouraging volunteering for chaplaincy and involving the local community in the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and ex-prisoners. There is a particular problem around a lack of Muslim volunteers, and the Awareness Day was targeted towards the local Muslim community.
As well as speaking on the role local communities can play in the strategy prepared by the Government (in partnership with key stakeholders), I took part in the question and answer session, and the rest of the day’s programme.
My Sunday was spent canvassing with the local team in the heart of Tooting.
After my surgery at Balham Community Centre, on Monday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Tooting Rotary Club. They have bestowed upon me the enormous privilege of being made an honorary member. I was also reminded by the Rotarians that this is the centenary year of the Rotary Club. Rotary was founded in 1905 and is a worldwide association of local clubs of men and women in business or other professions who provide humanitarian service to the community at local, national and international level. They also encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and work for good will and peace in the world.
Sadiq
