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Sadiq spent the first 8 days of recess working in Sierra Leone with the VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas).

He spent most of his time working with the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR) which is a human rights group doing crucial work in improving local democracy, raising awareness of human rights and in particular work with women and young girls.

To read more about the trip click HERE and HERE

Inspired by visits to sports day at many schools recently - and the impending Olympic Games! - Sadiq proved it's not just Tooting's schoolchildren and elite athletes who can produce excellent performances on the running track. 

Sadiq finished the 10K Great Capital Run in 50 minutes 51 seconds, coming 1791th out of over 11,000 runners.

The event raised thousands of pounds for Help a London Child, which provides grants organisations which help thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable children throughout the city. 

Sadiq has congratulated local restaurant Al Mirage for their excellent performance in the annual 'Tiffin Cup'; a national competition to find the best South Asian restaurant in the UK. 

Though they did not make the final, Al Mirage were highly commended, and Sadiq visited the restaurant to present the head chef with new chef whites, complete with the Tiffin Cup logo, in recognition of the restaurant's excellent cuisine.

Sadiq recently attended the White Pigeon Sports Day, which continues to go from strength to strength.

White Pigeon is a local charity that raises money for orphanages in Sri Lanka.

This year more than 150 young people took part in the annual event at Tooting Bec Athletics Track. In addition to watching the young athletes complete, Sadiq was given the task of handing out medals and certificates to the winners.

You can find out more about White Pigeon HERE.

In July Sadiq hosted a transport forum for Tooting residents with the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly MP.

The forum, which was held in the House of Commons, was well attended by Tooting residents, and allowed them to grill the Secretary of State on transport policy and what was being done to improve transport in Tooting. 

Sadiq had a double dose of Olympic fun this week, with visits to both Sellincourt and Earlsfield Schools to watch their own versions of the Olympics. 

Both events showcased the Olympic spirit, with teams competing in a very sporting manner, cheering from the sidelines, and brilliant opening displays. 

The students excelled themselves and produced some colourful displays of flags and costumes in their opening ceremonies. 
 

Sadiq has agreed to take part in the MP Summer Reading Challenge, sponsored by the National Literacy Trust, by reading books by top children's authors over the summer recess. 

The 2008 Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep over 650,000 young people reading over their summer holiday. 

The most popular books chosen through surveys of 16 schools, including Earlsfield Primary School in Tooting, were presented to the MPs at the reception.

The books chosen in the survey were presented by a small delegation of young people from Earlsfield Primary School, who were joined by the children's author Francesca Simon. 

The students that took part in the survey believe that all politicians should read the books they chose in order to better understand the lives and concerns of a young person today. 

For more information click HERE

Sadiq Khan will be spending some time over the summer recess volunteering with the international development charity VSO in Sierra Leone. He is taking part in VSO’s Project PolVol which will see 11 MPs from the UK spending time volunteering their skills in the developing world this summer.

In Sierra Leone Sadiq will be sharing his skills and experiences as a leading human rights lawyer at the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, helping them to improve their para-legal and advocacy work.

To read more about the VSO and their work click HERE

Walk-in centres offer fast and convenient access to a range of NHS services, including:

• Treatment for minor illnesses (coughs, colds, infections) and injuries (strains, sprains, cuts)
   
• Advice on how to stay healthy
   
• Information on local NHS services
   
• Emergency contraception

Tooting Walk-in Centre is open from 7am till 10pm.

You can contact the Centre on: 020 8700 0505.

Last week Sadiq visited South Thames College in Tooting Broadway to hand out certificates to all those students who had successfully completed various ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and carers course at the College.

The morning was a huge success with hundreds of proud parents, husbands (all but one graduate was a woman!) and children expressing real pride in the achievements of their family member. One of the biggest challenges we have as a society is raising the skills base of the general population and potential employees. South Thames does a great job in giving women a real chance to improve their own life chances as well as their families by the wide choice of access and more advanced courses offered.

Charity 'ambulance pull' buys new equipment for children's unit at St George's Hospital...

Sadiq was extremely pleased to present a cheque for £3511 to the paediatric intensive care unit at St George's Hospital this week.

The money had been raised by local emergency services volunteers in a sponsored 'ambulance pull' at the recent Balham and Tooting Community Association fun day.

The raised money will be enough to purchase a portable ultrasound machine, which will make it easier for medical staff to treat very young patients more effectively by allowing them to locate veins in young children that conventional ultrasound equipment cannot.  

Sadiq would like to thank all those who took part in this potentially lifesaving fundraising effort.  

This weekend Sadiq attended the BACTA fun day, hosted by Gatton School and St Augustine's Church, which Sadiq enjoyed enormously.

This year's event saw a sponsored 'ambulance pull' - which saw local emergency services pull an ambulance from St George's Hospital through the streets of Tooting to earn money for the St George's Hospital Charity. 

Sadiq celebrated their fundraising efforts with the Imam from Balham Mosque, the Bishop of Kingston, the Mayor of Wandsworth John Farebrother, the head of Gatton School, Mrs Safia Basith, and volunteers from the local emergency services who were all involved in the charity event. 

Sadiq has been a fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust for his work in fostering understanding between business and parliament.

The IPT is a not-for-profit, non-lobbying group based in Whitehall which seeks to build relationships and understanding between business and Parliament. 

Sadiq completed his 18 day Fellowship with the publisher Reed Elsevier, which specialises in health and science information.

Sadiq is pictured here accepting his fellowship with The Baroness Harris of Richmond, Patrick Kerr, Director of Communications at Reed Elsevier and Ed Vaizey MP. 

7th-13th July is the first ever BME Cancer Awareness week.

Sadiq hosted a reception in the House of Commons and officially launched the week, which aims to highlight the disproportionate numbers of people from ethnic minorities who suffer from various forms of cancer. 

Guest speakers at the event included Sir Trevor McDonald OBE and Dr Ian Gibson MP (both pictured with Sadiq) as well as Health Minister Ann Keen and radio presenter Eddie Nestor. 

For more information visit www.cancerequality.org.uk

Sadiq regularly hold canvasses, street surgeries and listening sessions with local residents.  July saw members of London Young Labour joined us on one of our regular sessions. If you are interested in joining London Young Labour you can find out more about them by clicking HERE

Sadiq has been celebrating 60 years of the NHS.  As part of the celebrations he met Health Secretary Alan Johnson to discuss improvements to Tooting's health service. 

South Thames College is an excellent Further Education (FE) college which does a great job giving people a second chance to learn, as well as providing practical skills which improve the quality of life and prospects of many Tooting residents.  As a former Governor, Sadiq was really pleased to host a reception and celebrate the role South Thames has played in developing skills for individuals, employers and the economy.
 

Sadiq Khan MP has been named Parliamentarian of the Month by Brake, the national road safety charity, for his work in improving road safety in Tooting. 

Sadiq’s Safer Streets campaign has seen him working closely with parents, teachers and local councillors to improve road safety around a number of schools in Tooting. 

Every month, Brake recognises the commitment of MPs and Lords to road safety by selecting a Parliamentarian of the Month. The monthly winners are short-listed for Brake’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards for an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Road Safety’.

To read more about the award and Brake's work click HERE
 

Ed Balls visit Tooting School...

Local MP Sadiq Khan and Secretary of State for Children, Families and Schools, Rt Hon Ed Balls MP visited Graveney School on Monday 16^th June to see first-hand what the government’s record investment is doing to improve schools in Tooting.

Sadiq and the Ed Balls met students and teachers at the school to discuss the exciting plans Graveney will soon be putting into action as part of the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

The programme guarantees that all secondary schools in Wandsworth will be refurbished or remodelled. 

Sadiq congratulate earthquake hero...

Sadiq Khan MP visited Fircroft Primary School and held a special assembly to congratulate James Pang, aged 9 and present him with a special award and certificate for his idea which helped raise over £1000 for survivors of the recent earthquake in China.

James, whose family originally came from China, was extremely upset by the earthquake in China, and decided he wanted to do something to help those who had been affected by it.

He brought this to the attention of his school by writing a letter to the Head and Deputy Head.  The teachers were impressed by James’ letter and helped him organise a Red Clothes day to raise money for the victims of the earthquake.
 

Sadiq celebrates 60th anniversary of NHS with
Tooting volunteers...

To mark Volunteers Week and also the 60^th anniversary of the founding of the National Heath Service, Sadiq Khan MP took three volunteers from local health services to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, held a special reception for NHS volunteers to thank them for their commitment and generosity.  The volunteers were personally thanked by Gordon Brown and Sarah Brown and the Health Minister Ann Keen.  

Sadiq’s guests for the reception were Daniel Blagdon from Millennium Volunteers Wandsworth, Kiron Kurien, a member of numerous local patient liaison groups including Expert Patients Programme (EPP) and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Steering Group for Wandsworth PCT and Chris Lewis, a “buddy” and fundraiser for St George’s Hospital.

Sadiq has demanded a review of Post Office Ltd’s recent decision to go ahead with the closure of four Post Office branches in Tooting.   He has written to Postwatch, the independent watchdog, demanding an official review of the decision.  

Sadiq has been campaigning to keep all four Post Office branches earmarked for closure, open.  He will continue to put pressure on Wandsworth Council to arrange a rescue package for Tooting's Post Offices.

For more information click HERE
 

Sadiq has joined local residents in opposing the current plans to redevelop the Springfield Hospital site.  Hundreds of residents affected by the development have replied to his consultation on the development, the results of which will be published soon. 

For more information about his campaign click HERE
 

Sadiq has been campaigning with local residents to get Wandsworth Council and Wandsworth Police to tackle the problem of prostitution in the Balham area. 

For more information about his campaign click HERE

Sadiq has been campaigning for a new lift at Balham since first being elected in 2005.  He had previously secured investment for the project through the Government’s “Access For All” scheme.  Sadiq recently visited the station to observe the work on the lift which will be open shortly.   

To read more about Sadiq's campaign to improve transport in Tooting click HERE

Sadiq recently held a skipping competition for primary schools in Tooting.  Sellincourt Primary School was the winner, taking the prize of 1000 Active Kids vouchers which can be exchanged for sports equipment.  Sadiq visited the school to congratulate the winning skippers and present the vouchers to the school. 

The 1st Balham and Tooting Scout Group (King of Siam’s Own) celebrated their centenary year with a St Georges Day Parade at St Marks URC.

The Reverend Andrew Fairchild, delivered an inspiring Service, which was both moving and also great fun.

To read more about what the Council could do to save our Post Offices, click HERE.

Sadiq has presented Post Office Ltd and Postwatch with a detailed submission explaining why the four local Post Offices should remain open. He has also contact Wandsworth Council asking them to allow local Post Offices to perform more public services, like collecting rent and Council Tax and renewing Freedom Passes.

To read more click HERE

To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE.

Sadiq met Douglas Alexander MP, the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss this campaign which the Secretary of State fully supports.

To find out more about Sadiq's Fairtrade Campaign click HERE

To find out how you can have your say on Post Office closures and to get involved in Sadiq's consultation, click HERE

Sadiq is picture at the event, which was held in Balham Library, with the Mayor of Wandsworth and a Tooting resident who come for a benefit entitlement check.

Sadiq and Tooting Councillor, Nick Bowes, led a successful campaign to get Wandsworth Council to introduce traffic bollards to a busy junction outside Fircroft School.

Without the bollards, cars are able to mount the pavement at the junction, which is a big safety risk to all pedestrians including schoolchildren.

Sadiq was trying to win 'Active Kids' vouchers for local schools in Tooting. He came 4th overall and won 1,000 vouchers.

Sadiq and Tooting Councillor, Nick Bowes, have been working with local residents on Broadwater Road on a campaign to make their street one-way.

Residents have suffered from damage to their vehicles and increased traffic congestion since the Council implemented a one-way system in adjoining roads. They collected a petition calling for their part of the street to be included in the system, which they presented to Sadiq and Nick.

Sadiq arranged to take Graveney Sixth Form student, Bertie Watkin, to meet the Prime Minister at a special event in Downing street to celebrate the educational achievements of young people. 

Sadiq pictured here collecting a petition from the RSPCA charity shop in the Southside Centre in Wandsworth which was evicted from their premises in January. To read more click HERE

Sadiq with Wandsworth Councillors, who ran a campaign to refurbish Tooting Library.

The library will receive a complete makeover this year thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Sadiq took part in the opening ceremony of the new midwife-let maternity unit at St George's Hospital.

The unit has been named the Carmen Suite after Carmen Brooks-Johnson (pictured), a midwife at the hospital for more than 30 years, and provides mothers with a comfortable, safe place to deliver their babies without medical intervention.

Sadiq signed a special Book of Commitment to honour those killed in the Holocaust and individuals that risked their lives to help those being persecuted, in commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day 2008.

In November 2007, Sadiq accompanied students from Earnest Bevin and Graveney Schools on a Holocaust Educational Trust visit to Auschwitz. To read more about this click HERE

Before being taken on a tour of the House by professional guides, the children had a question and answer session with Sadiq about his work as an MP.

If you have received this leaflet, please take it to your local police station. 

Sadiq was able to get a PMQs tickets for local resident Jonathan Roseweir, pictured here outside the House of Commons.

He is pictured here presenting a prize and certificate to the runner up from Swaffield Primary School.

Sadiq presented the winner with a certificate and prize at a special assembly held at Furzedown School.

The Prime Minister was extremely impressed with the design on the card. 5000 cards have now been sent across the Tooting constituency and the world.

To read more about Sadiq's Christmas Card Competition click HERE

To find out more about Stop AIDS Campaign click HERE

Before they went on their guided tour they met Sadiq to ask him questions about his work as an MP.

The first group to take the tour are pictured here and the second group are pictured below.

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To find out more about London Young Labour click HERE

Football legend John Barnes joined Sadiq at an event in Westminster, in support of the  CCPR’s (Central Council of Recreative Physical Training) ‘Subs for Clubs’ campaign to provide more tax relief for sports clubs that offer sporting activities to children. 

To read more on this issue click HERE

Sadiq Opened the newly refurbished Ultrasound Department at St George's Hospital.

St George's Charity donated £500,000 to the refurbishment and the Government invested £1million in two new CT Scans.

Sadiq is pictured here with St George's Lead Radiologist.

Sadiq with the judges his annual Christmas Card Competition, Stuart Lowe, Wandsworth Borough Police Commander, Father William Hebborn of St Anselm’s Church and Jane Bruccoleri, Chief Reporter for the Wandsworth Borough News and Guardian.

Record numbers of local school children took part in  this year's competition to design Sadiq's Christmas card.

The exhibition was part of the Church's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Sadiq discussing the Pre Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review with the Chancellor, Alistair Darling MP.

For more information click HERE

Sadiq at a coffee morning he held at the Hazelhurst Estate in Tooting. Tooting Councillor, Nick Bowes, and the Tooting Safer Neighbourhood Police Team were also present.

Sadiq holds regular coffee mornings on estates across the constituency to listen to the concerns of local residents.

Sadiq with Dr Shah of Trinity Medical Centre discussing the healthcare needs of his local patients as well as other issues facing local GPs and NHS workers.

Sadiq with staff from Sajna beauty salon in Tooting, supporting their breast cancer awareness and Eid celebration evening. The event, which included food, music and henna hand painting, raised hundreds of pounds for breast cancer awareness charities.

Sadiq has been working with local residents, retailers and Tescos in the run up to a new express store opening on Mitcham Road. Some local retailers oppose the opening of the new store and asked Sadiq, as their local MP, to present a petition they had collected to Tescos. Sadiq also organised the first ever meeting between local retailers, residents and representatives from Tescos. To read more click HERE.

Tooting Labour Party held a special meeting in Parliament with special guest Anna Keen MP. Ann is a Minister in the department of Health and answered questions about local and national health policy.

Sadiq organised a visit for the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP, to visit St George's Hospital to meet patients and staff and discuss local NHS issues. In the photo Sadiq and Alan are being introduced to a patient in the Stroke Unit by one of thge Ward Matrons.

Sadiq arranged for the Chief Operating Officer of the Northern Line to visit Tooting Broadway station to discuss the benefits to Tooting residents of the service improvement due to happen on the Northern Line. Sadiq is picture here with Tooting Cllr Nick Bowes and the Chief Operating Officer Mike Brown.

For the third year running Sadiq attended Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Largest Coffee Morning at St George's Hospital in Tooting. He is picture with Battersea MP, Martin Linton as well as Macmillan Cancer Support nurses. 

Sadiq with local children and their parents at Tooting Common playground where rats were found living this summer. Sadiq took immediate action to force the Council to deal with the problem and is leading the campaign to clean up Tooting's playgrounds.

To read the whole story click HERE

Sadiq with the parliamentary Writer in Residence, Rommie Smith, and 6th Formers from Burntwood school who worked with her on a project about the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Sadiq having his blood pressure checked by a nurse at St George's Hospital to raise awareness for the Blood Pressure Association's Know your Numbers Week.

Sadiq with young people from Wandsworth who are taking part in a filming project organised by the Wandsworth Empowerment Network. Sadiq was interviewed by the group about local issues that affect young people locally.

Sadiq presenting a medal to the Head Chef and Manager of Lahore Karahi Restaurant in Tooting for reaching the regional finals of the Tiffin Cup - a competition to find the country's best South Asian restaurant.

Sadiq with the cast of Tooting based arts organisation Tara Arts. young people from the local community took part in a performance in Trafalgar Square as part of the India Now Festival celebrating the 60th anniversary of Indian independence.

Sadiq with members of the Wandsworth Fairtrade Group, being interviewed for a documentary about Fairtrade. Sadiq has been working with the group to try and make Wandsworth a Fairtrade Borough. For more information click HERE.

Sadiq talking to residents of old Hospital Close Estate about tackling problems of fly-tipping, refuse collection and anti-social behaviour.

Sadiq accepting a petition from the committee of St George's Staff Social Club to oppose the proposed closure of the club. Sadiq presented the petition to the Chief Executive and Char of St George's Hospital Trust as well as organising meetings between the Trust and the Committee.

Sadiq arranged for two of Wandsworth's Labour Councillors (Cllr Billi Randall and Cllr Leonie Cooper) to meet with the new Secretary of State for the Department of Culture Media and Sport to update him on the Wandsworth Museum and request for the Olympic Torch to visit Wandsworth on its race to the 2012 Games.

Sadiq at the Balham and Tooting Community Association's Eight-a-Side Cricket Tournament on Tooting Common. Russellmania (Russell Hardware Shop) won the event attended by 11 teams from across the community.

Sadiq discusses local campaigns with Tooting residents on the House of Commons Terrace

Sadiq meets South Thames College on their tour of the Palace of Westminster.

Sadiq attends the first ever Veterans Day event in Tooting, held at Ravenstone School in Balham.

Sadiq with Irene Parks, Headteacher of Garratt Park School, and a parent helper preparing food in the school kitchen for their Summer Fair.

Sadiq with Sonny Rehul of Broadwater School at their summer fair. Sadiq announced the raffle winners at the event.

Sadiq with Marion from Franciscan Primary School at their summer fair.

Sadiq with Minister for Health, Caroline Flint MP, welcoming the start of the smoking ban in England, which came into force of July 1st.

Sadiq with Martin Linton, MP for Battersea and local residents at the Triangle Playground on Tooting Common. Sadiq and Martin are lobbying the Council for better maintenance of the equipment at the playground.

Sadiq with Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP at Gatton primary school in Tooting. They are accompanied in the picture by Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former head of the Muslim Council for Britain, Firdos Qazi, Head Teacher of Gatton School and Mr Ayaz Niazi of Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre. To read more about Gatton School and Alan Johnson's visit click HERE.

Sadiq congratulates the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at a special Leadership Conference held in Manchester in June 2007.

Sadiq with some of the Tamil dancers that performed at Tooting's cultural Mela. The Mela was organised by the Fire Service and was held at Tooting Leisure Centre.

Sadiq arranged for environmental campaigners from Tooting to have a meeting with the Secretary of State for the Environment, David Miliband MP, at the Houses of Parliament. Sadiq invited representatives from the Wandsworth Environment Forum, Wandsworth Cycling Campaign and the Wandsworth Fairtrade Group, with whom he has been working closely.

Sadiq having 'tea on the terrace' with a local Tooting constituent during her visit to the House of Commons. Jean was the winner of a competition Sadiq held in his newsletter 'Totally Tooting'.

Sadiq with Guy Ferguson, Acting Borough Commander of Wandsworth Police Service. Sadiq regularly meets with the police to discuss local policing issues and concerns of local residents.

Sadiq with a senior representative from Tubelines to discuss improvements for the Northern Line. Sadiq has been Campaigning for improvements on the Northern Line since May 2005. For more information on this click HERE

Sadiq with the Minister for Schools, Jim Knight MP, and members of Furzedown branch of Tooting Labour Party at a meeting in Westminster. Sadiq has helped secure significant investment in all Tooting secondary schools under the Government's Building Schools for the Future Programme.

Sadiq joined local people in 'The World Can't Wait Campaign'. for more information on the campaign click HERE.

Sadiq at the launch of the cancer Resource Centre's Asian Cancer Support Group. To find out more about the services the group offers click HERE.

Sadiq with Jemima Khan signing the Breastfeeding Manifesto at the Houses of Parliament. The Manifesto aims to highlight the great health benefits of breastfeeding and its role in reducing health inequalities. To find out more click HERE.

Sadiq with local residents of the Henry Prince Estate at a recent Coffee Morning Sadiq organised. Residents met in the local church to discuss with Sadiq the issues affecting them.

Sadiq played in the Parliamentary Football Team in the recent 'Smillion Cup' - a 7-a-side competition to raise funds and awareness of the Piggy Banks Kids (a children's charity). For more information  about Piggy Banks Kids click HERE

Sadiq with pupils of Swaffield Primary School at their St George's Day Disco. Sadiq was the judge of the fancy dress competition.

Sadiq with Martin Linton MP, Cllr Nick Bowes, Cllr Tony Belton and a representative from the Wandsworth Cycling Campaign (WCC), celebrate with a trophy the WCC won form the Mayor of London for their adult cycling iniative. 

Sadiq and Party Chairwoman, Hazel Blears, awarding a long-standing member of Tooting Labour Party and volunteer with a certificate for her support at a special event in the House of Commons.

Sadiq lends his support to the British Lung Foundation's campaign to find the 'missing millions' who have fatal lung disease. The ‘Missing Millions’ campaign aims to raise awareness of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a lung condition that affects more than three million people in the UK and kills more people than breast, bowel or prostate cancer.

Sadiq supports the British Heart Foundation's 30 a day Campaign.

30 minutes of exercise a day can vastly reduce the risk of heart disease an other illnesses associated with inactivity.

Sadiq with members of Hornsby House School Council when they came to visit the Houses of Parliament.

Sadiq with the editorial team of new magazine, This Month in Wandsworth, at their launch party.

Sadiq with the architect of the fantastic new Dragon Children Centre at St George's Hospital. This is the first in a series of redevelopments planned for children’s services at St George’s. The new Children’s Centre offers an increased service to patients as there are now many more treatment rooms, a refurbished waiting room and new state-of-the-art reception.
 

Sadiq joined residents of the Tooting Grove estate for coffee and to talk about the local community and ways to improve it.

Sadiq brought the FA Cup to Tooting to celebrat