Alongside the local campaigns and initiatives I'm running, I'm now out every weekend talking to local residents on the doorstep about their views. If you might be interested in joining me, please let me know. In the meantime though, I have plenty of good news to report below, so do read on...
The Romany is Saved!
After a few nervous last days of waiting, I'm delighted to tell you that the Romany scout site has been saved! We completed the Community Interest Company's purchase of the land today, meaning that the threat of development has been lifted. The CIC will be managed by the Scouts and local residents moving forward, with a pledge to continue community use at the heart of its constitution. It has been a pleasure to help lead such a worthy, and ultimately successful, campaign and I will continue to help the CIC whenever needed in the future.
You can read more about the campaign on my website here.
Pop-in to Pop-up
Following on from the successful Youth Enterprise Summit I ran last week, today we have the Pop-Up Talent Shop coming to Tooting High Street. This 'spontaneous Jobs Fair' provides inspiring and interactive sessions on a wide range of trades, signing up young people for an ongoing program of skill-building and social action projects to prepare them for their chosen area of work. The Shop runs from 3-7pm, so do flag it to 16-24 year-olds you know and feel free to pop in yourself.
Please show your support for my campaign to help our young people into work, and find out about more events and initiatives I’m organising, by following me on Facebook or on Twitter .
Business in the Community
I was pleased to speak at this morning's excellent business networking event in Earlsfield, run by local entrepreneur Emma Jane Clarke of Gertrude & Ivy. We had twenty local firms in attendance and a key theme was how important it is for business to engage with the local community using social media and other channels. Not only does this help them refine their offering, but it also keeps them in touch with local events going on in the area and identify areas where they can help.
A good example of this is the Tooting Fun Day that took place this Saturday, which was sponsored by a number of local businesses I introduced to the event, meaning that thousands of pounds of extra funds could be donated to the chosen charity this year, the St George's Hospital Charity.
In return for responsible businesses, politicians should support our firms by not over-burdening them with taxes and regulations. The Conservatives have successfully followed this path over the past four year and been rewarded with thriving small businesses and the creation of two million new jobs.
With best wishes,
Dan Watkins
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Tooting