Shadow Justice Minister visits Isleworth

David Burrowes MP, Shadow Justice Minister, visited the Hounslow Youth Offending Team last week in Isleworth at The Redless Centre in Redlees Park.

We got an excellent briefing on the Hounslow YOS and met a few young offenders who have been supported by the team.

This is such an important issue - making sure we give young people who have made a mistake, another chance in life. It is at this point that we can intervene and stop them creating a life of crime.

David was impressed with the work that was being done by the YOT, "I was very pleased to visit the Youth Offending Team with Mary and hear first hand from the team and also young offenders about how best to tackle youth crime. I was particularly impressed by the dedication and commitment of the YOT. It is important as we develop our policies that we learn from the good practice taking place in Hounslow . We need to ensure that we provide more opportunity for the local Council to have more responsibility for local young people who are in the criminal justice system, particularly when they end up in youth custody."

Photo: Mary with David Burrowes MP, Cllr Paul Lynch and Cllr Lin Davies (Cllr Barbara Reid is the photographer)

Community sports in Redlees Park, Isleworth

Last Saturday I went to the Urban Games at Redlees Park in Isleworth.

What a great event! About 300 youngsters, age 8-15 years old, had signed up to this free multi-sports event...where they got the chance to try out and get coached in a range of sports. This is an annual event organised by Hounslow's Sports Development Team.

The aim of this event was to give taster sessions in thirteen different sports ranging from football and rugby to canoeing and BMX racing. All sessions were linked to a local club, who were on hand to coach the sessions and provide information on how young people can join these clubs and thus promote lifelong participation. The aim was to provide young people with improved motivation and general fitness and an increased willingness to take part in sporting activities outside of school hours. It also aims to encourage young people to mix with people from other estates, thus improving the social cohesion within the local community. Unforunately I was not allowed to join in the different sports!

To motivate them, Jenny Copnall was there and spoke to them all. She is the British Cross Country Mountain Biking Champion.

This is a brilliant example of community action and creating opportunities for young people to get more interested in sport and health. We need more events like this.

Well done to everyone involved!


Photo: Mary with Cllr Pam Fisher, Cllr Lin Davies and Jenny Copnall (British Cross Country Mountain Biking Champion)

The crowds gathered in Boston Manor Park

It was a lovely day at the Brentford Festival this weekend in Boston Manor Park. The weather forecast did not look great...but thankfully it turned out fine (although in the photo my hair looks rather windswept!).

The organisation of the event was impressive and everything seemed to go like clockwork. There was something for everyone including our colourful Conservative stand. There was face painting for children, a dog show, live music, good food, funfair, arts, crafts and a range of stalls. Thanks to Jim for an excellent cup of tea and homemade cakes (I had more than one)!

I really enjoyed the Festival. These events are excellent to be able to meet and talk to local people - not just from the constituency, but also from the surrounding area. It is a day, where the community can come together, have fun, meet others and enjoy a day together.

The day for me finished with the Linden Gardens street party in Chiswick. Another fabulous evening, where everyone in the street had pulled together and organised food, drink, a slide show of years gone by and ending with a superb fireworks display. Well done to Ollie and the other residents in Linden Gardens. I hope it is the first of many!


Photo: Mary with Nowell Anderson, Cllr Barbara Reid, Cllr Lin Davies and John Davies at the Brentford Festival

Raising money for cancer

Cllrs Barbara Reid, Lin Davies, Paul Lynch and I attended a great event last week in memory of Premila Bhanderi. She was a former Hounslow councillor, who lost her battle with multiple myloma three years ago.

Her two daughters, Aarti and Jyoti, organised the Summer Sensation charity event at the Indian Gymkana Club in Thornbury Avenue in Osterley.

It was a fabulous evening, raising lots of money and enjoyed by everyone. Premila's daughters are great role models for what can be done in the local community - bringing people together to make a difference. She would be really proud of them!

Photo: Aarti Bhanderi, Mary, Jyoti Bhanderi, Cllr Barbara Reid and Cllr Lin Davies

The Healthy Hounslow Campaigners ...making progress

We are making good progress with the fabulous help of our nutritional therapist, Alli Godbold, from Chiswick.

We set out a few weeks ago to lose 40kg by Saturday 5th July. In the first few weeks, we have already lost 10kg. Not a bad start! (I shouldn't really say this since it is a team effort, but Paul Lynch is in the lead at the moment. Well done to him ...although he did have a hair cut and a beard trim so maybe that has made all the difference!)

The money raised from sponsorship will go to the Mulberry Centre in Isleworth, who do excellent work locally for those affected by cancer. We have raised £555 for them so far.

Everyone has made a fantastic effort to eat healthily and take some exercise. It is not easy to change the habits of a lifetime, but everyone has tried really hard and has managed to lose weight. We are on track for meeting our target of 40kg.

Alli is a tremendous support to us all and has been giving us superb advice, guidance and cooking lessons. The chicken curry was really good.

If you would like to get involved please do come and join us by calling 020 8994 1406 or by emailing me on mary@marymacleod.com. You will feel so much better if you do!.

Alternatively, just send us a donation!

Photo: (from left) Cllr Pam Fisher, Elizabeth Spillane, Cllr Lin Davies, Mary Macleod, Cllr Barbara Reid and Alli Godbold, our nutritional therapist

The diet has started ...

We launched our Healthy Hounslow Campaign on Saturday ... so the diet has started!

Alli Godbold, our nutritional therapist, measured and weighed us and gave us all ideas on what we should now eat. She was brilliant and very supportive for what we are trying to do. We set our individual goals - so as a team, we will aim to lose 40kg.

I keep thinking only 10 weeks to go... but actually, this is meant to be changing my eating habits for a life time!

You are welcome to join in too!

Photo (from left): Cllr Pam Fisher, Cllr Lin Davies, Cllr Paul Lynch, Mary Macleod, Cllr Barbara Reid and Alli Godbold (Christine Quick was taking the photo but is part of the Healthy Campaign Team too)

David Willetts in Isleworth

It was great to see David Willetts MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, University and Skills, when he visited the constituency this week.

He met with Thalia Marriott, the Principal at West Thames College in Isleworth, then went on to visit the Skills Centre and the Borough Youth Service in Feltham with Cllr Mark Bowen, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Feltham & Heston.

Further education and training is critically important for the future generation. West Thames College is an outstanding example of giving opportunities to many young people to develop their skills and their experience. It has also made a huge contribution to equality and diversity. We met some great students who are really good role models, in having taken the initiative and challenge to create a better future for themselves. We need more young people like them.

Photo -
Front row: David Willetts MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, University & Skills), Thalia Marriott (West Thames College Principal), Mary Macleod (Conservative Parliamentary Candidate)
Back row: Cllr Lin Davies, Cllr Barbara Reid, Billy Elliot (West Thames College Assistant Principal)