Joanne Cash

Joanne Launches Online Literacy Campaign

• Campaign to raise public awareness of the 20% of children leaving primary school unable to read
• Interactive campaign to increase participation of children and parents with the issue
• Access to advice and guidance from Westminster-based literacy charity, Real Action
• Online survey gets children to give details of their reading habits, favourite books and access to reading materials
• Links to reading schemes run by public libraries

Joanne today launched an online literacy campaign, urging the Government to tackle the high number of children leaving primary school every year unable to read properly. The interactive campaign, run online through Joanne’s new website, asks children to fill in a short questionnaire outlining their reading habits, their favourite book and their access to books and reading materials. Joanne plans to use this information to work with the award winning, Conservative led, Westminster Council to attain maximum parent and child engagement in the library facilities.

Announcing the launch of the campaign Joanne said: ‘Being able to read is not just one of life’s most important skills, it is also the key to being able to enjoy a world of stories and play which is such an enriching part of any child’s upbringing. It is unforgivable that one in five children leaving primary school still cannot read properly, thus limiting their life chances and future opportunities. Our campaign is going to raise awareness of this vital issue and put pressure on the Government to do more for the children being left behind.’

Help us to unlock the potential of those children being let down by our education system by clicking here to participate in Joanne's interactive literacy campaign

Joanne Attends Eid Celebrations in Westminster North

Joanne attended the Eid celebrations held at the Beethoven Centre last
Sunday.  All local faiths were invited to join in the festivities so
it was a proper community affair.

Speaking afterwards, Joanne said: 'Eid is a very important
time in the Muslim calendar and it is an honour to share in the
celebrations and traditions with neighbours from all faiths. We need
more events like this to learn about and honour each other's cultures
while working together in our community.

I have eaten the most delicious food and the ladies have given me some
tips on where to shop for beautiful saris. The day has been an
unequivocal success and I thank everyone for their generous
hospitality and look forward to celebrating with them again next
year.'

Sign the Petition to Save the All Stars Boxing Gym

This week I helped launch a petition to save the All Stars Boxing Gym on the Harrow Road.

The gym caters for people of a wide range of ages and ethnicity throughout the North Westminster area and provides a vital hub of community activity in one of central London’s most disadvantaged wards. Despite its’ excellent work, the club’s future remains uncertain with the gym’s current landlord refusing to sanction basic repair work to the ageing building. If the repairs and maintenance are not carried out regularly it could render the building unsafe and uninhabitable, forcing the club to relocate or worse still to close altogether. By taking action in the courts the club’s owners have recently managed to force the landlord to carry out essential maintenance but the long-term outlook remains uncertain.

Although my website is still under construction I am determined to help provide the All Stars Gym with the long-term security that it needs and ask that you register your support for this terrific campaign by clicking on the link below and signing the on-line petition.

Petition to Save the All Stars Boxing Gym

Many thanks,