I met again virtually with Iman Atta, the Director of TellMAMA, to discuss the recent spate of racist stickers that have sadly appeared in parts of Carshalton and Wallington, and what we can do together to promote community cohesion.
Racism must have no part in our community, and we all need to take a stand against this divisive and hateful messaging. I am proud to represent such a diverse area, and was grateful to TellMAMA for their time once again to discuss this.
Iman and I are going to be looking at community events in the coming months, particularly around bringing community leaders from different backgrounds and faiths together for a virtual roundtable to consider what we can do to tackle discrimination and continue to break down barriers locally; my aim is for this to include - as well as faith groups - the local LGBT forum, representatives from our Tamil and Ahmadiyya Muslim communities, as well as from the Council.
I hope as well to begin to hold constituency advice surgeries in conjunction with our local churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and so forth, to make it easier for people to raise their issues and concerns with me directly.
We also discussed ways in which we can encourage people from harder-to-reach groups, particularly those for whom English is not a first language, to take up their COVID vaccination as soon as possible to protect them and their families and loved ones.