This month has given us real reasons to feel optimistic. Andy Burnham’s speech reminded us that politics should be about hope as well as honesty—building more homes, making the essentials people need to live well affordable, creating good jobs that pay a decent wage, and ensuring every young person has a pathway into education, training or meaningful work. Those priorities matter deeply here in Peckham.

We have also seen important progress for young people. The Online Safety Act lays the foundations for a safer online world by placing greater responsibility on technology companies, while the Youth Guarantee commits to ensuring every young person has access to education, training or employment. Together, these policies represent a positive vision for the future.

That same optimism is something I see every week in Peckham. Whether supporting residents with housing issues, meeting local businesses or working alongside community organisations, I’m constantly inspired by the determination of people across our constituency. Here’s a look at what my team and I have been working on this month.

Supporting Local Businesses

Our independent businesses are at the heart of Peckham, creating jobs, strengthening our high streets and bringing communities together.

This month I met traders on Choumert Road alongside Councillor Esme Dobson to discuss anti-social behaviour, street cleaning, signage and ways to strengthen the local traders’ network. I’ve already begun raising these issues with the new Southwark Council and will keep businesses updated as we receive responses. We also discussed plans for a future community celebration on Choumert Road, and I look forward to sharing more details soon.

I also spent time meeting business owners across Nunhead. Following those conversations, I wrote to the Council outlining the issues raised and we’ve now received a response, which I’ll be sharing with local traders shortly. Ensuring local businesses have a strong voice remains one of my priorities.

Peckham is full of incredible independent businesses that make our community so special, and I'd love to help shine a light on them. Is there a local café, shop, studio, restaurant, or service you think deserves more recognition? Drop a comment below and nominate your Small Business of the Month. I'll head over to check it out, meet the people behind it, and feature one standout business in a future newsletter.

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Bringing Our Community Together

It was a pleasure to visit Copleston Community Centre this month for a wonderful community lunch hosted by Ganapati on Bellenden Road.

Community hubs like Copleston play a vital role in tackling isolation, providing practical support and bringing people together. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me and shared their experiences. They reminded me once again that some of the strongest solutions to the challenges we face are already being created within our own communities.

Creating Opportunities for Young People

Earlier this year, my Youth Summit made one thing very clear: young people want more opportunities to gain meaningful work experience.

In response, I was delighted to host two work experience programmes this month—one for care leavers and another for secondary school students from across the constituency. Participants toured Parliament, joined constituency visits and experienced first-hand the work of an MP’s office, both in Westminster and here in Peckham.

Their enthusiasm and ambition were inspiring, and I’m determined to create many more opportunities like these in the months ahead.

Casework Update

Supporting residents remains at the heart of my role.

This month my office received more than 1,500 enquiries from constituents. Around 56% related to housing, making it by far the largest issue facing local residents. We also supported significant numbers of people with immigration, transport, crime and other local concerns.

Many housing cases involved overcrowding, homelessness, temporary accommodation and leaseholder service charges. Anti-social behaviour also continues to be raised regularly, and I have already begun working with new members of Southwark Council to push for faster solutions.

Some recent successes include:

• Helping a family facing homelessness secure an urgent response from Southwark Council.

• Persuading LNER to reduce a £370.40 railway penalty that had been incorrectly issued.

• Securing the suspension of an e-bike parking bay after residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Knock and Listen

This week I visited residents on the Cossall Estate as part of my Knock & Listen programme.

These visits are about hearing directly from residents about what’s working, what isn’t and where I can help. I’ll be visiting many more neighbourhoods over the coming months, so keep an eye out if I’m coming to your area—I hope to meet many more of you soon.

Policy Updates

Alongside constituency casework, I responded to 403 constituents this month on national policy issues, including the involvement of Palantir in the NHS, proposals around social media restrictions and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s new Code of Practice.

EHRC Code of Practice

The publication of the new Code has been difficult for many members of the trans community and their allies. Every person in Peckham deserves to feel safe, respected and able to live free from fear or discrimination. Peckham has always been a place that celebrates diversity, and that will not change.

Gender reassignment remains a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. The Code also makes clear that organisations should consider inclusive arrangements wherever possible. I have written to the Minister for Equalities seeking further clarification about the implications of the guidance for organisations supporting the trans community.

Locally, organisations such as Queer Minds continue to provide invaluable support for LGBTQIA+ residents across Southwark and Lambeth. Acceptance, compassion and dignity must remain at the heart of how we treat one another.

Assisted Dying

As you may know, Lauren Edwards MP intends to bring forward a Private Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying, which is expected to be debated on 11 September.

Throughout this process, the Government has remained neutral while ensuring that any change in the law would be safe, legally robust and practical to implement. Having held listening sessions and heard from many constituents, I know this is an issue people feel deeply about. Whatever views we hold, everyone deserves dignity at the end of life and confidence that they will receive the very best care.

Looking Ahead

Parliament will shortly break for the summer recess, but constituency work certainly won’t.

Over the coming weeks I’ll continue my Knock & Listen visits, meet local organisations and keep working on the issues that matter most to residents. If you live on the Aylesbury Estate, look out for a dedicated update, and my summer newsletter will also be landing on doorsteps across the constituency.

As always, thank you for your support. If there’s an issue you’d like to raise or a local project you think I should know about, please do get in touch. Hearing directly from you is the most important part of my job.

Need My Help?

I continue to hold regular advice surgeries every fortnight for residents who need support and the next one will be on 24th July.

If there’s an issue I or my team can help with, please get in touch by emailing miatta.fahnbulleh.mp@parliament.uk and do click on the button below to receive these newsletters monthly.

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As always, thank you for taking the time to read my update and for continuing to share your experiences with me, do leave a comment below. Your voices shape the work I do every day, and I’m proud to represent our community in Parliament.