One of my key priorities is ensuring that every child in our area gets the best possible start in life. That’s why I’m delighted to have secured investment to bring Sure Start back into our communities through new Best Start Family Hubs in Tudhoe, Ferryhill and right here in Newton Aycliffe.
These centres will mean local families can access a wide range of support in one place, including parenting advice, health services and SEND workers to help support kids from an early age.
This comes on top of the four new free breakfast clubs that will be opening in local schools, helping children start the school day ready to learn, while also providing parents with reliable early morning childcare.
I’m absolutely delighted that Lifeline Community Action have been awarded more government funding, this time through the Common Ground Award. I’ve been really proud to support their important project to move to their new premises in the old Woolworths shop in the heart of the town centre and it’s great to see them getting more support. It was really good to get an update from the Lifeline team when I held my MP advice surgery in their new building on Friday. If you haven’t had a chance yet to pop into Lifeline, it’s worth a visit. They’ve got a great café and lots of services for local residents.
It was a privilege to visit the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Tidespring as part of the Royal Navy Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary do an amazing job providing fuel, food, ammunition and other crucial provisions to Royal Navy vessels at sea. On Friday, at my coffee morning, I met a local resident who’d served in the Royal Navy. I’m really proud of all the local residents who give their time to our Armed Forces, as regulars or reservists.
I am also holding a consultation event on proposed changes to the SEND system on Saturday 2nd May in Ferryhill, 10am-12noon.
This is an important opportunity for parents, carers, schools and young people to hear more about the proposals, ask questions and share their views. I will be taking all feedback directly back to Education Ministers to ensure local voices are heard in shaping the future of SEND provision. To book a place, please email: alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk
I’ve also been proud to secure some great wins for local residents, including speeding up the return of driving licences that were stuck with the DVLA, having a wrongly issued fine cancelled and getting repairs done and compensation paid to a local family after problems caused by a housing association.