Congratulations all the young people across our area who received their A-level, T-level, BTEC, GCSE and other results. I remember well the stress of results day, many years ago when I finished my GCSEs at Woodham.
You have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and I hope you’re proud of everything you’ve achieved. Whatever your results, there are lots of different paths to the future you want and lots of support and advice available.
It’s been a busy summer visiting local organisations and attending events in our community such as Ayclive Music festival which was a brilliant event and it’s always good to see the community come together for a day of live music, entertainment and family fun. A big thank you to all the organisers.
It was also a great opportunity to catch up with local organisations and businesses, including the North East Air Ambulance, whose crews provide lifesaving care across our region.
I had a really good afternoon at the Blue Light Day in Aycliffe Town Centre. Thank you to all of the residents who came over to have a chat about local issues. And a special thanks to the emergency services and the armed forces who attended, for taking the time to come and explain their vital work to local families.
It was particularly good to meet the Royal Air Force cadets, who train in Barnard Armoury in the town and hear about the fantastic experiences they’ve been having. For young people looking to develop their skills, confidence and experience, the armed forces cadet schemes can be a brilliant option.
It’s been a privilege to see for myself the incredible work of our military, as part of the Royal Navy Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme over the last year and I was proud to complete the programme in July. The scheme, which has been running since 1989, gives parliamentarians from all parties the opportunity to visit operational military bases, meet deployed personnel at home and abroad, and hear first-hand the experiences of our service people.
It’s also been a busy summer for the government, with the new Prime Minister setting out new policies which benefit our area. To cut the cost of travel, single bus fares will be capped at £2 from January, while eligible disabled passengers will be able to use their free bus passes 24/7, removing the current time restrictions.
There is also more support for our town centres, with a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues, alongside new powers to tackle rogue businesses and organised crime including ‘dodgy’ vape shops and other businesses linked to criminal activity.
Mental health support is also being strengthened, with two new community mental health centres planned for County Durham. These will provide more accessible support closer to where people live and help people get the support they need earlier.
Alongside this wider work, helping constituents with individual problems remains a key part of my role as an MP. A local HGV driver contacted me recently after waiting months for their licence renewal. I contacted DVLA on their behalf and following my intervention, they received their renewed licence within days. I am also pleased to have helped a local resident secure more than £3,000 in backdated Pension Credit they were entitled to. If I can help you or your family, please get in touch.