The week began with an early train to Westminster for an important briefing, then a defence question during which I supported the Minister for Defence, Ben Wallace. In the afternoon I had another private meeting and a constituency surgery regarding Children & Young People’s Mental Health Services. This matter is very close to my heart and I will always endeavour to promote good mental health in young people and take these matters very seriously. After some surgery follow-ups and office admin, I headed back to Kings Cross to travel home for a busy week in the constituency.
Over the next couple of days we headed out to deliver NHS surveys in Cramlington. It was fantastic to speak with the local residents about how they are finding current NHS services. The overall response was very positive and it was great to hear people’s own experiences. I really enjoy that face-to-face contact and helps me understand any issues constituents may have.
Thursday afternoon I visited Catapult for the launch of the Digital, Robotics and Autonomous Engineering (DARE) Centre in Blyth which has been funded by the Get Britain Building initiative. I welcomed the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Graham Stewart, to see this phenomenal innovation hub which is now recognised for carrying out world leading research in STEM technology. It was amazing to see such progressive technologies showcased at the event, helping to tackle global climate challenges and becoming a leading test centre for countries all round the globe.
On Friday morning we had an early start at Malvins Close Academy as part of National Walk to School week. I was greeted by huge smiles from the pupils as we followed the mapped route to promote walking to school. The children chatted about how they keep healthy and the difference it makes to their day if they walk to school. I then came back to the office for a staff briefing ready for our Meet the Team event in Cramlington later that afternoon. I invited businesses and community groups from Blyth Valley to come along. It was a chance for me, the office team and everyone who attended to network and build on connections in Blyth Valley. The event was a great success and I feel that both ourselves as an office and those who attended, gained a lot from this networking experience and we will be sure to run similar events in the future.
On Saturday the sun was still shining so my wife and I walked to Blyth beach for the Blyth Goes to War event. This was very impressive with military demonstrations, vehicles and live action displays. The volunteers were fascinating to listen to as they spoke about life as a soldier throughout modern history. I even had the chance to have a cup of tea and a home baked cake in the Battery café.
As I had a very early start on Monday, I needed to travel to London on Sunday evening, this did not go exactly to plan as there were delays and an issue on the trainline. I finally arrived with heavy eyes at Kings Cross around 11.30pm and headed straight to bed, ready for a very busy week. As always if you have any issues or if you would like to get in touch, please email [email protected] or call 01670 338435.
