I’d a brilliant afternoon with many others visiting the superb Kangafest 30th Anniversary celebration. Great to chat to new CEO Emma and the team on their ambitious future plans. Kangaroos is an amazing charity, supporting children and families with severe learning disabilities and mobility issues to have fun and the support they need. It is great they are planning to do more in the north of our district, particularly in East Grinstead.
The Sussex Business Awards have now opened to highlight the area’s brilliant businesses and the amazing people behind them. More details are on my website. My next local business breakfast will take place in September – my first in the changed constituency. If you’d like to attend, do let me know.
In another busy week in Parliament ahead of recess, it was fantastic to meet more of my constituents on an Education and Engagement Tour and others in Westminster to watch PMQs. If you are a school and would like to visit, Spring Term applications open on Wednesday 18 September at 10am. Visit https://learning.parliament.uk/en/vacancies-for-education-visits/.
Our local library’s ever popular, annual Summer Reading Challenge for children is now underway. With activities ranging from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing & painting, this year’s Challenge aims to fire up children’s imaginations and unleash storytelling and creativity through the power of reading. Joining the library is free & easy; all details on my website.
I was incredibly disappointed to see Labour’s Winter fuel allowance cuts, meaning nearly 10 million pensioners will have a vital cost of living top up disappear. It’s estimated there’s nearly 800,000 pensioners who are eligible but currently not claiming pension credit so, if you are over 65, do check your or a loved one’s eligibility, by visiting https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility
Another huge impact on our constituency, with the potential to affect up to 3,500 local students and around 10 schools in our area, is now confirmed for January. 20% VAT on fees for independent education means we, sadly, become the first country in the world to place a tax on education, and we await the impact on all our educational settings
