Some 800 school children from Redditch and Bromsgrove recently took part in the School Sport Partnership Games.
The games were held at the Abbey Stadium and were organised by School Sport Partnerships, Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Council.
Karen Lumley MP, Redditch councillor Peter Anderson and mayor Kath Banks were all there. Karen is seen handing out awards.
Karen is seen here doing an interview on Feckenham community radio.
She represents not just the central town of Redditch but the local countryside as well and Karen is keen to keep in touch with their concerns and issues.
One way is to keep contact with local radio since they are the people who know what’s going on!
Karen is keen to understand the concerns of local business. She went along to meet Colin Blake, owner and managing director of Needed 4, and his staff of eight. They produce automobile carpets. Most of their orders come via the internet.
Colin and Karen are seen standing by the cutting machine.
Colin’s story helped Karen understand the many problems of small business. Like many entrepreneurs Colin looked for grants to get started but was turned down because he didn’t meet the rules. Only later – too late – was he told by a director of the grant-making body who was buying for his personal car that there was another route that he might have explored …
Priscilla Bach and Mary Blake (Colin’s Mum) are shown by carpet edging machine.
Karen is dead keen on getting the best possible education for Redditch children.
Last week she visited the Kingfisher School to congratulate them on their latest award.
She is pictured here with headteacher Tanya Craig, students Billy Garvey and Owen Henshaw and Cllr Roger Hill.
It’s a time to put nerves aside and get on with your maiden speech. There will be many more over a parliament but this is the first hurdle.
The speech came in a defence and security debate. Karen spoke highly of her constituency, its people, its countryside and its workforce.
She paid tribute to her predecessor Jacqui Smith, wishing her well in future pursuits.
Karen has long been a supporter of Where Next in Redditch and wanted to visit them early on in her parliamentary session.
She talked to some of the management committee about the amazing work they do and how she would be able to support them in the future.
Karen also met some of the students and actually got two hanging baskets for her own garden as she had been a bit too busy to order them before!
She is seen here getting some advice from Richard Henley.
This week saw St Bede’s Middle School visit parliament. It was Karen’s first school visit to parliament but they were brilliant and had lots of questions to ask her, such as, “When is the swimming pool going to be ready to have you met any famous people yet?”
Karen hopes they enjoyed their visit as much as she did! They are shown here with Karen in Portcullis House.
Karen Lumley banished any nerves and stood for the first time to ask questions of the Treasury and also at the Women’s Equality session.
MP backs volunteering
Thank You!
Karen Lumley MP for Redditch County attended an event organised by Volunteering England to say thank you to all the volunteers in her patch.
50 MPs from around the country gathered in London to say ‘Thank You’ to the thousands of volunteers in their constituencies as part of the national Volunteers’ Week celebration.
Karen said:
“I’d like to say thank you to everyone who gives their time for the benefit of our community. Volunteers’ Week is an ideal time to recognise the amazing contribution volunteers make and I’d like to encourage more people to get involved where they can. With volunteering there’s something for everyone – whether it’s mentoring young people, supporting the elderly or campaigning on local issues. It’s a great way to meet people and make a real difference to other peoples’ lives.”
The event was organised by Volunteering England, the volunteer development charity, to mark the end of national Volunteers’ Week, which runs from the 1 to 7 June each year. Volunteers from a number of organisations were on hand to share their stories with MPs, including the Cadets, the National Trust, Timebank, Youthnet and BTCV.
Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said:
“I am pleased to see that so many MPs recognise the importance of volunteering and have taken the time to come here and thank the volunteers in their local communities. The country faces many challenges in the current economic climate and volunteering will have a central role to play in ensuring that we emerge stronger and more resilient”
Volunteers’ Week has also received ministerial support from the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, and the Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP.
Volunteering England co-ordinates Volunteers Week in England; the Week celebrates the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, whilst inspiring others to get involved too. More information about the Week can be found at www.volunteersweek.org.uk.
Local MP calls for greater recognition for the UK’s six million carers
Karen supports Carers' Week
Local MP Karen Lumley has teamed up with ITV’s This Morning celebrity GP, Dr Chris Steele MBE, to support this year’s Carers Week (14 – 20 June) and celebrate the contribution made by people in Redditch County and throughout the UK, who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.
The theme of Carers Week is ‘A Life of My Own’ with calls for greater understanding and support for the army of carers who provide vital care for their families, friends and communities. In doing so, many sacrifice much in their own lives, unable to do the little things that most of us take for granted. All too often, these unsung heroes also suffer ill health.
Karen met up with Dr Chris at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles.
Karen said:
“A trip to the cinema, or even a full night’s sleep – these are luxuries for many of the thousands of carers in Redditch County. I’m supporting Carers Week and all those helping to raise awareness of carers, and their priceless contribution they make to our local community. I hope that as a result of Carers Week, many more carers will find out about services and support that exist to help them.
Dr Chris, who has long been a champion for the health and wellbeing of the country’s millions of carers, said:
“I am delighted to give my continuing support for Carers Week and its focus on a carer’s right to ‘A life of my own’. Many non-carers take their free-time for granted, whether it’s going to the cinema or meeting with family and friends. As a GP I have met many carers who have never received any help or respite.
I know how carers’ own health and well-being has suffered as a consequence and just how isolated they can feel. Who is caring for the carers? Change is needed at grassroots level and Carers Week is vital in raising awareness and promoting carers’ issues.”
Other celebrities supporting Carers Week, all of whom have had experience of caring, include: Lynda Bellingham, Cilla Black, Jonathan Dimbleby, Gloria Hunniford, Sir David Jason, Claire King, Phyllida Law, Miriam Margolyes, Esther Rantzen, Angela Rippon and Tony Robinson.
Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 7 national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Care, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinson’s UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
For information about Carers Week, including local events and activities, and where carers can find information and assistance, visit www.carersweek.org or call 0845 241 2582.
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