Following the Prime Minister’s attendance at the EU summit in Brussels, Karen was one of twenty MPs invited to have dinner with David Cameron at Chequers on Friday evening.

Karen said it had been “… a wonderful experience to see Chequers and to hear first hand from the Prime Minister about just how the EU negotiations had gone. He was in fine form and we had a lively and fascinating evening.”

Karen Lumley MP, as a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, along with a group of 30 individuals made up of MP’s and MEP’s left RAF Brize Norton on 18th November, to make the trip to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Once in Afghanistan, Karen received briefings from both British and American generals and witnessed the continued efforts to secure the country and train the Afghan army ahead of the planned UK’s forces withdrawal in 2014.

Karen was able to witness firsthand the hard work and commitment the soldiers put in during the course of her visit and even managed to catch up with and spend time with, soldiers from her own constituency including Joe Robinson and Group Captain Colin Desyler.

Karen said “They are all doing an amazing job in very difficult circumstances and are a credit to our country. I am tremendously proud of the work all the armed forces are doing. I don’t think any of us – even myself before the visit – have got any clear idea of what they do out there or how hard they work. It is a relentless routine and they eat, sleep and live this war. I am so fortunate to have been able to go out there and see it for myself and be able to say thank you to them. It was great to be able to spend a few moments with the men from Redditch and thank them personally on behalf of our town.”

During the19 hour visit to the camp Karen took the opportunity to speak openly with the head of the new Afghan National Army, which provided her with the assurance that peace is an achievable target for the people and could be sustained once they assumed full responsibility for security in the region.

“I went out there fairly sceptical but after talking to the head of the Afghan army it gave me a sense they are getting to grips with what needs to be done. They are recruiting hundreds of troops every week who are going into an army that will be able to keep peace when we withdraw in 2014.”

Sadly, during the visit two British soldiers were killed in Helmand province after their armoured vehicle struck a makeshift bomb and futher soldier was killed on Sunday November 20. Karen lamented “Such losses bring the human cost of war into clear focus. They have a huge wall out there with the names of all those who have died in Afghanistan and to see it really does bring it home to you just how many lives have been lost”.

Karen will be donating shoeboxes to both the Support Our Soldiers campaign and the Operations Christmas Child campaign this year.

Karen said “Christmas is a very special time and one of my favourite periods of the year, when many of us are surrounded by family and loved ones. It is extremely important to take time during the festive season to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves and those who are serving in the Armed Forces, far away from their homes in Afghanistan and elsewhere. I would encourage people to donate a shoebox filled with Christmas goodies so that someone, somewhere, knows that we are thinking of them.”

Karen is pictured with Sajid Javid MP (Bromsgrove).
(operationchristmaschild.org.uk and supportoursoldiers.co.uk)

Karen in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre during run up to the Heart FM Christmas lights switch-on.

She was taking part in the “Big Town Show Down” quiz where Karen won a prize for a member of the crowd.

Karen pictured with Ed James and Rachel New from the Heart FM Breakfast Show.

Karen is pictured with the Stefan Booth who was in TV hit shows such as Hollyoaks, The Bill, Dancing on Ice and EastEnders.

Stefan will be playing the Prince in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at the Palace Theatre in Redditch this December.  (Photo courtesy of Redditch Standard)

Karen Lumley MP with local councillors Anita Clayton, Juliet Brunner and Gay Hopkins in Matchborough to discuss the serious road safety issues outside Matchborough First School.

They met with Peter Blake, Head of Integrated Transport for Worcestershire County Council.

(Courtesy Redditch Standard)

Karen Lumley MP recently attended defibrillator training at Arrowvale School.  She went to show her support to Robert and Margaret Underwood who donated the equipment in memory of their daughter, Charlotte, who died from sudden cardia arrhythmia.

Staff at the school have been trained to use the device and this potentially lifesaving equipment is now in the Redditch school.

ITV Central News broadcast a report on the donation resulting from Charlotte’s tragic death.

Karen is pictured with Robert along with a photograph of his daughter.  The Underwood family are also seen in a clip from ITV talking to the headmaster.

www.sadsuk.org

North East Worcestershire College students had the opportunity to pose questions to national and local Government representatives in two question and answer sessions which were organised as part of their course.

The Level 3 Uniformed Public Service students on the first year of their two-year course first pitched their questions on subjects such as university fees, and the wages of soldiers to Redditch MP Karen Lumley. Karen also took the opportunity to quiz students, asking them about their plans for the future and their career goals.

In the second Q&A session, it was the students in the final year of the Level 3 UPS course that had the opportunity to probe both Worcestershire County Councillor Terry Spencer and Redditch Borough Councillor Carole Gandy.  Subjects this time included funding for schools, funding cuts effecting front line services in the public sector and the importance of volunteering in maintaining community cohesion.

Tutor, Rebecca Thomas explained the reason for setting up the visits, “The aim is for students to get to know about the work that goes on in both local and national levels of Government and to bring the theory they are learning in the classroom to life.” The experience will support a unit the students are studying called ‘Government, Policies and the Public Services.’

Karen Lumley MP is shown with students in their first year.  (Photo courtesy Redditch Standard.)

International Citizen Service (ICS) is a new volunteering opportunity open to 18-22 year olds from all walks of life to work in a developing country for 10-12 weeks. It can be a life-altering experience. Volunteers have the opportunity to make a real difference in the poorest parts of the world, develop their own skills and experience, and gain an understanding of how development projects and volunteering can help improve the lives of others.

The scheme is largely funded by the Government. People with lower incomes can take part for free, while those who can afford to are asked to pay some of the costs.

Karen was pleased to meet with Jack Hands who has just returned from 3 months in Ethiopia as part of the ICS volunteer project, to learn all about his adventure.

Places are still available for January and April 2012. To find out more and apply, go to www.dfid.gov.uk/ics, or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/ics