Last week I visited HMYOI Werrington together with the Executive Director of the Youth Custody Service to meet the new Governor and members of his senior leadership team.
It was a productive meeting and I welcome the measures that are being put in place to make the institution a safer and more appropriate environment for the young people who reside there. After the meeting I was shown round the institution and had the chance to speak to many of the staff and residents. I was pleased to hear about the educational opportunities that are available, and was especially impressed with the bike maintenance workshop, where the residents get the chance to learn important skills and gain a level 2 Cycle Mechanic qualification. I will remain in contact with the new Governor over the coming months and am confident that under this new leadership, standards will continue to improve.
It was then back to the office for some surgeries including a call I set up so that local residents could discuss their case directly with representatives from both the District and County Councils and the Environment Agency. I then, following a recent visit to Leek Foodbank, hosted a hybrid meeting bringing together representatives from the Foodbank, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, the Police, the Department for Work & Pensions, Citizens Advice, local health prescribers and the Salvation Army to discuss a multi-agency approach so we can all work together to support the Foodbank in certain emergency situations.
Finally on Tuesday, I was delighted to be at Harrison Park to watch Leek Town play Macclesfield. With a crowd of over 2,000, Harrison Park was buzzing throughout the match and, although the result was not what we wanted, the atmosphere and the welcome afforded by Leek Town to Macclesfield was second to none.
