Parliament was not sitting last week as it was the Easter recess so it was good to be home in the Moorlands to do some visits and talk to local people.
Earlier this year, I joined other colleagues in Parliament and signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, pledging my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust. It was therefore a pleasure to join local councillors and Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassador, Matilda Thorley recently at a Holocaust memorial service at Trinity Church. I am also pleased that the collection at the Church raised £65 for the local Ukrainian relief fund.
My team and I continue to do all we can to help local residents who are trying to bring family back from the Ukraine or sponsor Ukrainian refugees. It is often frustrating and often takes longer than we would hope but we are prioritising these cases and doing our very best to assist. Following the Bidduph partnership with Bieruń, I am really keen to pair Leek with a town in Poland and was therefore pleased to visit Bank House in Leek which is a collection point for donations to Ukraine. These Polish towns are absolutely overwhelmed with refugees and it would be great if we could set this up.
Last Monday, I welcomed the Minister for Children and Families to the Moorlands and joined him on a visit to Stanley Outdoor Education Centre to see some of the holiday activity and food programme activities.
I was also delighted to join local artist Robin Wight at Trentham Gardens to see his finished FantasyWire statue to raise awareness for organ donation. And finally just before Easter I joined members of the local RSPB to hear the fabulous Dawn Chorus at Coombes Valley – such a very special event.
