• Back in 2021, I joined the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, which is a fantastic organisation to help generate workplace awareness of domestic abuse. Ultimately, it may help someone you employ, or who you work with, who at the moment is suffering in silence. I’m very pleased that their membership has grown to almost 1,200 businesses and I would again encourage firms from across Corby & East Northamptonshire to sign-up. Membership is free and provides access to helpful tools and resources that help employers support employees impacted by domestic abuse. You can find out more about this initiative on their website - eida.org.uk - and by following on Twitter and LinkedIn at @EIDAorg.
• Today is World Book Day - the annual celebration of reading and one I remember well growing up! As part of World Book Day, there are a number of £1 books available, with children able to get a book for free with their £1 book token. For more information about getting involved, see, here.
• Following the Lionesses’ historic European Championship win six months ago, I’m pleased that the FA are continuing to pursue the goal of 90% of UK schools offering equal access to football by 2024. On the 8th March 2023, the ‘#LetGirlsPlay Biggest Ever Football Session’ is back, and it would be great for as many schools as possible across Corby & East Northamptonshire to take part! The aim is to get as many girls as possible to all play football on the same day in schools across the country, be it at lunchtime, in a lesson, or after school. Whether the schools are already delivering girls’ football, or want to take that first step to offer girls equal access, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Schools can sign up, here. Do get involved!
• A fifth of the UK’s population has a disability or impairment, so I believe it is absolutely right that we should recognise the many successful and inspirational disabled people who are wonderful role models. It’s great that the Shaw Trust are working to change public perceptions of disability by recognising strong, successful and influential people who are leaders in their field. Their Disability Power 100 recognises and amplifies the successes of the finalists, with the goal of encouraging talented leaders of tomorrow through their example to achieve their full potential, regardless of disability or impairment. Nominations for this year are now open until the 31st March 2023. Please do consider nominating an individual, campaign, or organisation who are amazing disability champions, here.
• Kellogg’s Breakfast Club grants programme for schools has reopened this week! They are offering £1000 to school breakfast clubs in Corby & East Northamptonshire to help them make sure they can provide breakfast for the children who need it most. A limited number of grants are available, so priority will be given to those schools that have 35% and above of children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding. The grant can be used by schools to invest in any aspect of their breakfast clubs, from equipment and food, to volunteer pay and learning materials. Schools can apply for a grant, here.
• I wanted to share some useful resources Age UK have produced to help people save money on their bills, while still keeping warm. I understand that energy costs are a great source of concern to my constituents across Corby & East Northamptonshire right now, including my older constituents, so I know it is important to be aware of what help is available to you. You can access the new Age UK cost of living hub, here.
• As part of their commitment to contribute 10% of energy supply profits to support those in need, British Gas have launched a new £10 million prepayment customer support fund to help vulnerable customers, as well as implementing new policies to ensure help gets to those who need it most. British Gas are proactively identifying those who are eligible for support, meaning you do not need to contact British Gas to apply. Support available includes non-repayable prepayment meter credit of up to £250, extra vulnerability checks to provide targeted support where self-disconnections are identified, a commitment to not remotely switch customers to prepayment meters through the winter, unless the customer requests it, and ensuring those who are struggling with energy costs are provided with smart prepayment meters. Read more, here.
• I wanted to highlight a campaign created by the brilliant Royal British Legion, in response to increases in the cost of living, which is also affecting members of the Armed Forces community. They have launched ‘Everyday Needs Grants’, providing up to £2,400 over 12 months for those eligible. You can read more and apply, here.
• I was pleased to hear from the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner that the Flare Report app has recently been launched for use across Northamptonshire. This is a tool to enable women to quickly and anonymously report non-emergency issues of street harassment and similar behaviour so the Police can create a clearer picture of what incidents are happening in the county, and, importantly, take appropriate action to stop them. Every month, they aim to feed back to the public and stakeholders that reports have been heard and outline what action has been taken. I very much welcome the introduction of this app, which is free to download onto any mobile device – street harassment like cat-calling and other inappropriate behaviour is unacceptable and women should not simply have to ‘put up with it.’
• I wanted to highlight an update made to Persimmon Homes’ 'Community Champion' scheme, which is now offering increased funding to local organisations across the constituency. In the last two years alone, Persimmon has donated over £1.5 million to over 5,000 charities, sports clubs and community groups across the UK, and local organisations may benefit from this fresh support - you can find more details and apply, here.
• I was very pleased to hear that an outstanding student from Kingswood Secondary Academy was awarded a scholarship by the Reading List Foundation - a relatively new charity helping students succeed at university by giving funding to Year 13 students from lower-income households to buy their textbooks once they start their degree. They also impact schools and colleges that other charities can’t, with more than 80% of their schools not offering similar prizes, grants, or scholarships. They have a fantastic aim to award their 1000th scholarship by this summer – which is great news and my congratulations go to the local student involved! To find out more, you can check out the Reading List Foundation on Twitter, @ReadingList01.
• Applications for the Sutton Trust’s UK Summer Schools and Apprenticeship Summer School are now open! I’m pleased to say that schools in Corby will also be receiving further information soon. Sutton Trust UK Summer Schools, for Year 12 students, consist of a week-long residential with one of thirteen leading UK universities. This is a fantastic opportunity to attend academic taster sessions and meet like-minded individuals from across the UK to experience what university life is really like. Further, the Apprenticeship Summer School is a three-day residential designed to equip students with the skills to navigate the apprenticeship landscape. All costs associated are covered by the Sutton Trust and their partners, so they are free for students to attend. Participants who complete the programme leave with increased confidence, skills and the experience needed to navigate the university and apprenticeship application process. Interestingly, Summer School participants are four times more likely to receive an offer from a top university than their peers. You can visit the Sutton Trust website, here for more information on these exciting opportunities. Make sure you don’t miss out!
• I am a keen supporter of our vast array of local small businesses, which all play such a key role in our local economy, providing jobs and services. The '2023 Rural Shop Report' has highlighted the importance of rural shops in providing local employment - investing in, and engaging with, their communities. I am clear that local businesses and our High Streets are the lifeblood of our communities across Corby & East Northamptonshire and I will continue to do everything I can to support them and help them grow!
• The National Lottery Community Fund have been in touch to highlight the funding of a project at Adrenaline Alley, Corby, to support people with disabilities through activities such as skateboarding and wheelchair motocross. This is fantastic news locally and I am sure the project will make a real difference in helping to further improve access and opportunities for all!
• Our local Citizens' Advice service have been in touch to provide a service update; in response to increased demand, they have restored full service from their Corby Cube office effective immediately, with their reception desk now open Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm. Following this change, they wanted to provide details of their updated website, here, which includes revised information about their service, the support that they can provide, and all their helpful contact details. They also have a public enquiries email address: enquiries@nnca.uk.
• The National Grid have let me know that essential refurbishment work is needed on their overhead electricity line between Cottam Power Station in Nottinghamshire and Wymondley, near Hertfordshire. The work, which will see the wires that run between pylons replaced over an 80KM stretch, will ensure that the line continues to provide a reliable energy supply to the local area for years to come. The main work will take place between April and November - however, some preparatory work will begin imminently. While most of the line runs through farmland, where there is a need for footpaths and bridleways to be temporarily diverted, locals will be notified well in advance. Please be reassured that the work will have no impact on power supplies in the area during the proposed refurbishment period.
• Royal Mail would like to remind its customers to ‘swap out’ their non-barcoded definitive stamps. Following the introduction of a six-month grace period, customers now have until 31st July 2023 to use up their old, non-barcoded definitive stamps. Following this period, the use of such stamps will be liable to a surcharge. After the six-month grace period, customers will still be able to swap their old style stamps for barcoded stamps using Royal Mail’s simple and free ‘Stamp Swap Out’ scheme, which opened on the 31st March 2022. It currently has no end date. Do check your purses, wallets and drawers to use or swap non-barcoded definitive stamps before the July deadline!
• The Office of the Small Business Commissioner has been in touch to signpost their helpful services for small businesses having payment problems with their larger customers. They are an independent public body, at arm’s length of the Government, established under the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle late payments and unfavourable payment practices across the UK private sector. They consider complaints from small businesses (with fewer than 50 staff) about payment problems they have with their larger customers (with 50 or more employees) and can make (non-binding) recommendations on how the parties should resolve their disputes. They’ve helped secure more than £8 million in overdue payments since December 2017. Their website also offers a range of self-help tools, to assist small businesses negotiate fair payment terms for instance. Their interest calculator, where users can calculate late payment interest and compensation on overdue invoices, is the only free government calculator which provides an annual breakdown of interest owed. You can find their website, here and their interest calculator, here.
If you have anything you would like to be featured next week, please email all the details to pursglovet@parliament.uk.
Also, if you have taken any photos of constituency landscapes or landmarks, which could be featured in my ‘Community Notices’ headers, please send them in and I will try to use as many of them as possible (and credit them accordingly!), as a celebration of the fantastic place we live and work in. I know we have many budding photographers in our community and it would be great to showcase their work!