• Morrisons have been in touch to let me know that there are a range of exciting new job vacancies available at their Thrapston manufacturing site, which currently prepares and packs fresh produce to supply their 499 stores across the UK. I am told that, following significant investment in the site, including in new equipment, automation and in building fabrication, they are now in the process of consolidating their produce packing operations, creating more than 300 new jobs and career opportunities within our local community. Packaging operations are set to commence on the 21st August, with a range of full and part-time roles and training opportunities available, including Machine Operatives, Production Operatives and Maintenance Engineers. The details of all the vacancies can be found, here, with Morrisons colleagues at the site working closely with the local Department for Work & Pensions representative and JobCentre Plus team to promote them. If you're currently looking for work, do take a look.
• Age UK have been in touch to signpost their advice on avoiding scams, which are becoming evermore sophisticated. Age UK’s information and advice guides are free to download via their website, and you can also call their free advice line (0800 055 6112) to order free printed copies. To find out more about avoiding being scammed see, here.
• Historic England have recently released a fascinating collection of aerial photographs from the Second World War, now made publicly available for the first time through their online archive. Their collection includes the below incredible photograph of RAF Polebrook, right in the heart of Corby & East Northamptonshire, from May 1944 – just a month before D-Day. In fact, Hollywood actor and Eighth Air Force officer, Clark Gable, was stationed here in 1943 - he flew several combat missions, whilst making the recruitment film ‘Combat America’. This collection of photographs, taken by the United States Army Air Force, really does provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of Northamptonshire and beyond, and so I’d really recommend taking a look at the whole archive. You can do so, here.
• The Post Office have been in touch to highlight the temporary closure of Corby Post Office at 56-58 Corporation Street. They have assured me that they are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum and would welcome any applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on their behalf. The latest available branch information can be found on their website, here. I shall be sure to keep a close eye on this and probe as to progress.
• The Department of Health & Social Care are seeking views on adding pack inserts into tobacco products to encourage more smokers to quit, as it launches a new consultation. The inserts, placed inside the packaging of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, can provide information about the health and financial benefits of quitting, which includes a 50% reduction in the risk of a heart attack within a year, an improvement in breathing in a matter of days, with the average smoker likely to save over £2000 per year if they quit, as well as advice on how to quit. Smoking remains the single leading preventable cause of illness and mortality in the UK and results in nearly 4% of all hospital admissions each year – a total of around 450,000 admissions, directly costing the NHS over £2 billion per year. Although smoking rates in the UK are at an all-time low, by taking further action, the Government will seek to cut waiting lists and reduce the burden on the NHS and the introduction of the pack inserts into all tobacco products in the UK could lead to an additional 30,000 smokers quitting, delivering health benefits worth £1.6 billion. You can have your say in the consultation, here.
• Getting online can make life easier, but it also brings the risk of scams and fraud. Age UK's information guide on staying safe online can help you to choose strong passwords and protect your personal information when shopping online, to name a few. Read more, here.
• Local farmers across Corby & East Northamptonshire can now pre-register their interest for Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI) from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The SFI will pay farmers for taking steps that support food production, better farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment; something I am keen to help promote, given the wealth of wonderful farms, farmers and food producers we are very fortunate to have locally. You can find out more here, and find further guidance on this here.
• Tesco have this month launched their new community grants programme, Stronger Starts, in partnership with Groundwork UK, which will provide £5 million in grants to help provide children across the UK a healthier, more active start in life. The programme aims to support 5,000 schools and children’s groups every year and will provide them with nutritious food, healthy activities, including PE, breakfast clubs and new sports equipment. Successful applications will enter quarterly voting rounds in store, where customers can vote for their favourite with a blue token, and the best part is every entry is a winner with grants of up to £500, £1,000, and £1,500. This new programme builds on the £100 million Tesco has pledged to more than 50,000 projects through its community grants schemes since 2016. You can nominate a local school or group in Corby & East Northamptonshire, here. Importantly, do use a blue token next time you’re in store to vote for your favourite project!
• As part of our plan to cut waiting lists, we’re rolling out a new digital NHS Health Check, delivering one million checks across England by next spring. These checks, accessible via a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, will help tackle cardiovascular disease by providing personalised advice about how to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke, with GP referrals made only if further tests and treatment are needed. The existing in-person NHS Health Check has already helped spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease and dementia, and so it’s really important that we build on these successes to tackle cardiovascular disease, identifying and supporting those at risk early on. Further, digital checks could help free up hundreds of thousands of appointments in primary care and help cut NHS waiting times, whilst still ensuring that improved support for cardiovascular disease is provided. Cardiovascular disease affects around 6.4 million people, and so these new digital health checks are a welcome tool to help tackle this major health condition, ultimately helping people to live healthier lives, whilst also reducing pressure on the NHS. See here for full details.
• The Department of Health & Social Care are inviting community organisations to bid for a share of £1 million worth of funding for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for their area. This funding will provide an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators in community spaces across England, with the potential for this to double as successful applicants will be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully. As part of the grant award, applicants will be asked to demonstrate that defibrillators will be placed in areas where they are most needed, such as places with high footfall, where vulnerable people are, rural areas, or due to the nature of activity at the site. Examples could include town halls, community centres, local shops, post offices and local parks, to ensure that defibrillators are evenly spread throughout communities and easily accessible if someone is experiencing an unexpected cardiac arrest. The funding is part of our drive to equip the health system with the right technology to ease pressures, reduce backlogs and cut waiting lists, and to improve public access to care when they need it. Organisations can submit an expression of interest, here.
• UK Parliament Week is back for 2023 between the 6th and 12th November. It’s Parliament’s flagship public engagement campaign, spreading the word about what Parliament is, and is a great opportunity to find out what it does and crucially, how you can get involved. Organisations, irrespective of size or age group, including community groups, youth groups and schools, can sign up online and receive free resource kits to help them organise their UKPW activities. Last year, 1.1 million people took part in over 10,000 activities in every region and nation of the UK. Find out more and sign up, here. Don’t miss out!
• Particularly with the challenges of the cost of living at the moment, it’s really important that we all take care of our mental health and wellbeing. That’s why I wanted to share some information about Knus, a non-profit mental health service offering free, confidential peer support training. Knus provide mental health support through a selection of online apps, and have a CPD-accredited ‘Overcoming Anxiety’ online course in which users can receive tailored feedback from volunteer peer-support coaches. If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health at the moment, then please do check out their resources. You can find them, here.
• Dogs Trust want to remind dog owners that, as the weather continues to get warmer, high temperatures can be extremely dangerous for dogs who are very susceptible to heat stroke, especially if left in a hot car. As their bodies work differently from humans, it is very, very important for dog owners and members of the public to be able to recognise the signs of distress. Learn more, here.
• Parliament’s wonderful Education Centre – who provide unforgettable experiences for schools, free of charge, including touring Parliament and participating in a range of activities and workshops in line with the curriculum - have been in touch to let me know that their dates for the Autumn term have been released. If you’re a teacher in a school here in Corby & East Northamptonshire and haven’t already signed up to their newsletter, you can do so, here, and will be notified when booking slots go live. Booking slots are in high demand and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that bookings can only be by teachers via the Education Centre’s online booking portal and schools will need their postcode and URN to register. This is a great opportunity not to be missed!
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!