This weekend is Easter, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar – and a welcome holiday for everyone!
I’m sure that many of you, like me, are looking forward to spending the Bank Holiday weekend with friends and family. My wife and I will be spending time with her elderly parents, and so I was delighted to learn this week about a new initiative to offer entertainment and support to older residents here in Solihull.
Two local women, Laura Wright and Leanne Smyth, are setting up a new friendship group to offer company, games, and refreshments to elderly residents and raise funds for Age UK.
They will be in the Lyndon Pub in Barn Lane every Wednesday from 10am until 12.30pm. Unfortunately I will be in Westminster for their launch on April 18th, but I’m looking forward to hearing more about their work once they’re up and running.
I also do what I can to use my position here in Westminster to support charitable and volunteer groups, and last week it was my pleasure to host and sponsor a Parliamentary reception for myLotto24.
They help to fund a broad range of good causes across the UK. We were joined by nearly 150 people, including 20 fellow MPs from all parts of the country, to hear from some of the people they had supported.
These included no fewer than 132 up-and-coming athletes, including both Olympians and Paralympians, assisted through the Winners of Tomorrow Fund. For example Millie O’Neill, who was kind enough to provide an exciting boxing demonstration on the day, received a £1,000 grant to offset equipment and training costs.
Beyond that, over 2,000 people have been helped by the Good Neighbourhood Fund. This pays out to organisations such as SUFRA, which runs food banks, and Art against Knives.
Our town is hugely enriched by the huge number of local residents who freely donate their time, energy, and expertise to a huge variety of charities, sports clubs, and local groups.
Since being elected to represent our town I have been a strong supporter of Solihull’s charitable and volunteer culture, and it was very interesting to learn how national organisations such as myLotto24 can help small, local organisations do more for their communities.
Originally published in the Solihull News, 26/03/18.