"Whilst many people see the summertime for a holiday – especially as Parliament is in Recess – to me, I see the opportunity to increase my constituency activities with the spare time I find myself with during the week!
Over the past month, I was out and about across the whole Basildon and Billericay constituency for the first part of my Summer Surgery Tour. I propped myself up in each part of the constituency and allowed any local resident to come and raise issues with me – crucially without an appointment being needed. I hosted my surgery in Vange, Laindon, South Green, Billericay, Crays Hill, Fryerns, Noak Bridge, Ramsden Bellhouse, and Basildon – really covering each community.
But that’s not the end! I have the second leg coming up on Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th, and Friday 12th September in Basildon, Laindon, Billericay, Little Burstead, and Dunton. Check out my website or Facebook for further details on when and where – and then just turn up!
And it’s not just my Summer Surgery Tour that I’m up to. I am also hosting my free Older Peoples’ Fairs in the Chantry Centre in Billericay on Friday 5th September from 11am until 1pm and the Community Centre in Laindon on Friday 12th September from 1pm until 3pm. If you’re retired or approaching retirement age, or support someone that is, then pop along to meet loads of organisations that provide support and advice to help with this stage of life. Again, details can be found on my website and Facebook, please just pop along during the two-hour slot whenever it suits you!
Alongside these great events, I visited 26 really fantastic organisations and people across Basildon and Billericay, from the best Yoga Club in Essex ran by Mae to Reed in Partnership and Signpost helping people into sustainable employment, from some massive transport and logistics companies based here in Basildon to our very own racing prodigy, Jude Puddefoot. I even headed over to Buzz Bingo in Basildon and called a full house game for the punters – probably to their dismay with my calling skills!
All in all, it was a very busy but incredibly rewarding Summer Recess for me. One of my favourite parts of being your MP is getting out and about, seeing and hearing directly from constituents and businesses which I can then take back with me into Parliament. As ever, if you need my help, want me to visit your organisation, or need to see me to raise an issue, then get in touch using my website and we’ll sort a time!”
