This month I launched my Luton South Summer Survey. I want to hear from as many Luton South residents as possible before Parliament sits again in September.
I’ve had some interesting conversations with people from across the constituency about their priorities. I want local voices to shape the future of our town, not just Ministers in London.
Your responses will shape my work in Parliament, particularly the issues I raise, the local causes I champion and any future campaigns. Please click here to tell me what you think.
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Visiting Youth Services
Luton has some excellent youth services which do some brilliant work, from supporting vulnerable young people to engaging school leavers over summer. Over recess, I visited Tokko, National Citizenship Service (NCS) and Youth Partnership Service. I had some thought provoking chats with young people at Luton’s Youth Fest, and it was great to see young people getting involved with a range of activities.I enjoyed seeing some of the projects the young people organised as part of the NCS programme to raise money for their chosen charities, including cake sales, henna mehndi and foodbank collections. |
Manufacturing in Luton
I had a fascinating visit to Bristol Labs, including a tour around their pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. As a large employer in Luton, that protected jobs throughout the pandemic, it was interesting to hear about how being based in the UK allows them to support the NHS by quickly responding to shortages or changes in demand of medications, particularly the generic medication that they produce.
Supporting our NHS
Doctors and their teams in Luton do excellent work supporting the health and wellbeing of our community. I wanted to understand more about the work of our GPs so I was pleased to visit Woodland Avenue Practice and Blenheim Medical Centre in my Luton South constituency. After an especially difficult few years for the NHS, having to adapt to the challenges created by the Covid pandemic, demands are increasing against a backdrop of stretched resources. Many GP practices are being innovative about how they improve patients’ general health and wellbeing by supportive and preventative activities, so it was particularly fun to join in with the ‘seated physical activity’ for older people organised by Blenheim Medical Centre in conjunction with Total Wellbeing, taking place in St Andrew’s Church!
‘Paint the town green’ viewing with Luton Irish Forum
I thoroughly enjoyed watching ‘Paint the Town Green’ a short film about the history of Luton’s St Patrick’s Day parades, hosted by Luton Irish Forum. It was great to listen to the filmmaker and host the Irish ambassador here in Luton before he retires!
South Asian Heritage Month
It’s South Asian Heritage Month, and many people across Luton South have been celebrating 75 years of independence for Pakistan and India.
I was pleased to mark both occasions and attend an event at Luton Council with some of the Pakistani community in celebrating independence.