With the House in recess for the conference season, this week I have had the chance to have a busy week around the constituency.
Tuesday started with the beginning of the No Tigers in Tonna campaign, aiming to stop the use of animals for entertainment, which I am saddened to see is taking place in my constituency. I am against any sort of entertainment which uses animals and I want to do everything within my power to outlaw such things, but all this takes time. In the mean time I started a campaign to boycott the lion and tiger show, which uses lions and tigers for entertainment. I am delighted that the campaign to boycott the show has taken off online with a growing number of supporters. Up to now 408 people have signed the campaign, no, wait, it’s now 409, 410, 411….
On Wednesday I became the newest member of Neath Port Talbot Credit Union, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week. I attended the launch of their new business centre on Windsor Road. NPT Credit Union has been doing great work in the local community, and is now a living wage employer. NPT Credit Union is now the second largest of its kind in Wales, serving 12% of Neath Port Talbot, and has ten collection points around the Neath constituency. Here I am with Steve Mallinson, Manager of NPT Credit Union, who presented me with my membership book. Now all I have to do is start saving!
The office has been looking like a jumble sale this week, thanks to the fantastic efforts of the people of Neath in donating clothes and tinned food to the CalAid charity, who are collecting on behalf of the refugees in Calais. We set up a donation drop off point in the office, without imagining the floor space it would take up! Neath Mayor Jan Lockyer and her husband, Labour County Councillor and Mayoress Alan Lockyer, who have helped organise the effort, paid me a visit to see what the combined forces of the Neath constituency can do. I have been touched by the effort that has been put in by the people of Neath for this fantastic cause and hope this generosity continues well past this week.
I finished the week at DOVE workshop, attending the opening of the Cwm-NI Iach (Healthy Company) Project. The project is a Lottery funded partnership between DOVE workshop, Glynneath Training Centre, Ystradgynlais MIND and Western Valleys Communities First which aims to improve the mental and physical well-being of people with low to medium mental ill-health. The project will provide a counselling service in accessible community locations along with a range of activities to improve mental and physical resilience along with creating social networks to give people space and time to support each other. I am honoured that such a project is happening in Neath, and long may it continue!
This week I also joined the #getinvolved2020 campaign, which encourages young people from under represented communities to engage in politics. Young people often feel left out of politics, and because of this are easily targeted and left out of the process. I hope #getinvolved2020 is successful in getting those who feel so disengaged with politics to get involved.
If anyone would like more information on my constituency and parliamentary work please do not hesitate to get in touch.