MP backing the fight against breast cancer

Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon and East Thurrock is backing the fight against breast cancer by taking part in Breast Cancer Campaign’s award winning fundraiser, wear it pink day – and wants constituents to join him.

Now in its 10th year, wear it pink, on Friday 26 October 2012 will see supporters from all over the country in schools, colleges and businesses embracing the event’s new theme, superheroes. The theme stems from the charity’s belief that everybody who joins the fight – from people affected by breast cancer, to Breast Cancer Campaign scientists and all wear it pink participants – is a superhero.

Breast Cancer Campaign is asking everyone to pull on something pink and donate £2.00, whether it’s a superhero cape, pink socks or pink pants you wear over your tights, you can help the charity achieve its target of raising £2 million, so they can continue to fund ground-breaking research.

Join the hundreds of thousands of people who take part in wear it pink every year. With your help Breast Cancer Campaign can improve survival rates for the one in eight women who experience breast cancer during their lifetime.

Stephen Metcalfe MP says “Every year in the UK, around 48,000 women and 340 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. This is why we all need to support wear it pink day on 26 October, so that Breast Cancer Campaign can continue to fund research which will one day lead to a cure.”

To take part in the UK’s original and best pink day visit wearitpink.co.uk and register to receive your free fundraising pack now. Vanish is backing the fight against breast cancer for the third year running by raising an incredible £250,000 for wear it pink.

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe welcomes fall in net migration

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe has today welcomed the first fall in net migration into the UK since 2008. Official statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that estimated net migration in the UK fell to 216,000 in the year to December 2011, from 252,000 in the year to December 2010, as a raft of recent reforms to the immigration system start to bite.

For the year to June 2012 the number of student visas issued has decreased by 30% compared to the year before.

Commenting Stephen said: “Immigration is a very important issue for people in Basildon & Thurrock. I know that local people were deeply frustrated about the chaos which was the hallmark of our immigration system for too long. For years under Labour immigration was uncontrolled. Net migration to Britain reached more than 2.2 million people - more than twice the population of Birmingham. The system was broken and nothing was being done to fix it.

“We now have a Government which is doing what is needed to bring immigration under control. All the routes of entry into the UK are being tightened up. Economic migration has been capped, bogus students are being turned away, and the rules on family migration are being made more robust.

“We are now seeing the impact of this. Immigration is still too high but we now have a government which is determined to bring it down to sustainable levels in the tens of thousands.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP applauds volunteers at the Citizens Advice Bureau

Kathy Peach, Mark Francois MP,
Stephen Metcalfe MP and Stella Calkin

Earlier this week, Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock and Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, had the privilege of visiting the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) at the Basildon Centre.

Stephen and Mark took the opportunity to meet volunteers and staff, and to find out what services the CAB offer.

Stephen commented: “The free, independent, confidential and impartial advice offered by the CAB is a lifeline to thousands of people in Basildon. In these difficult economic times, the services provided by CAB have never been so important, nor have they been so widely used. Last year alone, the Basildon District CAB helped 8,354 clients with 15,435 different issues.”

The CAB is committed to educating people on their rights and responsibilities on issues spanning from debt and employment to housing and immigration. In addition to providing this one on one advice, they are also influencing policy, providing Parliament with a finger on the pulse of every local community.

Stephen added: “What is truly remarkable about this service are the volunteers that make it happen. Nationwide, CAB’s rely on 21,500 volunteers. In the Basildon branch, 81% of staff are volunteers who willingly give up their time to help with administration, reception, IT, marketing, PR, fundraising and interpreting.

Without their dedication and hard work, the CAB would simply not exist and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every volunteer.”

The CAB is always on the lookout for new volunteers. Indeed, nationwide, 5,000 new recruits are needed each year to continue to meet the needs of local communities. Training is free, expenses are paid and one third of the volunteers who leave the service go onto full time education or employment.

If you are interested in joining this incredible team of volunteers, please visit http://www.bascab.org.uk/Volunteer/ to find out more.

Stephen Metcalfe MP meets residents at the Orsett Show

Stephen Metcalfe MP at the Orsett Show

Last Saturday, Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon and East Thurrock, spent a busy day meeting and chatting with residents as he manned a stall at the Orsett show.

Stephen and his team handed out hundreds of leaflets, spoke to numerous passers-by and even provided free balloons to keep the children entertained.

As ever, the show itself was highly successful, with thousands of people attending the day’s events and soaking up the cheerful atmosphere and bright sunshine.

In addition to the traditional county show events, people could also enjoy activities such as Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting, pony riding and a fun fair, as well as being entertained with various arena events, including a spectacular stunt show.

Stephen said “There’s an awful lot of organisation that goes into the events and the committee should be congratulated on another successful show.”

“This is the fourth time we have taken a stall at the show simply to make ourselves available to anyone who wants to talk to us.”

“The Orsett Show is one of Thurrock’s great traditions, one which I hope will continue to prosper and grow.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes Foyer Residents to Parliament

Stephen Metcalfe MP with Foyer Residents and Staff

Stephen Metcalfe, the Member of Parliament for South Basildon and East Thurrock welcomes a delegation of young people from the two Swan Housing Foyers in Basildon to Parliament.

The Foyers offer supported accommodation for homeless young people between the ages of 16-25. The key aims of the foyers’ work are focused on helping residents gain access to education, employment, training and supporting their personal development. The overall aim is to break the cycle of homelessness, lack of education and unemployment.

The visit was prompted by Swan House Foyer resident, Summer Downes who wrote to Stephen on her 18^th birthday, the age at which UK citizens can vote, to ask to meet him.

After the visit, Stephen said “It was great to be able to welcome a group of young people from the Swan House Foyers to Parliament yesterday for a tour and to hear their views about democracy and Government.”

“Following the tour we had an excellent question and answers session where they asked me some very good and probing questions.”

“I hope they enjoyed their day and found it a worthwhile and enlightening experience – I know I did.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP attends the 2012 Essex International Scout and Guide Jamboree



Stephen Metcalfe MP with volunteers
Kieron from Chelmsford and Rachael from Carlisle.



Earlier this week, Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, had the privilege of attending the Scout and Guide Essex International Jamboree.

Every four years volunteers from Scout and Guide groups across Essex come together to organise this event which sees thousands of Guides and Scouts aged between 10 and 18 join together for a week of fun and freedom at the Chelmsford campsite. 

The energetic programme of events provides young people from all over the world with the opportunity to make new friends, share new adventures and experience the worldwide unity of the Scouting organisation. This year alone saw participants from Algeria to Australia and from Sierra Leone to Sweden.

Stephen commented: ‘It was fantastic to attend the 2012 international jamboree. To see thousands of young people coming together from all over world was a truly unique experience and one which epitomises the incredible work of the Scouting organisation’

‘This year’s theme, ‘our world, our future’ could not have been more apt. The Scouts and Guides across the country provide an invaluable service and our communities are all the better for local Scouting groups. It is a tradition that I hope will continue for many years to come.’

‘I would like to add my sincere thanks to all of the volunteers involved in the Scouts and Guides for their hard work and dedication. Without them, events such as this would simply not be possible’.

Stephen Metcalfe MP Holds Frost Estate Public Meeting

Earlier this week, over 170 people attended a meeting held by local MP Stephen Metcalfe to discuss the condition of the roads in the Frost Estate, Corringham.

Due to high levels of correspondence on the issue, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock was keen to meet residents in person to discuss practical ways in which the problems can be solved.

Many issues were discussed at the meeting including, the poor condition of the roads, the potential cost of improving their condition and the damage caused by Council refuse lorries. As a result, a number of residents have volunteered to form a steering group with the ultimate aim of ensuring that the roads are fit for purpose.

After the meeting, Stephen said: “I was delighted to see such a high turnout at this meeting. If we are to solve the problems with the roads on the Frost Estate we must work together and it was extremely encouraging to see so many people willing to do this.”

“The steering group will be vital in the success of meeting the community’s aims and I will of course support the residents in whatever way I can. I will begin by contacting Thurrock Council to see if they can use the lighter refuse lorries in the Frost Estate to prevent further deterioration of the roads.

“I think we are on track for a community led solution and I will continue to support the residents in achieving their aims. I look forward to seeing the results on the Frost Estate in the near future.”