Stephen Metcalfe MP pays his respects to fallen soldiers

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, paid his respects to fallen soldiers this week at a Remembrance Sunday service in Pitsea Church Hall. The local MP also joined veterans at the local Tesco branch earlier in the week to sell poppies.

During the moving service Mr Metcalfe laid a wreath of poppies at the memorial before joining the community in a two minutes silence.

He said: “It was a privilege to join local residents in remembering the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in wars past and present. Their heroic deeds changed this nation forever and it is vitally important that we take a moment to remember this.”

Earlier in the week Mr Metcalfe joined local veterans at Pitsea Tesco to encourage shoppers to buy a poppy and support the Poppy Appeal. This year, the appeal is focusing on the range of work the British Legion does to support Armed Forces families, whether they are families of personnel on active service, of those currently in transition from military to civilian life, or of veterans. 

The MP added: “Each poppy sold helps the Royal British Legion support the British Armed Forces past and present and their families.  Remembrance Sunday may have passed but there are still plenty of ways to show your support for our Armed Services and I would encourage all those who can to do so.” 

For further information on how you can give to the Poppy Appeal and support the families of armed servicemen and women, please visit: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Stephen Metcalfe MP joins young engineers for Big Bang @ Parliament

Stephen with Selex ES at the 2013 Big Bang Fair

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, recently joined young engineers from across the country to get a taste of The Big Bang Fair in Parliament.

The Big Bang Fair is Europe’s largest science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) event for young people and Big Bang @ Parliament aimed to give politicians, policy-makers and the business community the chance to meet award-winning young scientists and engineers, and experience the careers inspiration behind The Big Bang Fair on their own turf.

Young winners of the regional stage of the National Science + Engineering Competition  showcased a range of exciting projects to guests and MPs. Pupils’ projects tackled issues from global problems, such as bee sustainability and water purification in third world countries, to technological innovations, including a transporter robot and an interactive bin. The finalists are competing for the titles of UK Young Scientist of the Year and UK Young Engineer of the Year, which will be awarded  at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair in Birmingham in March next year.

Alongside the engineers of the future, some of the UK’s leading engineering business and industry, BAE Systems, Balfour Beatty, Jaguar Land Rover and UTC Aerospace Systems, were there to help demonstrate the variety of careers that studying STEM subjects can lead to.

The Big Bang @ Parliament was part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, a collaboration between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the engineering community. The aim of the Week is to bring engineering to life for young people and to promote the message that engineering offers rewarding, creative and well-paid job opportunities for young men and women, in a broad range of dynamic environments like music, sport, computer gaming, construction, fashion, film special effects and environmental technology.

The local MP said: “It was fantastic to see young people so enthusiastic about STEM subjects and to see them looking at how to apply STEM to some of the world’s most pressing issues. I joined local firm Selex ES at this year’s Big Bang Fair so it was great to see it brought to Parliament. This is an area I am extremely passionate about and I hope to see more and more young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock aspiring to be engineers and scientists.”

“In order for this to happen, we must excite young people about the range of great careers that science, technology, engineering and maths subjects can lead to. That’s what The Big Bang and Tomorrow’s Engineers is all about and why Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is such a valuable initiative.” 

The UK Big Bang Fair will take place on 13-16 March 2014 at The NEC, Birmingham. For further information or to register go to www.thebigbangfair.co.uk

Stephen Metcalfe MP joins local apprentices to launch 2014 Youth Rocketry Challenge

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, teamed up with apprentices from Selex ES and the broader aerospace industry last Wednesday to take part in a rocket launching competition.

Supported by the Science and Technology Committee, the competition celebrated the launch of the 2014 UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC) which sees teams of students aged 11-18 years old design, build and launch their own rockets to exacting specifications.

The event coincides with Tomorrow’s Engineers Week – a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) initiative to showcase the many exciting engineering careers options available to young people.

Earlier this week Professor John Perkins, the chief scientific advisor to BIS published his Review of Engineering Skills. The Review, highlighting the importance of engineers to the UK economy, recommends that government, industry, the engineering profession and the education sector work together to inspire young people into engineering. The UKAYRoC is an important initiative to achieve this, and has become increasingly influential in enthusing young people about the variety of opportunities on offer in the aerospace sector. Next year’s challenge is set to be bigger than ever before, with places for 150 teams to take part.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “The event offered a fantastic opportunity to meet with some of the bright, ambitious young people that are just starting their engineering careers. The Rocketry Challenge is a brilliant way to show more students in the area what fun engineering really is, and I am keen to encourage as many schools and colleges from South Basildon and East Thurrock to enter the 2014 challenge.”

Speaking at the event, Paul Everitt, chief executive of aerospace trade organisation, ADS Group commented: “The Rocketry Challenge is a unique initiative to ignite enthusiasm for our sectors. We believe the challenge has an important role to play in galvanising more young people to take up careers in the aerospace sector, ultimately helping the UK take advantage of the significant growth opportunities available as air travel continues to increase.”

Apprentices from Airbus, Astrium, Axis Electronics, Cobham, GE Aviation, GKN, Marshall Aerospace and Defence, MEP, Raytheon UK, RLC Engineering, Selex ES and UTC Aerospace Systems were on hand on the day to support their MP team leader in the successful launch of the rocket. 

Schools can find out more about the Challenge at www.ukayroc.org.

Stephen Metcalfe MP celebrates 150 years of football in England

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, joined colleagues from across the House last week to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of The Football Association and to learn more about the connections between elite and grassroots football.

The local MP was invited to join England Manager Roy Hodgson and FA Chairman Greg Dyke at the special event in parliament to celebrate this landmark anniversary and to get a better understanding of how The FA supports football in England.

Mr Metcalfe, who was photographed at the event with The FA Cup, said: “Football has come such a long way since that first meeting back in 1863 which created the first laws of the game.”

“Today it plays a huge part in the lives of millions across the country and whilst it’s great to see so many people in South Basildon and East Thurrock enjoying the game, I think more can be done to support grassroots football. This is something I will be looking into.”

In England there are seven million players of all ages and backgrounds who regularly play the game, as well as 400,000 volunteers, 300,000 coaches and 27,000 referees.

Stephen added: “I would like to thank all the volunteers, coaches, and referees in South Basildon and East Thurrock for giving up their time and energy so that people can play football. The life skills gained from being in a team are invaluable and I know players in the  local area appreciate your hard work.” 

For more information about how to get involved in football whether through playing, coaching or refereeing please visit: http://www.thefa.com/my-football

Stephen Metcalfe MP: Real help for energy consumers unlike Labour’s price freeze con!

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, urges constituents to arm themselves with information from the latest Government guide: Helping Consumers with Energy.

The guide is a simple brochure that explains the range of support and help available to householders, and where to go for more information and advice. The full brochure can be downloaded via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/helping-consumers-with-energy

It includes information on the Government’s Winter Fuel Payment; the Warm Home Discount Scheme which will provide over 2 million households, including over 600,000 vulnerable pensioners, with a £135 discount on their electricity bills; and Cold Weather Payments which have been permanently increased from £8.50 to £25, helping the most vulnerable when extremely cold weather strikes.

Stephen said: “Despite the well-publicised differences of opinion in the House of Commons about energy policy, consumers across the country are looking for guidance and leadership this winter. I am delighted that the Government have responded with this brochure. It is packed with useful information that will help people in South Basildon and East Thurrock manage their energy consumption and bills.”

He added: “If you are worried about your energy bills, I would also encourage you to contact the Energy Savings Advice Service which has been contracted by DECC to offer helpful and impartial advice. The number to call is 0300 123 1234.”

Stephen continued: “This is real action to help real people, unlike Labours smoke and mirrors con-trick about freezing energy bills until 2017 if they win the next election.”

“Labours much heralded policy of a price freeze is simply a price con. Prices would go up before it comes in and after it ends. Ed Miliband has said he would break his promise during the freeze if there’s a wholesale price rise and in addition, he wants a decarbonisation target that would add £125 to every household's bill. Labour doubled gas bills in office and their policies now would put them up again.” 

“I of course recognise that this is a very tough time for many families across the country and the Government is doing all it can to help people in this difficult economic climate. The Prime Minister made a personal commitment to help get energy bills down and the regulator has recently announced that it is taking forward a package of measures to help reduce bills and make the energy market fairer, clearer and simpler.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes Basildon’s twinned town to Parliament

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, welcomed local delegates from Basildon’s twinned town in Heiligenhaus, Germany to Parliament last week.

The party from Germany included the Heiligenhaus Deputy Mayor, Heinz Peter Schreven, leader of the ruling CDU group on the town’s Council, Cllr Thorsten Thus, and Cllr Ralf Herre. 

The local MP gave the guests a tour of the Palace of Westminster and discussed with them various ways in which the ties between the two towns can be strengthened. He later commented: “It was fantastic to have delegates from Basildon’s twinned town come to visit. It symbolises the friendship of our two towns and indeed our two nations.”

Basildon is also twinned with Ville de Meaux in France in a tradition stretching back almost a century in the UK, symbolising a post-war spirit of reconciliation.  Now the twinning acts as a source of enrichment with school trips, exchanges, and leisure and sporting activities between Basildon and its twinned towns.

The local MP added: “Among many other things we discussed a project currently being organised to mark the 100^th anniversary of the First World War next year which will create ever stronger ties between Basildon, Heiligenhaus, and Ville de Meaux.” 

“This is extremely exciting for Basildon and I look forward to telling everyone more about it in the near future.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP celebrates local charity champions

In the run-up to this year’s Trustees’ Week, Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, is thanking local charity trustees for their dedicated work in running local charities, and highlighting the benefits of becoming a charity trustee.

There are hundreds of charities in South Basildon and East Thurrock, covering a wide range of activities and services but all depend on the trustees that oversee their work, most of whom are volunteers. Trustees’ Week raises awareness of the work they do, and also highlights how people can benefit themselves by becoming trustees, through gaining valuable experience and skills.

Mr Metcalfe said: “We have some fantastic local charities doing really important work and their trustees are integral to this success. As we approach Trustees’ Week I want to pay tribute to the tireless work they undertake to help others and keep the charity sector in South Basildon and East Thurrock so vibrant and strong.    

“I would also encourage as many people as possible to consider becoming a trustee. Being a charity trustee is a great way of learning new skills and gaining valuable experience, and could lead to new opportunities and employment. Estimates suggest that almost half of charities have at least one vacancy on their board so there’s an organisation for you, whatever your age or background.” 

Trustees’ Week runs from 4-10 November 2013. To learn more about Trustees’ Week and trusteeship, visit www.trusteesweek.org.uk and follow @trusteesweek.  The website includes case studies, recruitment resources, details of local events being held during Trustees’ Week and links to trustee matching services for those who want to become a trustee.