Stephen Metcalfe MP meets the next generation of local Olympians

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, joined double Olympic bronze medallist Max Whitlock at Basildon Sporting Village to demonstrate his support for the local facility and for the tremendous array of talented gymnasts who train there.

The local MP was given a tour of the Village before meeting some of the young gymnasts who train there. It is hoped that many will follow in the footsteps of local hero Max Whitlock to one day compete at an Olympic Games.

The Olympic medallist travels one hour each day to the train at the sporting village 5 times a week, a testament to the fantastic facilities on offer. The Sporting Village extended its Olympic links in 2012 by hosting the Japanese swim team.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “I was blown away by the talent and dedication of the young athletes and of the coaching staff. They work extremely hard to be the best that they can be at their sport and I have no doubt that we will see other world class gymnasts emerging from Basildon.” 

“We should be extremely proud to have such a state of the art sporting complex in the local area. These facilities combined with local inspirational figures such as Max have created a legacy of excellence that I hope will continue for many generations to come.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP hears from GPs and patients at Horndon-On-The-Hill

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, visited GPs and the patient participation group at The Surgery on Horndon-on-the-Hill recently to gain an insight in to the day-to-day workings of a GP practice.

His visit forms part of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) MP-GP practice visit scheme which encourages MPs from across the political spectrum to visit local surgeries to see the challenged and opportunities facing general practice.

The local MP has been extremely active on issues surrounding healthcare in the constituency having met with patient participation groups in a number of surgeries in South Basildon and East Thurrock.

Stephen commented: “The BMA are right to stress the importance of MPs engaging with the medical profession. In order to improve health care for the whole country, MPs must keep themselves up to date with the issues affecting front line health care and general practice.”

“During the meeting, Dr Pattara and Dr Raja expressed concerns about proposals to open surgeries from 8am to 8pm. I am very conscious of the fact that these proposals need to consider small practices such as this one and as such, I have written to the Department for Health to ask how the needs of smaller practices will be incorporated.” 

He added: “We had an extremely useful exchange at The Surgery and I was delighted to hear the patient participation group singing the praises of the GPs and staff. It was extremely informative to get the perspective of both patients and medical practitioners and I look forward to my continued engagement with them.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP congratulates children for art competition entries

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and Thurrock, has congratulated all entrants of The Laboratory Art Studio children’s art competition after judging the entries last weekend.

The competition was open to children and young people under the age of 16 living in Essex with the theme of Woodlands and Wildlife.

An exhibition of all the entrants work was proudly displayed at The Green Centre, War Tyler Park and was open to the public to view.

The local MP, along with 3 other judges, congratulated all participants before announcing 3 winners in 3 different categories.

The local MP commented: “The competition offered a great way for young people to reconnect with nature in the local area and then to reproduce their experiences in these wonderful works of art.” 

“The standard of entries was fantastic and I would like to congratulate all those who took part. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the exhibition as I know many members of the public did and I hope that every young artist will come away with a great sense of pride in what they have achieved.” 

Stephen Metcalfe MP joins Paralympians to show support for social care and disabled people

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock,  joined double Gold medallist wheelchair athlete Hannah Cockroft and Paralympian Sam Ruddock at an event in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, to show his support for social care for disabled people. 

The event, organised by disability charity Scope, was part of its ‘Britain Cares’ Campaign, which is calling on the Government to ensure that over 100,000 disabled people do not lose out on vital social care support which enables them to live independent, fulfilling lives.

The Care Bill will be debated by MPs in the House of Commons for the first time in the coming weeks.

While the debate on social care has focussed on the demands of an ageing population, one third of social care users are working age disabled people.  However research by Scope has found that currently 4 in 10 disabled people who receive social care support say it does not meet their basic needs.

So far almost 30,000 people have contacted their MPs in support of ‘Britain Cares’ campaign, and on Tuesday Mr Metcalfe  viewed an art installation of the hundreds of ‘I care’ photos, some of which were sent in from constituents in South Basildon and East Thurrock.

The local MP commented: “I was delighted to meet with Paralympians Hannah Cockroft and Sam Ruddock and to learn about how important the issue of good social care is to my constituents.”

“As a Conservative MP I am proud that the Government’s Care Bill will introduce a new, modern law for a care system built around people’s wellbeing.

As the Bill passes through the House of Commons, it is important that all MPs remember that one third of care users are working age disabled people and that social care must support them to live fulfilling, independent lives.”

Paralympic double Gold medallist Hannah Cockroft said:  “I am proud to give my support to the ‘Britain Cares’ campaign and to raise awareness of why social care is so important for disabled people. Social care supports thousands of disabled people to do the things that many take for granted – like getting dressed, washing, eating, or getting out and about to the shops.” 

“As a Paralympian, I am adding my voice to the tens of thousands who have already shown us that ‘Britain Cares’ about social care.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP celebrates St Cedds Day with Secretary of State

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, joined Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and fellow Essex MP Eric Pickles to celebrate St Cedds Day.

St Cedd is patron saint of Essex and represents many of the values that have come to be synonymous with the County.

The patron saint was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop, instrumental in bringing Christianity to Essex. He also helped to resolve problems in the Church of England and built various monasteries around the County, one of which – Tilaburg – was probably built in East or West Tilbury.

The local MP commented: “I imagine that St Cedds Day will go unmarked throughout Essex, many don’t know we even have a patron saint, but St Cedds Day provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that is great about Essex. The people of Essex are known for their self-reliance, their directness, and  their entrepreneurial spirit – all of which are qualities St Cedd would have embodied.” 

“I am extremely proud to be from Essex and to represent an Essex constituency – I hope the people of South Basildon and East Thurrock are too and I hope to see St Cedds day celebrated more widely in the years to come!”

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes new figures showing an increase in businesses in Essex and South East

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed new figures indicating an increase in the number of private sector businesses in the South East and Essex.

The number of businesses in the South East has increased by around 58,350 over the past three years whilst the New Enterprise Allowance is seeing business thrive in Essex.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “These figures are great news for everyone in South Basildon and East Thurrock. Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people, the British economy is now turning a corner. There is still more to do and that is why in 2014 this Government will slash the jobs tax on all businesses with a new £2,000 Employment Allowance. This will see 450,000 small businesses paying no jobs tax at all. Conservatives are committed to securing a recovery that works for all hardworking people.”

After being questioned by the local MP in the House of Commons last week, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions informed Mr Metcalfe that the New Enterprise Allowance scheme has helped start 500 new businesses in Essex.

The New Enterprise Allowance is a package of Government support worth £69 million designed to help create tens of thousands of new businesses. Recent statistics suggest that around 2,000 new businesses are being set up every month.

The new funding includes:

• Business mentoring and funding for people who are unemployed but want to start up a company. The New Enterprise Allowance will be extended for new starters up until the end of 2014, providing an additional 60,000 mentoring places for claimants. The scheme has already helped to create more than 26,000 businesses.
• £34 million for Start-Up Loans that will support around 7,600 businesses. The scheme has already proved incredibly popular with around 35,000 people formally registering an interest in a loan and nearly 8,000 start-ups helped.

The new funding will also ensure there are more loans for those over 30 and specific support for ex-Service personnel. The  Allowance is being extended with new referrals being accepted for an additional 15 months until the end of December 2014. Over this period an additional 60,000 mentoring places will be made available to claimants.

Start ups in Essex include the extremely successful ‘Brainbuzz’ which helps educate parents on how to help children with disorders such as dyslexia.

Mr Metcalfe added: “The New Enterprise Allowance is a fantastic scheme offering substantial sums of money to those wishing to start up a business. I am delighted that applications are being accepted for an extended people and I hope that eligible people in South Basildon and East Thurrock will make the most of the opportunity available.” 

For further information on The New Enterprise Allowance see: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance/

Stephen Metcalfe MP backs engineering in South Basildon and East Thurrock

This week Stephen Metcalfe MP pledged his continued support for engineering in South Basildon and East Thurrock at an event in Parliament hosted by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Ahead of the forthcoming ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers Week’ (#TEWeek13), the local MP committed to working with schools and industry in South Basildon and East Thurrock to encourage more young people, particularly women, to pursue careers in engineering.

IET President Barry Brooks said: “Engineering underpins our everyday lives but we are facing a serious skills shortage. We urgently need to encourage more young people to take the right subjects at school and then progress into jobs in the engineering sector. I hope that, through the range of activity taking place for Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, we will be able to show how diverse, creative and exciting a career in modern engineering can be.”

Speaking at the IET’s Parliamentary event on 22 October, Mr Metcalfe said: “It will be this next generation of engineers and technicians who help to solve the challenges that we face in the 21^st century such as devising ways to protect the environment, including suitable sources of energy, more efficient transport and other infrastructure, all to make for a better society and a stronger economy.”

“Engineering is part of everyday life and engineers make a world of difference. Engineers work in jobs as diverse as designing new hair care products, providing safer drinking water, designing stage lighting rigs and new mobile phones, and inventing new cars and space travel. I will be doing all that I can to show young people in my constituency what a great career engineering could be for them.”

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week takes place from 4th-8^th November 2013 and is a collaborative effort between industry and government.  The campaign aims to change outdated perceptions about engineering careers among young people, their parents and teachers and will demonstrate the relevance of engineering to young people’s everyday lives.

Mr Metcalfe, who has been an ardent supporter of STEM subjects in South Basildon and East Thurrock, added: “Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is an important campaign and I am delighted to support it. There are many engineering employers within my constituency, including, and I have seen first-hand the contribution that young engineers are making to those companies and to our local economy.”

According to EngineeringUK, engineering companies will have 2.74 million job openings between 2010 and 2020 across a diverse range of disciplines. However far too few school children, particularly girls, are choosing the GCSEs, A Levels, Apprenticeships, degrees or other vocational pathways that will lead to engineering careers. 

For further information about Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and to find out how to get involved, visit www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk