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Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. I’m sure we’ve all been digging out our woolly jumpers and thermals this week as winter officially arrives, but that hasn’t stopped plenty of activity both here and in Westminster. From supporting families and children to meeting local community groups and tackling safety concerns, it’s been a busy few days. I was delighted to announce the next phase of our free breakfast clubs this week, helping children start the day with a healthy meal and saving families money. Neighbourhood policing has been a key focus too, with efforts to tackle dangerous illegal bikes, anti-social behaviour, and improving police visibility. Road safety has also been on the agenda, including my campaign for improvements on the A34 slip roads. At the national level, the Labour government is taking steps to improve access to healthcare for everyone in our community. To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and in the constituency, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram. |
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Expanding Support for Families Breakfast clubs do wonders for children’s attainment and attendance, setting them up for the day with a nutritious breakfast and providing that smooth transition into the start of the school day. It also provides parents with 30 minutes of free childcare a day, saving them as much as £450 a year. The aim is to roll out free breakfast clubs across England by the end of the Parliament, and I’m looking forward to working with schools and families to deliver this brilliant programme. Applications are now open for the new phase of schools to join the programme, and I’d encourage all eligible schools to apply here. Community Policing Update Residents continue to raise concerns with me about antisocial behaviour, and in particular the use of illegal e-bikes, scramblers and scooters. So I was pleased recently to meet with our Local Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker and hear that the police locally continue to prioritise the seizure of dangerous illegal bikes. We also discussed how the boost in neighbourhood policing numbers is helping to increase police visibility. However, Felicity highlighted a concerning increase in the use of slingshots – please do get in touch if this is something you are seeing locally. Road Safety and A34 Slip Roads This Road Safety Awareness Week, I was proud to stand with communities in Reading West and Mid Berkshire to call for safer streets for everyone. I also had the opportunity to speak to BBC Radio Berkshire on Thursday about the dangerous A34 slip roads at East Ilsley and Beedon and the safety review National Highways are currently taking thanks to my campaign. The review itself is expected to finish after Christmas, and I will continue pushing for improvements to be made as soon as possible. Road Safety Week goes beyond my A34 slip roads campaign, as I want everyone in our community to feel safe on all of our roads. Together, we can make sure every journey – whether on foot, bike, or car – is a safe one. Labour’s upcoming Road Safety Strategy will be the first national plan in over a decade to tackle these issues head-on. It’s about saving lives, reducing injuries, and restoring confidence in our roads. Improving Access to Healthcare On International Men’s Day on Wednesday, I welcomed the launch of Labour’s Men’s Health Strategy, a bold plan to tackle the physical and mental health challenges faced by men and boys in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for men under 50 so central to the strategy is a £3.6 million government investment over the next three years in suicide prevention projects for men. This includes a partnership with the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative and the Samaritans, helping to tackle stigma and encourage men to seek support early. This is an important step towards ensuring men and boys have access to the mental health resources and support networks they need to live healthier, longer lives. Alongside this, the freeze on prescription charges announced today will ensure that everyone who needs regular medication can access it without added financial pressure. This will put money back in the pockets of people across our community who rely on prescription medication every day. Rotary Club Visit It was a pleasure to meet members of the Rotary Club of Reading Matins at Cobbs in Englefield on Wednesday. We discussed a range of topics including the importance of the improvements the Government is making to the NHS, the new powers for the police to crack down on illegal bikes and tackling speeding traffic in our villages. I was really impressed to hear about the work that the Club do supporting a wide range of charities both locally and internationally. If you are interested in getting involved you can find out more at www.rotaryreadingmatins.org.uk With best wishes for the week ahead, Olivia |