Dear Friend,
First of all, a huge thank you to all of you who have written to me with offers of support for the Ukrainian people. I am proud to represent a constituency where local residents want to help as much as they can. Thank you. 🙏🏽
🇺🇦 Here is how you can help:
The Government has now launched its humanitarian sponsorship scheme which will enable local people to support refugees coming into various parts of Britain.
👉🏽 There is no limit to how many Ukrainians can benefit.
👉🏽 Applicants can live, work and use public services in the UK for up to 3 years.
👉🏽 There is £350 monthly payment to hosts.
👉🏽 You need to name the refugee you will sponsor.
Please note that my office cannot arrange this for you. The only way to offer support is through the following website: homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk.
As Parliament rises for the Easter recess, please allow me to share with you what I have been up to over the past few weeks:
⚓ Questioning key officials on P&O sackings ⚓
I am appalled by the despicable decision of P&O to leave 800 crew devastated. The company’s contempt for seafarers will sink our proud maritime heritage unless the Government acts. ✍🏽 Read my article here.
🗣️ My Business Select Committee and the Transport Select Committee held an urgent P&O evidence session in the Commons. You can watch it here.
🏡 Holding a parliamentary debate on housing numbers in Wealden 🏡
I receive a lot of correspondence on planning in Wealden, and I recognise the level of frustration at the current housing targets for the constituency. When and where new homes are built is always a controversial subject, but I am concerned about the unachievably high numbers for Wealden and about the data behind the current methods used for the housing need calculations.
Having lobbied the Department of Housing since 2015, I have had meetings with many Housing Ministers over the years and a huge amount of work is going on behind the scenes to address the current situation. I continue working with Wealden District Council and the Department of Housing and at the beginning of March, I led a parliamentary debate to raise the matter with the Minister.
🇬🇧 Chairing parliamentary debates 🇬🇧
Before the parliamentary term drew to a close, I chaired a debate relating to support for new adoptive parents. The debate considered equal access to parental leave for adoptive parents and called for the Government to ensure that statutory adoption pay is available to a self-employed parent in the same way that maternity allowance is available for self-employed new mums. Read more here.
🌍 Hosting the COP26 President in Eridge, Hailsham and Lower Dicker 🌍
It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the COP26 President, the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP to Wealden. During his visit, the President:
🌳 Planted a tree in Eridge Park as of the Queen’s Green Canopy marking the Platinum Jubilee year.
🎓 Spoke to Hailsham Community College students about UK’s work on tackling climate change and green jobs.
🚛 Visited a fantastic local business based in Lower Dicker near Hailsham who are assembling emission-free vans on site, whilst providing vital apprenticeship opportunities for young Wealden engineers.
🏥 Successful campaign to reopen the MIU in Crowborough 🏥
It is fantastic news that following my representations to the Trust and continuous collaboration with The Friends of Crowborough Hospital, this much valued, vital service for Crowborough community has now reopened. It is a great win, but I vow to keep fighting for it should any further closure proposals resurface again.
🚂 Opening the newly refurbished Eridge train station 🚂
It was a pleasure to welcome the rail Minister to Wealden to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Eridge station. I am delighted to have secured this multi-million-pound funding to ensure that Eridge station is fully step free, accessible to all Wealden commuters and fit for the future. I look forward to seeing similar works completed at Crowborough station later this year!
🚂 Supporting a bid for Uckfield as the new GBR HQ 🚂
I welcome the Department of Transport's competition to identify the future headquarters of the new Great British Railways organisation and I have written to the Leader of Wealden District Council supporting a bid for Uckfield. Read more here.
🏠 Supporting a new co-housing model in Wadhurst 🏠
Renovations have now begun on Pond House in Wadhurst - a beautiful new home to help young adults with learning disabilities live within the community and gain greater independence. If you can, please support The Mount Camphill Community and this fantastic pioneering new model of provision through a fundraiser to help with the refurbishment. Read more here.
☕ 🍰 Supporting Age We Care Horam Day Club 🍰 ☕
It was a pleasure to visit Horam and meet the fantastic volunteers who help run the Day Club, which provides a fantastic opportunity for older residents to meet other people, make new friends and have fun in a safe and happy environment. They are always looking for volunteers to help, as well as people who would benefit from coming to the club, so please click here to find out more and do get in touch with them if you are interested in joining.
📚 Visiting Wealden schools 📚
Outside of everyday parliamentary scrutiny, I have also been quizzed by Wealden students of all ages! I visited Uckfield College Sixth Form students, Year 5 students at Ashdown Primary School in Crowborough, Grove Park Sixth Form students in Crowborough, and Bede’s students in Upper Dicker, to discuss everyday life in Westminster, my role and duties as an MP, my international campaigns as well as those at home in Wealden, and how to encourage more people to run for Parliament – especially women!
🇬🇧 Hosting Wealden schools in Westminster 🇬🇧
I’m pleased that parliamentary tours have now resumed, and it was fantastic to welcome Blackboys Primary School, Fletching Primary School, Park Mead Primary School and Framfield Primary School to Parliament this term, for a first-hand experience of our democratic processes.
🎓 Championing Hailsham Community College Careers Fair 🎓
Hailsham Community College Careers Fair is a key event for local employers looking to recruit and a great opportunity for Wealden students to network and explore different career choices. I have been sponsoring the event since 2015 and I was delighted that it took place in-person again this year. Thank you to all the Wealden business who attended and showcased local job opportunities! Read more here.
🛋️ Opening a new furniture store in Hailsham 🛋️
I was pleased to take part in the opening of the newly renovated Furniture Now! store on Hailsham High Street. Furniture Now! is a non-profit social enterprise which redistributes a percentage of its annual surplus to local charities and voluntary groups. The new store is easily accessible and boasts a wide range of fantastic, low-cost furniture and appliances, encouraging Wealden residents to recycle and reuse. I look forward to watching it thrive in this exciting new location! Read more here.
🎉🇬🇧 Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Wealden 🎉🇬🇧
In June, we will be celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which will mark 70 years of Her Majesty’s devoted service to the nation and to the Commonwealth. This will be a unique occasion - the first Platinum Jubilee to be celebrated by our Sovereign!
This landmark moment is a fantastic opportunity for Wealden communities to come together in celebration and I would like to use my website as a platform to showcase the best of Wealden celebrations. If you are hosting any festivities within your community, please do let me know!
☎️ Contact ☎️
If you need my assistance regarding a particular issue, please email me at nusrat.ghani.mp@parliament.uk and provide as much information as possible about your query.