A comment on Mims' activities through the week, and the latest news from Parliament.
As predicted, last week brought more snow than our area has seen for quite some years. I am in no doubt that this would have been an exciting time for local children as they built snowmen, and continued to see the fun side of snowfall! I would personally like to extend my thanks to all of those who ensured that everyday activities carried on as far as was possible given the elements, and particularly those watching out for elderly neighbours, friends and family members as temperatures dropped to -6 degrees. I would also like to thanks constituents for their understanding at having last week’s tour of Parliament postponed owing to the weather conditions.
Having spoken with organisers behind World Book Day, I was aware of the effect that the snow was going to have on the ability of schools across the country to mark World Book Day. While a snow day is the perfect opportunity for people to snuggle up with their child/grandchild/niece/nephew and share a story together, I hope that those schools unable to mark the importance of reading last week will be able to rearrange those celebrations for another date.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, it was great to learn that this charity has inspired six out of ten children aged 8-11 to read more. An astonishing one in four children say that the book they ‘bought’ with their 2016 £1 World Book Day book token was the first book they have had of their own. Some of my favourite authors as a youngster included Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter, but now my favourite book is Austen’s classic ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
Just as reading plays a vital part in a child’s development, it is also true that a good understanding of maths is vital to our younger people as they prepare step out in to the world of work. It is with this in mind that the Government is offering local schools across the Eastleigh constituency £600 for every extra student that takes Maths beyond GCSE.
This next step will build upon the work already carried out by the Government, and I welcome that 1.9 million more students are attending schools rated good or outstanding, compared with 2010. This equates to 87 per cent of children compared to 66 per cent seven years ago.
Many of those that leave school will now look to go in to an apprenticeship, and as we approach the end of National Apprenticeship Week, I would like to recognise the important role that Eastleigh College and other similar organisations play in supporting apprenticeships locally. In fact, over 6000 apprenticeship start-ups have been delivered in the Eastleigh constituency since 2010, and by 2020 (2019/20) annual apprenticeship investment in England will be £2.45 billion. Double what it was in 2010!
Locally, I am pleased to have a great working relationship with Eastleigh College and other providers of apprenticeships, and look forward to organising an ‘Apprenticeship Fair’ later this year. For more details, be sure to keep an eye on my website www.mimsdavies.org.uk !
I have always been passionate about getting more women in to apprenticeships, and this is particularly poignant having yesterday celebrated International Women’s Day. 2018 is of course a particularly special year for the celebration of women in the UK, as we continue to mark the 100 year centenary since the first women won the right to vote in UK elections.
The key theme of this year's International Women's Day is ‘Press for Progress’. I have spoken loudly over the real need to continue the push for gender equality, and I particularly welcome that the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, has launched a £1.5 million fund to support people, particularly women, back into work after time out looking after children and other relatives.
Finally, as daffodils continue to bloom across our area this March, I am reminded of the important status that this flower holds as the emblem of Marie Curie and the excellent work that it as an organisation, and the people that work with it, carry out caring for people living with a terminal illness.
I have personally experienced the weight that expert palliative care, such as that provided by Marie Curie nurses, can lift off the shoulders of both the individuals themselves, as well as that person’s family members or carers. I would personally like to thank local Marie Curie nurses, and all of the volunteers that support this organisation and the work that it carries out.
March is the month in which thousands of volunteers across the UK will be collecting for Marie Curie, when you can donate to this really important cause and also demonstrate your support by proudly wearing one of their distinctive daffodil badges.
Marie Curie are always looking for volunteers, and if you would like to lend your support locally, please visit https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/collecting#alisonhero
Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s piece. I’ll continue to put all of my updates onto my website and on social media, and as always, I look forward to keeping you updated via this local column.