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Alex Norris MP's Weekly Newsletter

Member of Parliament for Nottingham North
1st June 2018
Issue #47
Welcome to the latest issue of my weekly newsletter.

This week is Parliamentary recess – the last short one before Summer – and as such I’ve been in Nottingham all week, meeting with local people and groups to discuss the issues that are most important to us locally. It always makes a very nice change from the hectic weeks in Westminster when national issues can seem to take over. And tomorrow we have a very important annual event – find out what below.

Read on to find out how what my week’s involved…

As I’ve said before, I will strive to send you a newsletter like this each Friday to keep you updated on the work I’m doing in Parliament as well as in our community, and to inform you of any interesting events taking place in our area. To help me with the latter, if you are running or know of anything that you think may be of interest to others, feel free to drop me an email at alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk and I will include it in future issues. Please also forward it onto anyone you think may be interested.

Nottingham North Funder’s Fair – Tomorrow at Bulwell Riverside, 10.30am

Nottingham North is one of the most challenged constituencies in the country. Like the rest of Nottingham, we often feel left behind by the Government who focus on London and the South-East. But I’ve found this has led to our local people taking the initiative to do things themselves, and I’m constantly proud of all the great things that local groups and individuals do – many of whom I’ve been delighted to meet and work with since being elected.

As you’d expect, the great ideas and projects that emerge need money to be put into action, and I’m glad that there are several avenues available for this to happen, as often they give back much more than is put in. One such avenue that’s been helping a lot is the Big Lottery Fund, which over the past five years has invested over £46m in 65 projects in Nottingham North. This is absolutely amazing and has made a tremendous difference to people’s lives locally.

Locally we tend to get a mixture of small grants for short projects and higher long-term funding for organisations like Small Steps Big Changes - which is funded by Big Lottery - and Opportunity Notts - but where we can miss out is on the middle range for longer-term but not ongoing projects.

That’s why on Saturday June 2nd, from 10.30am-noon I’m hosting a Funders, Grants and Support Fair at Bulwell Riverside where several organisations -including Nottingham CBS, Nottingham City Council Small Grants & Funding, Bulwell Toy Library, the Fair Family Fund, Tesco, Lloyd’s Bank Foundation, and the Heritage Lottery Fund –who can offer funding and advice will be present. So, if your organisation is based in Nottingham North, and looking for funding, advice on how to apply for funding or other advice/support, then please join me and we can help make our community better together.

Going Postal

Being in Politics means getting used to going door-to-door, whether it’s to chat with people about local issues, to deliver leaflets or to encourage people to go vote on election day, but yesterday I extended this even further, as I joined local Royal Mail workers on the delivery route.

Arriving at Bulwell Delivery Office at 8.45 (not quite as early as the real workers!), I was given a briefing as to what I’d be doing, shown around the office, and met my designated postie for the day. I then got to help with the final stages of the mail sorting process, before we headed out.

This didn’t take too long and not long after 9 we were out nearby, delivering post to residential addresses and businesses alike. There are about 45,000 of these in Nottingham North, and Royal Mail do a wonderful job locally of delivering to them 6 days a week in all weather. Luckily, I got a cool cloudy morning!

While on the delivery round, I also got to hear how Royal Mail is modernising to deliver the postbag in an increasingly competitive market – one that could even include drone use before too long! I’m sure they’ll continue to do a great job.

 

In Nottingham

And here’s everything else I’ve been up to in the constituency this week: 
  • As I mentioned last week, Disability Direct had an Open Day on Saturday. I had a wonderful time and there was so much to do - fun for kids, a bouncy castle, some great food, and loads of super bargains, as well as boxing sessions from former world champion Jawaid Khaliq MBE! It wasn’t all fun and games though, with plenty of informative displays about the work that Disability Direct do too; you can see me here trying to spot the valid Blue Badge.
  • On Tuesday and Wednesday, I met with two football supporter’s groups, Forza Garibaldi and Nottingham Forest Supporter’s Club to discuss safe standing. You’ll probably know this is something I’m keen to reintroduce to English football, and it was great to discuss it with those representing the local fanbase.
  • Every Wednesday, Housing & Care 21, a sheltered housing scheme for independent living in Bulwell has a coffee morning, which I was lucky to be able to attend thanks to my rare Wednesday nearby. It was wonderful meeting the tenants and seeing how life is in this pleasant community.
  • Along with Vernon Coaker, the MP for Gedling, and Lilian Greenwood, I met with Sally Denton from Nottingham Law Centre to discuss their funding avenues – as they offer free legal advice to people across the City and beyond.
  • I met with Alison Vaughan, a support Worker from Change Makers, to discuss how I can in turn, support their wonderful work. Change Makers is a local community group of volunteers from diverse communities who raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer to promote early presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The volunteers all come from deprived areas of the city which have some of the worst cancer survival rates nationally and in Europe, and work within their local communities to understand the challenges and barriers and identify solutions to effectively reach groups which are termed "hard to reach" but with the greatest needs.
  • And tonight, I’m meeting with Cllr Graham Chapman alongside Dr Marcus Bicknell – who I met last week – to continue discussions about the redevelopment of Strelley Health Centre.

What's On

I want these emails to be as interesting as possible. That means there’ll be some politics – it’s important that I am held accountable. But I also want to offer information about what’s on locally. So, if you have an event you’d like me to advertise, let me know.

If you would like your events advertised here, or further information on those advertised, please email me at alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk.

That’s all for now! Details of how to get in touch or to have a look at the things I’m doing are below…

All the best,

Alex
 

Back on my Feet Charity Single Launch


An Evening with Henry Normal

Nottingham-born stand up poet Henry's performance will be supported by Nottingham’s First Young Poet Laureate Georgina Wilding as well as local poets Kath Clarke, Charles Towlson and Jamahl Peterkin
The Bulwell Academy, Nottingham, NG6 8HG
Friday 13th July, 7:30pm
All proceeds from this performance are in aid of Muscular Dystrophy UK
Tickets £5.00 available from The Academy.
Joy Rice – joy@bulwellartsfestival.com
Or online https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
This performance has been kindly sponsored by Lidl Bulwell

Poems in the Pub
Open Mic Night, Free Admission, Local Talent, Full Bar
The William Peverel, Bulwell
Once a month, 7pm for 7:30pm start, next on 7th June

Drop in Café
All welcome for a free cuppa and biscuit, and a place to sit and have a chat
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Parish Community Centre, Brooklyn Rd, Bulwell NG6 9ES
Thursdays, 9:30am–12:30pm

Messy Church
Drinks, crafts, activities, bible stories and a meal for all ages and interests
Bulwell United Reformed Church, Broomhill Road/Brooklyn Road, Bulwell
Usually first Saturday of every month, 10:30am-12:30pm

Bestwood Park Church’s Bestop Kitchen
Social Eating Event, Donations Welcome
Bestwood Park Church, Beckhampton Road, NG5 5NG
Every Tuesday, 12-2pm; Tuesday 26th June is the Kitchen’s 1st birthday

Crafty Ladies
Bring along a project, or learn to do something new.
St Martins Church, St Martin’s Rd, Off Strelley Rd, Bilborough, NG8 3BH
Every Wednesday, 11am – 2pm
50p, for further info: www.stmartinsbilborough.org.uk, info@stmartinsbilborough.uk

Crochet Clinic
Community Room at Tesco Bulwell, Jennison St, NG6 8EQ (upstairs near the cafe)
First Wednesday of every month, 6:30pm–8:30pm
£5 (covers refreshments and materials)
For further info: www.apriltowriess.co.uk, hello@apriltowriess.co.uk



 

Your chance to get published
Penguin, the UK’s number one book publisher, is on the lookout for new writers and illustrators from under-represented communities. This includes Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) writers, LGBTQ writers, writers with disabilities and writers from socio-economically marginalised backgrounds.
WriteNow aims offers writers and illustrators a free workshop on how to get published in Nottingham this September, and the chance to be mentored by a Penguin editor or designer for a year.
To find out more and apply, visit write-now.live. The deadline for applications is Monday 9 July.

Messy Church
All welcome – food, fun, arts & crafts, & God slot
St Mary the Virgin & All Souls Parish Church, Highbury Road, Bulwell
2nd Sunday every month, 3-5pm, next on June 10th

Messy Church Bestwood/Bulwell Forest
Bestwood Park Church, Beckhampton Rd, Bestwood Park
Various Thursdays, 4:30-6pm
Church on Rise Park, Revelstoke Way, Rise Park
Various Thursdays, 5-6:30pm

Free Community Cinema
Free screenings of films, everyone welcome!
St John’s Church, Key’s Close, Bulwell
2nd Friday every month, 7pm
Bulwell Connectors
Free monthly group developing opportunities for more art in public places in Bulwell. With trips to galleries and hands-on creative workshops, this group is for local people who want to be arts champions for Bulwell. Facilitated by Nottingham Contemporary associate artist Gillian Brent
Bulwell Riverside, Community Room 2 
2nd Tuesday every month, 6-8pm
For further info: www.creativenottinghamnorth.com, @CreativeNNorth, cathy.mahmood@rebalancingouterestates.com
How to contact me

If you would like to contact me, please email alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk or give my Nottingham North constituency office a ring on 0115 975 2377.

If you are a constituent from Nottingham North e-mailing me regarding a casework issue you are my priority, so please ensure your message includes:
  • your full name
  • your full postal address, including postcode
  • a contact telephone number and
  • any helpful details relevant to your case such as date of birth, reference numbers etc.
Strict parliamentary protocol means I can only deal with issues on behalf of my own constituents. If you aren’t sure whether you live in Nottingham North, you can check who your local MP is by entering your postcode online here: findyourmp.parliament.uk.

You may also wish to write to me with your concerns. If so please send your correspondence to Alex Norris MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA. All constituents who take the time and trouble to write a personal letter will receive a reply as a matter of priority.
 
Other useful links
LABOUR PARTY
  • If you’d like to learn more about the Labour party their website is here.
  • To join the Labour Party click here.
LOCAL NEWS
LOCAL INFORMATION
  • Benefits Information: Here’s an excellent site that allows you to find out exactly what benefits you are eligible to claim: EntitledTo
  • Housing: please contact your City Council
  • Problems with benefits or the Child Support Agency? The Citizens Advice Bureau and the Nottingham Welfare Rights Service can give advice. Remember to have your National Insurance number handy if you make an inquiry.
  • Local schools / education matters: please contact your City Council.
  • Employment rights: see Citizens Advice Bureau or the Trades Union Congress for info.
  • Social services, environmental health, noise nuisance, parking, and Council Tax should all be addressed to the City Council.
  • Another useful website on public services is Direct.gov.
NATIONAL LINKS
  • For the main Parliamentary website click here and to explore the Parliamentary education site click here.
Copyright © 2018 Alex Norris MP, All rights reserved.


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