North West Women's Enterprise Day 2012

Fiona Bruce MP attends North West Women’s Enterprise Day 2012 in Cranage

This year’s North West Women’s Enterprise Day, supported by Cheshire East Council, was held at Cranage Hall near Holmes Chapel. This event, held for its third year is proving highly successful; to date hundreds of women have attended.

Fiona and local Businesswoman Alejandra Salvini

Apart from networking opportunities help was on hand to help women to manage finance better, draw business plans and budgets and promote their products.

Fiona said of the event “The North West Women’s Enterprise Days are a wonderful opportunity to network and pick up more information about how to do business better locally, regionally, and nationally.  I am delighted that they are held each year in my Constituency; speaking to women at the event, they were drawn from all over the North West, and it is heartening to see Cheshire leading the way in encouraging women in their business aspirations – in really practical ways. As a business owner, I see the benefits of events like this and wish there had been one to attend when I was starting out! I would also like to praise the Cheshire East A-Team apprentices who were an invaluable resource, making sure the day ran smoothly.”

Fiona with the A-Team

Fiona Bruce MP campaigns for local BBC coverage for Cheshire

Fiona Bruce MP campaigns for more local BBC coverage for Cheshire

Fiona Bruce MP met with BBC representatives in Parliament recently in order to discuss the Corporation’s coverage of Cheshire and raise the possibility of a BBC Radio Cheshire.

Following what Fiona has called an ‘extremely constructive meeting’ with David Houldsworth, Controller of BBC English Regions and Mary Picker, Head of Communications for BBC English Regions, Mr Houldsworth said he would take active steps to progress the creation of a BBC Cheshire News Index on the BBC News website which could be live by as early as the end of this year.

Fiona Bruce MP said “A dedicated Cheshire page on the BBC News Index would ensure all the news and the wide range of events across Cheshire will be gathered into one easy to view place –at present there is no such forum on the BBC website, whereas other North West areas such as Lancashire and Merseyside, Cumbria and Greater Manchester all have their own dedicated pages.

This is something which would help Cheshire punch at its weight economically and in terms of communications and marketing – across the North West and well beyond.”

Helen Boaden, Director of BBC News has confirmed that the BBC “is actively looking at the idea of an online Cheshire index and is hoping that any regulatory issues can be resolved as soon as possible. If that is the case it should be possible to launch an index within six months.”

Fiona Bruce previews National Amateur Premiere by Holmes Chapel Singers

Fiona Bruce MP amateur premiere of ‘The Peacemakers’ with Holmes Chapel Singers

Fiona Bruce MP joined Holmes Chapel Singers for a preview of their production of The Peacemakers on 24^th November at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre.

Holmes Chapel Singers will be giving the national ‘amateur premiere’, as the first amateur group in the country to perform the production which was premiered in May at the Bridgewater Hall by professionals.

During the course of the concert there will be a solo piece by local girl from Barthomley, Emmie Brookes, aged 14, who was one of four national finalists in the BBC2 Young Vocalist of the Year competition, singing ‘Blessed are the  Peacemakers’ with lyrics by Terry Waite.

Tickets for this premiere can be obtained from the ticket secretary on 01477 534928

Fiona Bruce MP Visits Cheshire Citizens Advice Bureau

Fiona Bruce MP praises the work of Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau

Fiona Bruce MP recently visited Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to discuss, with staff and volunteers, their important work and hear of the latest challenges that people are turning to the CAB for help over.

The CAB is a privately funded charity and not, as many people believe, a public body and so rely on donations to keep providing their service. A service which has been largely taken for granted recently due to its 73 year history.

Jill Hamilton-Smith, Contract Services Manager, who has worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau for 13 years, said “The CAB has the skills to provide help for local people, but financial back up is needed.”

The CAB recently secured funding for the remainder of this year but need to ensure financial security for the future. Anyone can help by going to their website http://www.cecab.org.uk/ and donating, or donating via text, or good old fashioned post to any of their offices.

Paul Bates, a CAB Board Trustee, outlined some of the key issues that service users are facing when they come to the Bureau such as young people, under 18, struggling with mobile phone contracts they are too young to have, debt caused by use of store and credit cards and crucially the issue of payday loans which often lend easily but charge very high interest rates, catching people out.

The volunteers feel that there needs to be better financial education in schools, something that Fiona Bruce agrees with having spoken on this in Parliament a number of times and been a member of  the Parliamentary inquiry into Financial Education in schools, producing a report that was presented to the Prime Minister on this very issue.

Fiona Bruce said of her visit, “I am hugely impressed by the professionalism and care demonstrated by everyone at the Citizens Advice Bureau, which is an invaluable source of help for people who often feel they have nowhere else to turn.  I commend this organisation for their sterling and dedicated work and enjoyed my visit with the friendly yet professional atmosphere there.”

Holmes Chapel RNLI Christmas Fair

Fiona Bruce MP attends RNLI Christmas Fair in Holmes Chapel

The South Cheshire Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) held a Christmas Fair at St Luke’s Church in Holmes Chapel recently at which Fiona Bruce MP was in attendance.

They plan to hold their next fair in Sandbach at St Peter’s Church Hall, Elworth on this Saturday 10^th November from 9.30am to 12 noon. Admission is £1 and includes a cup of tea or coffee.

Fiona Bruce MP Visits Adullam Homes

Fiona Bruce MP visits Beech House in Congleton to see Adullam Homes’ new meeting facilities

Fiona Bruce MP recently visited Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd in Congleton at Beech House to tour the facilities and see their new meeting facilities which are to be made available for use by the local community.

In 2011-12 Adullam Homes helped 72 local people move forward in their lives by moving them out of supported accommodation into independent living or accommodation - either private rented accommodation, back with family or a partner or a registered social landlord. Adullam Homes Single Homeless service at Beech House, Congleton provides support for a whole spectrum of vulnerable people aged 16-65. 

Adullam Homes now want to offer their meeting room facilities at Beech House to local community groups at modest cost. The modern and newly refurbished meeting room facilities are equipped for many different requirements and include flexible seating arrangements, Wi-Fi internet access, and a smart board and soon hope to offer in house catering. It is intended that the meeting rooms be available for hire during the 9 to 5 working day as well as evenings.

Gillian Herdman, Social Business Manager at Beech House said: “So far, the meeting room hire facility is fully operational offering competitive hire rates and discounts for local community groups. The next phase is getting the on-site catering enterprise into action to cater for meetings and events.   We are also discussing and planning other enterprise initiatives in conjunction with Congleton Partnership and with businesses, charities and community groups in the area.”

Fiona Bruce MP said following her visit “I am so impressed by Beech House; it has such a pleasant and inviting atmosphere and is finished to the highest standard.  The new meeting rooms will be an ideal way to serve the wider business and voluntary community and offer first rate facilities. Adullam is such an important organisation and provides much needed and valued support to its residents and to the Congleton Community.”