Call for a Minister for Older People

Fiona Bruce MP backs calls for a Minister for Older People

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce has pledged her support for a Minister for Older People.

New research undertaken by Anchor Housing Association and YouGov shows that of the over 55 year olds 84% believe that there should be a Minister at Cabinet level with responsibility for older people. 

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce said:

“35% of my constituency are older voters so I hear first-hand about the problems they face. That is why I’m supporting this call for a Minister for Older People. It’s really important that we can recognise and respond to the needs of older people, particularly as we are facing an increasingly ageing population.

“A Minister for Older People would be able to focus the Government’s attention on planning a better response to our ageing society, representing the views and needs of older people such as social isolation, suitable housing and social care support or their treatment and care whilst in hospital. There are some excellent charitable organisations in this area providing support for older people who deserve all the help they can get – in addition to local and national Government action.”

Alzheimer's Society Awards, Middlewich

MP hands out Alzheimer’s Society Awards at Middlewich

Fiona Bruce MP attended the Alzheimer’s Society event for their volunteers at Middlewich Community Church today. Awards were handed out to volunteer befrienders, including some for between five and twenty years’ service.

Almost 100 people attended the event to celebrate and evaluate the work of the Alzheimer’s Society’s volunteer engagement network of Cheshire and St Helens.

Fiona Bruce MP said “It was a privilege to hand out awards to Volunteers and Befrienders without whom the work of the Alzheimer’s Society simply wouldn’t be possible. They are amazingly dedicated people who give their time, energy and skills, to make a real difference to the lives of people affected by Dementia and we owe them a great debt of gratitude and respect. I was delighted to be able to express this personally at this special event.”

21st Century Technology & Camera Group - Middlewich

21^st Century Technology & Camera Group

The February group meeting of this new and exciting Cheshire, Middlewich based, community group was again very well attended, with members, guests and dignitaries from all over Cheshire.

Mr Owen Lloyd, of Owen Lloyd Photography presentation this month was a back to basics offering of digital photography for the group attendees, with many now taking notes to ensure nothing was missed or overlooked.

With nearly 30 members and guests, including the Mayor of Middlewich, Mr Paul Edwards and his wife Sonya as his Consort for the evening, were joined by our MP for Congleton Mrs Fiona Bruce, and the Middlewich Town Crier, Mr Devlin Dobson for a very entertaining and informative presentation.

The group now has some 120 plus members which is something quite extraordinary for a group that was only created in March 2014. Covering not just digital photography, but a whole raft of technical subjects surrounding the use of the digital camera.

Using funds successfully provided by Grants from Middlewich Town Council and Cheshire East the group plans to expand its activities, using a recently purchased Laptop to helping train members to take even better photos, and also to improve the ones already taken, using post photography processing software.

INTERESTED ? The Group has a FACEBOOK page where you can sign on to be a member, and by using the group web page can see what we have recently done, and read more as to where the group are heading in the future. Current members are aged from 14 to 80 plus, so there is room for all members of our Cheshire community.

Cliff Astles

Group Chairman & Organiser

February 19^th 2015.

Fiona Bruce MP visits new school in Church Lawton

Fiona Bruce MP congratulates Friends of Goostrey Station on Award

Fiona Bruce MP congratulates Friends of Goostrey Station on Award

Fiona Bruce MP has congratulated the Friends of Goostrey Station group on their sterling work at Goostrey Station after it was named Cheshire’s ‘Most Improved Station of 2014’ in the Cheshire Best Kept Station awards.

The group has been working to make the station more attractive and functional with a water supply due to be installed soon and is now hoping to restore the Victorian ticket office, one of the only ones remaining in the country, to its former glory with potential that businesses would be able to use a restored building bringing greater foot traffic to the station.

Fiona Bruce MP said “This is a well-deserved award. Friends of Goostrey Station as a volunteer group have made tremendous strides in improving the appearance of the station and its grounds, however, much more can be done with the connection of the water supply and the Friends Group and I are jointly pressing Northern and Network Rail to support this as quickly as possible.”

Cyril Caulkin, Chairman of Goostrey Friendship Group, “We are really pleased with this award which couldn’t have been achieved without the dedicated team of volunteers who have been reenergised by this success.”