Barry Sheerman

On 14th November, I attended the Wildlife Trust event in Portcullis House. I was impressed by the eloquence and enthusiasm of the Young Leaders who I agreed with about the need for a transparent, ambitious Environment Act. Among 62 other MPs, I met Ambassadors from nationwide Wildlife Trusts. I was particularly excited to meet representatives from Yorkshire and discuss with them the merits of Stirley Farm in my constituency, which is a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust property.

I feel very strongly about the preservation of our wildlife and was particularly proud of the way in which the younger generations are determined to make a difference in the way our environment is treated. The #IWill campaign centres around the connection between spending time outdoors and the improvement in youth mental health, meaning emphasis on community projects could help the mental health crisis among our young people. I am looking forward to supporting and watching the progress of the Wildlife Trust, cheering on for a #WilderYorkshire.

I met with Brian Booth, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, on Friday 17th November on my visit up to my constituency.  Under Tory austerity, police are struggling more than ever to police their areas effectively.

Brian & I were discussing the impacts of the Tory budget on policing, about which Brian raised concerns. Brian felt, and I agree, that policing was neglected in the Budget. Despite increasing demand for public safety to be upheld, police forces have had to battle cuts that reduce their numbers on the streets.

Brian specifically mentioned that officers’ mental health has been significantly impacted by austerity. For the Federation’s Annual Charity event this year, MIND was the selected charity, demonstrating the force’s compassion to help sufferers of mental health issues. In 2017, 224 officers were off work due to mental health related illness.

Last October, although 63% of police were proud to work for the force, 68% would not recommend joining it due to current conditions. Low morale due to nationwide redundancies and wage cuts has contributed significantly to Brian’s concerns about his officers. The stress and strains of the policing job, which the Tories have failed to alleviate, also impact the force.

I look forward to maintaining my relationship with Brian as well as supporting the Federation into the future.

This year, Anti-Bullying Week is running from the 12th-16th November. This is an issue that I am passionate about and I am always keen to raise the problem of bullying, which affects many of our children nationwide, at any opportunity. In fact I’ve been involved with several groups in parliament looking at the issue.

Bullying has become more commonplace through the development of cyber-bullying through social media, and this year, Anti-Bullying Week will feature an Anti Cyber-Bullying focus on 15th November.

The development of cyber-bullying often means that the online world is a scary place for a victim. With social media facilitating the attack of young people even when they have returned home, Anti-Bullying week aims to decipher the difference between ‘banter’ and ‘bullying’ online. This year, organisations aim to educate young people about how they can confidentially report cyber-bullying to a trusted adult, as well as gathering evidence of cyber-bullying through screenshotting.

Focusing on reducing the incidence of bullying will help our nation’s children to fulfil their potential without the mental health and friendship issues consequential of bullying.

For more information on how you can get involved, see Anti Bullying Week’s website

I supported the charity Heart UK recently by attending their ‘State of the Nation’ report launch, which aims to prioritise the diagnosis of Cardio-Vascular Disease, the nation’s 4th biggest killer. To support awareness of CVD in my constituency, I attended a one-off cholesterol testing event, which aims to make the nation aware of their own cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can leave you at risk to developing CVD.

I am committed to working with Heart UK to ensure the continuing health of my constituents here in Huddersfield.  Cholesterol testing is simple, quick and painless and I would urge everyone to get themselves tested. I am committed to working with our local NHS and in Parliament to ensure that heart disease remains a public health priority. With 160,000 deaths yearly due to CVD and CVD related complications, this is more important than ever.

Heart UK are urging the Government and NHS to not be complacent and to dedicate funding and support to CVD related programmes. I encourage the government to look at the ‘State of the Nation’ report’s recommendations and to prioritise research like it.

For more information, see www.heartuk.org.uk or use #HeartHealth on Twitter to get the conversation going.

Monday 5th November marked the start of National Youth Week, organised by the National Youth Agency. Continuing until the 11th November, this week is to celebrate the incredible work done by youth workers and youth organisations for our young people.

Recognising the work that the NYA does for young people is key to this week’s celebrations. Youth workers have a hugely positive impact on young people with their passion and dedication ensuring that young people have equal opportunities no matter their background. Youth organisations take young people away from becoming involved in crime and antisocial behaviour, which is on the rise in our country under the present government.

Unlocking young people’s potential early is essential to ensuring they succeed later in life. By inspiring them to do their best, our young people can fulfil their potential.

Labour will rebuild, support and fund youth services to ensure opportunities continue for the many, not the few. Between 2012-16, 140000 places for young people to get involved at centres were slashed due to budget cuts, robbing young people of the opportunity to get involved with their communities.

The theme for this year’s National Youth Week is ‘What is Youth Work?’. For more information on how you can get involved with National Youth Week, visit  nya.org.uk/supporting-youth-work/youth-work-week/

I’m thrilled that the National Headquarters of Channel 4 will be uprooting and moving up North to Leeds. Aiming to improve the way it reflects on life outside London, Channel 4 are ‘delighted to have made this decision’, expecting an initial forecast of over 1200 jobs being created as well as stimulating the city’s creative and digital industries by over £1 billion over the next decade. I am always glad to see the stimulation of our Northern economy.

Channel 4 were impressed by Leeds City Region’s comprehensive campaign and their passion to partner with Channel 4 to bring new, diverse talent into the programmes. Channel 4’s decision is a real testament to the work of the team, of which I was part of, and to the creative expertise and potential in the region. This is brilliant news for the wider area of West Yorkshire, devising new opportunities for neighbouring cities such as Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester and our own mighty Huddersfield among many more.

Huge congratulations to the teams in Leeds. I was proud to be a be part of the campaign supporting Leeds during its bid. I hugely look forward to observing the progress of the new, exciting partnership of Channel 4 and West Yorkshire.

Recently, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival has been awarded £8518 from the Postcode Community Trust, a charity funded entirely by players of the Postcode Lottery.

I am thrilled to hear that a good cause in my constituency has received a welcome funding boost thanks to the efforts of the Trust. This year, the Festival will take place between 16^th – 25^th November and will be spread across different venues in Huddersfield town centre. Acting in partnership with the rapidly expanding Huddersfield University, the Festival is a platform for numerous new artists to make contact with the public and begin their career. The Festival has rightfully earned 39 years of success and worldwide acclamation.

This funding is going to a rapidly expanding, worthwhile cause and I’m delighted to hear that Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival has been successful in securing the new funding. Under its Learning and Participation scheme, the Festival team offer events to a broad range of ages, from hands-on music experiences for babies and toddlers. Events are organised for anyone from school students and families to refugees, asylum seekers, people in prison, community members, emerging artists and regular festival-goers. The festival’s programme includes creative workshops, concert experiences, archival activities and professional development. The Festival also aims to provide participants in the scheme direct contact with professionally established artists. I am extremely pleased that this funding will allow the Festival to fund, expand and continue its brilliant work.

From 12^th – 18^th November, it is UK Parliament Week. This year’s UK Parliament Week festival is the largest ever and will see more than 7,000 registered events with over 500,000 people taking part.

It’s the 100^th anniversary this year of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which gave some women and all men the right to vote after World War One. UK Parliament Week is part of the UK Parliament’s ‘Vote 100’ programme, celebrating equal voting rights and other milestones in the UK’s democratic history like the Act. A record high of 208 female MPs were elected to the House of Commons in 2017’s General Election, showing our progress.

I am excited to urge you all to get involved in this year’s Parliament Week. To strive for a more equal society, we must all engage in democracy so please do find ways to get involved this year. Schools, workplaces, Scouts and Girlguides are all central organisations in the events but you can organise your own.

On the Parliament Week website — www.ukparliamentweek.org/blog/what-event-could-you-hold-for-parliament-week/ — there are suggestions of how you can get involved in this celebration of our democracy. On the same website, there is a page on which you can register your participation. By signing up, you get a free kit! When you get your kit or begin your event, use #UKPW2018 on Twitter to share it with everyone.

On 15^th October, I attended the Ocean Conservation APPG to discuss a review of their own and the Surfers Against Sewages’ (SAS) activities this coming year. Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation and campaigning charity working alongside the APPG to help protect the oceans, beaches and their wildlife.

The discussion aimed to organise the SAS’ biggest ever Autumn Beach and River Clean, which has more than 460 locations across the UK. This is running from 20^th – 28^th October and will be led by over 20,000 volunteers.  You can join your nearest Beach or River Clean by visiting www.sas.org.uk/region/north-west/

This year, SAS will be collecting data from the Autumn Beach and River Cleans of beverage containers, litter materials and sizes as evidence to bring to the Government. Furthermore, SAS are putting pressure on the Treasury to avoid the endorsement of single use of plastics in the upcoming Budget.

There was also improved awareness for classifying the release of balloons and lanterns as littering, which would allow fines. Furthermore, the group aims to set and enforce targets for the government to aim to reduce plastic packaging produced and used as well as to increase the amount being recycled.

The name change from ‘Protect our Waves APPG’ to ‘Ocean Conservation APPG’ was also agreed as more reflective of the groups aims as the ‘voice of the ocean in Westminster’.

Please support this inspiring initiative by attending one of the Beach or River Cleans. You can find out more about what the SAS and Ocean Conservation APPG do by visiting https://www.sas.org.uk/

From the 22^nd – 26^th October, it’s the important Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Week. During this week, the charity Shine are encouraging the country to ‘go yellow’ to show their support for the campaign. Shine are campaigning for the fortification of flour with folic acid to reduce the likelihood of birth defects such as spina bifida.

Although the causes of spina bifida in babies are not fully understood, it is understood that a folic acid deficiency can cause this problem. Spina bifida literally means ‘split spine’ and develops between the 18^th – 28^th day after conceiving due to neural tube defects. Over 1000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs. Those who live with spina bifida suffer poor mobility, bladder and bowel issues and learning difficulties, with many living with ill-health as well as life-long disability. It is considered one of the most severe conditions for those living.

75% of women have folate levels that would put their babies at risk to developing neural tube defects. A recent survey by Tommy’s Charity showed just under 40% of women stopped contraception the same week they decided they wanted a baby. This does not allow time to improve folate levels before conception to prevent any birth defects. There is also evidence that folic acid taken prior to conception and in the early days of pregnancy can reduce the chance of children being diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or severe language impairment.

Every day, 2 women terminate their pregnancies due to a neural tube defect diagnosis. If you’re concerned about your own pregnancy care and whether you are taking enough folic acid, please enquire at your GPs or Health Centre.