Over the last few weeks I have visited several of my local foodbanks, Christ the King in Beaumont Leys, Woodgate Community Food, and the Braunstone Foodshare. The work that groups like these are doing to end hunger in Leicester is inspiring, and as chair of Feeding Leicester I am proud […]
On Friday I popped along to Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre to catch up with the centre manager, Simon Revill, about how retail is changing what support is needed in future. Having a thriving retail sector is vital as we emerge from Covid 19 and I will continue to do all […]
I recently visited a brilliant 3 day pop-up vaccination centre at Barley Croft Community Centre in Beaumont Leys. These pop-up centres are vital to ensuring all community’s get vaccinated so we can move out of restrictions as soon as possible. I would like to say a huge thank you […]
On Friday I visited both Fosse Primary School and Barley Croft Primary School to catch up with the headteachers, discussing the challenges the pandemic has caused. I also saw how much fun children at Fosse Primary were having on their TT (times table) Rock Stars – acting head Ms Tuffey […]
I recently met with Alicia Kennedy, the Director of Generation Rent, an organisation that campaigns to make sure that the voices of private renters are heard by landlords, by policymakers, and by politicians. I am really looking forward to a new awareness campaign, Renters Rights Awareness Week, which will run […]
Following the fiasco of the European Super League announcement, I met with The Foxes Trust, Leicester City FC’s supporters trust, to discuss where we need to go next to ensure fans are put at the heart of football. It’s clear that we must create lasting change to give football fans […]
Leicester’s story of winning the premier league, against all the odds, showed everything that football is supposed to be about. The proposed European Super League is the complete opposite of this. It was cooked up without any involvement of supporters, yet football is nothing without its fans. I know the […]
Earlier this week I visited the Peepul Centre to see how the vaccination roll-out is progressing in Leicester. I’m so proud of all the staff and volunteers who are delivering the vaccine, and who are working to make it such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. With rates still high in […]
Today, I visited Imperial Avenue Infant School. I caught up with headteacher Libby Smith, who told me about the incredible work her team are doing to help children achieve their potential, despite Covid-19. The last year has been especially challenging for teachers and pupils. While it is good news that […]
In this month’s Leicester Mercury column, I talk how we must build a brighter future for our children as we emerge from this pandemic. Education must be top of the agenda. Right now, the Government’s National Tutoring Programme won’t even reach every pupil on Free School Meals, and the extra […]
This evening I joined Leicester Council of Faiths, faith & civic leaders from across the city, to remember all those who’ve lost their lives during Covid-19. As we mark one year since the start of the first lockdown I think of all of those who have lost their loved ones […]
Yesterday I appeared on BBC East Midlands Today to talk about the Census this weekend, and how it is a fantastic opportunity to understand the scale of unpaid care being provided in Leicester. The Census is important as the results will help organisations, including local authorities and charities, to […]