This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. The past year has been tough for us all, so if you are finding things hard it is important that you seek support. This year's theme is about connecting with nature and how this can improve your mental health. The NHS has posted the below video outlining steps you can take to do this.
If you are in need of support, you can find help via the below links and contacts:
- NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
- Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
- Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
We are also look forward to Monday, when Stage 3 of our roadmap out of lockdown comes into effect and a number of restrictions on social contact and businesses are lifted. It is important that we do remain vigilant and careful as we come further out of lockdown to ensure we do not undo all the hard work we have done so far and keep cases and transmission as low as possible.
Have a great weekend.
QUEEN'S SPEECH
This week at the State Opening of Parliament the Queen announced the Government’s agenda for the year ahead. This includes:
Laws to level up every region of the UK – creating jobs and opportunities for all
Supporting victims of Crime
Supporting Veterans back into work
Enshrining the lifetime skills guarantee into law - providing people with the skills they need for the world of work
I look forward to seeing the detail of what the Government is proposing.
GEOTHERMAL INVESTMENT
I am still banging the drum for Geothermal Energy in Parliament! It would be an industry Crewe could lead the way in, bringing new high skilled jobs to the area. A report published this week highlighted that by 2025 there could be 12 projects operational, creating 1,300 jobs and generating more than £100 million of investment largely centred in towns and cities in the North of England, Midlands and South-West.
ROADMAP STAGE 3 - MONDAY 17TH MAY
On Monday we will enter stage 3 of our roadmap out of lockdown, with more rules being relaxed and more businesses reopening. Here is a summary of the key changes:
- Limits on social contact between friends and family will be eased, with most restrictions on outdoor meetings also being lifted.
- Gatherings of up to 30 will be allowed outdoors and indoors you will be allowed to meet following either rule of 6 or 2 households.
-Indoor Hospitality and Entertainment venues to reopen.
- Some Larger performances and events allowed to take place with reduced capacity.
More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021-summary#step-3---not-before-17-may
CHESHIRE AND REASEHEATH COLLEGE
Great news to hear Cheshire College - South & West and Reaseheath College have made it into the final round to become Institutes of Technology. If they make it across the line they will be the local providers that will specialise in delivering higher technical education (at Levels 4 and 5) with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, such as engineering, digital and construction. I am sure the whole community is behind them on this!
HASLINGTON POPPY TRAIL - 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion supporting the Armed Forces and Haslington Support Group will be marking the centenary with an array of Poppy displays throughout the village made and displayed by residents, businesses as well as a special central display over the weekend.
They have produced a map for the Trail that can be downloaded from http://haslingtongroup.co.uk/, you can also make a donation can be made to the volunteer group and to the Royal British Legion's County fund through their website too!
Wreaths will be displayed on various addresses from which these brave men set out to serve their country, as well as various street signs throughout the village. I had the chance to meet the volunteers and thank them for this and other projects they have done as well as lay a commemorative wreath.
For further information please drop an email to haslingtonvolunteers@gmail.com.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 2021 - £17M TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS
One of the major side effects of the Coronavirus pandemic will be the impact on the mental health of the youngest in society. The Government is aware of this impact and of the incredible work that teachers do in supporting young people despite not being mental health professionals.
£17 Million of funding has being announced for schools and colleges to pay for senior mental health lead training so that schools have teachers that are better prepared to deal with any challenges they may face. This includes:
- £9.5 Million to provide training for a senior member of staff so that they can lead change within their school, spreading mental health understanding to staff and designing programme to address problems that their pupils may have.
- £7 Million into a Wellbeing for Education Recovery programme which builds on the success of the Wellbeing for Education Return, resulting in more than 90 per cent of councils offering schools free expert training, support and resources to help young people, staff or parents dealing with trauma, anxiety and grief.
- £1 Million on a reformed Link Programme to bring together mental health professional and school staff to improve joint ways of working in local areas, so that children and young people receive the mental health support they need.
For more information: https://www.tes.com/news/teachers-cannot-be-mental-health-professionals
PROTECTING ANIMALS AND PETS
The Government this week published its ‘action plan for animal welfare' which will aim to introduce measures to protect animal welfare both here and abroad. This is now possible due to the new freedoms we have following our departure from the EU. We are a nation of animal lovers and I know that the measures in this plan will be welcomed by many. These include:
- Formally recognising animals as sentient beings through the Animal Sentience Bill.
- Improve Pet welfare by changing import rules to tackle puppy smuggling and cracking down on pet theft.
- Protecting wild animals by making it illegal to keep primates as pets, cracking down on illegal hare coursing and funding conversation projects around the world.
-Protecting animals abroad by banning import of hunting trophies and shark fins, as well as the sale of Ivory.
- Improve farm animal welfare by ending the exports of live animals for slaughter, introducing measures to improve welfare during transport as well as improving animal welfare at slaughter and incentivising farmers to improve animal health.
More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-lead-the-way-on-animal-welfare-through-flagship-new-action-plan
TRAFFIC REPORT
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Moss Lane, Crewe – 19th May
Holmshaw Lane, Haslington (Between Crewe Road and Barnfields House) - Until 31st May
Barthomley Road – 20th May
Wrinehill Road, Wybunbury (Between Cobbs Lane and Cliff Cottage) - Until 30th June
Crewe Road (Between Heathfield and Walgerton) - 20th May