Alison Seabeck

MP for Plymouth, Devonport

Out and About in Plymouth

 

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO AROUND FOR ALISON

Alison was practicing her nursery rhymes when she joined in Rhyme Time at West Park Library on Tuesday 28th July 2009.  Alison visitied the library to highlight the brilliant work carried out in libraries across the city to encourage reading from an early age.

Alison said

 “Rhyme time is a brilliant way to introduce babies and toddlers to books.  Many of the parents attending the sessions with their toddlers, may not have set foot in a library themselves since they were children.  I am amazed at the range of activities available for young people, from babies to teenagers which are available for free in local libraries across Plymouth.  With the school holidays upon us I would recommend to all parents that they visit their local library to see what is on offer to keep the kids amused”.

She added

  “Libraries have had a bit of an image change over recent years, with access to the internet and the ability to hire CDs and DVDs as well books.  The facilities for young people in our libraries are really excellent, but there is plenty for their parents as well. 

Rhyme Times take place at all of the libraries in
the constituency apart from Eggbuckland visit  http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/leisureandtourism/libraries/cyp/under5s/rhymetimes.htm Crownhill and Southway are particularly well attended and they run right through the summer.
 

 

 Alison was delighted to be at the launch, albeit in pouring rain, of the Training Ship Jack Petchey.  The ceremony which took place at the Bridgend Boat Company' s yard at Mountbatten was attended by Vice Admiral Tom Blackburn KCVO CB who is Chairman of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets.  There were a number of trustees there and a representative of Jack Petchey whose generosity has supported the organisation.
During the course of the event Alison was advised that Merseyside had offered their sea cadets the equivalent of the Freedom of the City and will be pursuing this idea with the Lord Mayor of Plymouth to see whether our City, with its long Naval history can do something similar.

 

Alison invited Health Minister Ben Bradshaw to Barne Barton to support the resident’s call for improved community facilities on an ex-Naval estate in Plymouth.
Local leaders and partners from the health service and city council are working together to attract multi-million pound funding for community facilities including a GP surgery.
The Government Minister said it was "clear" Barne Barton had been left without sufficient infrastructure.
Mr Bradshaw spoke yesterday during a tour of Plymouth which included meeting health bosses, as well as clinicians involved in the city's "pioneering" community-based back pain service.
Also minister for the South West, Mr Bradshaw said: "Local MP Alison Seabeck invited me to talk to some of the people involved in the project.
"It's quite clear this is a part of Plymouth that, when the Navy withdrew, was left without sufficient infrastructure including health provision.
"I'm keen, with my South West minister and health hat on, to see what I can do to help progress the very exciting proposals there are for this area."
Pat Patel, project manager for Barne Barton's Tamar View Community Centre, said a number of city agencies are working to attract funding for a doctors' surgery, nursery, children's centre and community gym.
It would be housed in the former Navy 'supermarket', which is currently empty on the estate.
Mr Patel said: "We are talking about a total cost of around £4million or £5million.
"All the partners - NHS, education, Plymouth City Council, are on board - it's just a case of putting it all together."
John Richards, NHS Plymouth chief executive, said: "Development of a new surgery is at the top of priorities for improving primary care in the city.
"But the practical advantage of the scheme we are working on here is that it's lead by the independent sector - Tamar View - which opens up opportunities for wider impact on social wellbeing as well as health."
Mr Bradshaw also praised the city's back care service provided by NHS Plymouth.
With weekly clinics in Mannamead, Stoke, Plympton and Mount Gould, it is available to people registered with Plymouth GP practices.
Mr Bradshaw said: "Plymouth is pioneering a way of treating people with lower back problems which has quite strong potential to be rolled out in other parts of the country.
"Lower back problems are a huge problem for the health service and society as a whole - costing around £4billion a year to the economy in terms of lost working hours and healthcare.
"This integrated approach they've pioneered here is very exciting."
The service provides investigation, diagnosis and treatment for people who have acute back pain which cannot be dealt with by the GP or the primary care team.
The team has a variety of clinicians including osteopaths, GPs and a cognitive behaviour therapist.

 

 

 

Alison showed a Government Minister what a community can do when it works together.
Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright visited the new community outreach centre in Roberts Road, Barne Barton, yesterday.
"I'm very proud of what the community in Barne Barton has done," Alison said. "When I first came here three years ago, people told me Barne Barton was like Beirut. I've never seen that myself, but Barne Barton has changed hand over fist in three years.
"The improvements are largely down to community activities and people doing things for themselves."

The picture above shows from left to right Brian Moore (Filby Moore Associates) Alison Seabeck MP, William Sutton Homes Chief Exec Neil McCall, Melv Chislett, Chair of SABBR residents group, and Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting with residents, councillors and police representatives in Barne Barton

 

 

South Asian Society Annual Diwali-Eid Celebration

Alison was delighted to be asked to join in the celebration of Diwali-Eid on the the 1st November.   The South Asian Society plays a central role in supporting and promoting understanding of the different religions and cultures that make up the South Asian community in Plymouth.

The festival, now an important annual event demonstrates a real commitment to bring community cohesion and racial harmony in a multicultural and multiracial society.

The evening was a sparkling celebration event featuring “A flavour of Punjab”, Bollywood singing and dancing, and a Kauda folk dance to name but a few in a colourful, vibrant and happy festival.

 

 

VISIT TO PLYMOUTH GUILD SEPTEMBER 2008

I recently attended the AGM of the Plymouth Guild.  This well attended meeting listened to a reports setting out the progress made by the Guild over the last year.  They described the extension to the building which had enabled a range of new services to be brought in to their premises in Ernest English House, Buckwell Street.  Services supporting people with a range of needs as well as disabilities.  This is a challenging time for the voluntary sector organisations in the City particularly when the economy is causing more people to need advice and support.  The Guild who well established and have an excellent group of staff and volunteers really and willing to help.  Visit their website at www.plymouthguild.org.uk

VISIT TO PLYMOUTH AGE CONCERN SEPTEMBER 2008

I attended the AGM of Plymouth Age Concern and was encouraged to hear all about the range of services which are offered to over 50s in the City.   It was particularly encouraging to learn of the increasing take up in activities like yoga which are all done in  way which suits individual needs.   Age Concern are looking to further extend the type of support and advice services they offer .   Anyone interested in finding out more about what can be accessed locally can go to www.plymouthageconcern.org.uk 

World in the Park – an amazing day of multicultural entertainment 12th July 2008

North Prospect held a festival to celebrate their, and the City’s diversity.    Local residents listened to music and dance from Kurdish, Greek and Thai communities, with performances from Senegalese band Lolou, Dance Devonport, Street Factory, Irish rockers Mad Dog McRea, Cristel, Oh Oh 7, the Livingstone Baptist Choir and Weapons of Sound.

Residents were also able to enjoy food from around the world, have a henna tattoo or visit the exhibition on the housing stock option to see the new kitchen and bathroom designs.   There was juggling, uni-cycling and the brave could even try limbo dancing.  

Alison said “It was great to have such a fusion of cultures in one place and I hope it will go from strength to strength and be back again next year”.   Co-organiser Martin Clay said “the day was a great improvement on a similar effort last year and he had ordered good weather for the day”.
 

 

Minister sees first hand the benefits of back to work initiatives

James Purnell, Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions spent the day in Plymouth, with Alison meeting up with people who find it difficult to access work as well as those organisations who offer support, training and advice in the area.

We visited PLUSS at Southway, in my constituency, listening to people with a range of disabilities talk about the barriers they have to cross in order to work.   James saw first hand the excellent facilities at PLUSS which help prepare people for the world of work and met with those who have secured employment.

Later, the Minister joined a group of young people who have had a difficult time at home or who have been in care.   He saw the work of “Tomorrow’s People” and joined in one of the lively and challenging sessions designed to build confidence in these young people.

For many people the Charity’s work has been a lifeline, James spoke with one of the youngsters who has recently finished the course and now has a home, a job and new found confidence.  

 

 

 

Alison Seabeck has praised “first-class” staff at Derriford Hospital after shadowing a ward nurse. 

(4th July 2008)

The Devonport MP rolled up her sleeves to gain first-hand experience of life on Lynher ward as part of events to mark the NHS' 60th year. She shadowed junior sister Penny Thompson on Friday afternoon, finding out about the work of a nurse in today's NHS and offering a hand w ith activities such as bed-making.
Mrs Seabeck said she was “very impressed” with the ward's organisation and cleanliness as well as the professionalism of staff.
“It was a fascinating experience, not least because all my family are nurses,” she said.
“My mum became a nurse in the 1950s, not long after the NHS was set up. So I had a feel for what was involved but it was very interesting actually standing in the ward and watching just how non-stop a nurse's job is. “There's constant movement and a constant drawing of information from patients and their families which all has to be communicated through the ward team. “I was very impressed with them all.”
Mrs Seabeck also praised the work being done in the ward to prevent the spread of infections. The MP worked in sleeveless clothes to support the hospital's Bare Below the Elbows policy – part of a host of anti-infection measures.
She said: “It was really encouraging to see patients' families coming in and all gelling up their hands as they came into the ward. “There seems to be an increased awareness among visitors of infection-control, partly because of improved signs throughout the hospital.”
Plastic surgery ward Lynher recently underwent change to include maxillo-facial and other patients. Mrs Seabeck said: “Penny Thompson talked me through new systems that have been introduced into the ward since its amalgamation. “She said it's working really well and is much more efficient than what was in place before.”
The MP added: “The other thing that was interesting was talking to relatives and patients. “They said their treatment has been first class and they couldn't praise enough the quality of the care they'd received from doctors and nurses.
“I was very grateful to the ward for finding time to show me what they do

 

Alison invites Home Office Minister to Honicknowle

I was delighted to welcome Meg Hillier MP, a Home Officer Minister, to Honicknowle Green to talk to local people and meet police community support officers Mark Boswell and Kate Stanley, along with neighbourhood team leader Inspector Gary Neeves.  

 

 

 

The PCSOs hold regular “street briefings” with local people to find out their concerns and simply knock on doors where there is a particular problem.   Insp Neeves told the Minister that only a small number of people caused the majority of problems with alcohol.   Alison said “it was important to get young people to engage with the wider community to find solutions that will work for everybody”.
 

 

Alison visits the I CAN Centre at Southway Primary June 2008

Alison visited the I CAN Centre at Southway Primary School this week to meet with the staff and pupils at the nursery and gained valuable insight into how Early Talk works as a ‘glue’ between children’s services and health services, ensuring the best possible support for all children, with a special focus on those with a speech, language and communication disability. 

 
 The centre is set up to meet the educational and speech and language therapy needs of 20 children from across the Plymouth city area and has its own room for individual and group work. The children all work toward achieving the  National Early Learning Outcomes. 49 children attend each session at the nursery, 10 of whom will be part of the I CAN  Early Years Centre at Southway.
For more information on I CAN at Southway Primary contact:
ICAN at Southway Primary School
Foundation stage unit,
Bampfylde Way,
Pymouth
PL6 6SR
CGrant@southway-pri.plymouth.sch.uk
JLowe@southway-pri.plymouth.sch.uk
Make Chatter Matter is I CAN’s UK-wide awareness-raising campaign to highlight the importance of children’s communication development as the foundation for learning and development.  To find out more about Make Chatter Matter go to www.ican.org.uk/makechattermatter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEGRATION THROUGH CULTURE, DANCE DANCE DANCE

 15th March 2008

Alison was delighted to attend the event organised by Dr Sanjay Sharma and Miss Dinta Thakkar.   Everyone thoroughly
enjoyed the evening and the variety of dances, from so many cultures was very interesting.

A great deal of hard work had gone into the evening and it showed, the programme was amazing, well timed
and well co-ordinated.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VISIT TO CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH

 

Alison met with the Principal of City College Plymouth, Viv Gillespie to discuss their exciting new plans for the redevelopment of the College to enhance the quality of the courses they currently run and to enable them to further upgrade teaching areas.   City College are working closely with Plymouth University and local schools, education authority and the Learning and Skills Council to ensure provision fits in with the City's wider need for skills training to support its economic development.

Alison Seabeck MP, Viv Gillespie, Principal and Martin Nash, Head of Catering Studies

 

 Read what the students say:

"I decided to study at the College to further my skills and enable me to get a job.
As part of my skills development course I studied catering. I enjoy catering; it is very interesting and practical. I am currently undertaking a number of work placements and in the future, I would like to find paid employment and live independently."

Visit http://www.cityplym.ac.uk/ and see what is on offer.

Helping your business grow!

Although City College Plymouth may have hundreds of courses to offer, you still might not be able to find exactly what you are looking for.

With over 800 staff and a huge variety of skill sets, the College is the best place to meet your training needs.

For more information contact the Employer Gateway on 01752 305026 and speak with a Skills Advisor or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

 

The maintenance of this website if funded by Alison Seabeck

• Alison Seabeck 2010