Out and About in Plymouth
World in the Park – an amazing day of multicultural entertainment 12th July 2008
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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
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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.
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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
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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.