Stephen Twigg MP

Stephen prepares for Live Below the Line challenge

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:35:23 +0000

Stephen has recently signed up to take part in the Global Poverty Project Live Below the Line 2012. Stephen’s challenge will be to live on £1 a day for all food and drink between 7-11 May. 2, 12

Stephen will be joined by a cross-party group of fellow Parliamentarians including Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale to raise awareness of those living in extreme poverty and live on £1 for everything including clothes, education, health and food.

The global campaign, Live Below the Line, draws attention to the 1.4 billion who have no choice but to live off this amount every day.

Stephen will be fundraising for the charity Think Global during the project. Think Global, provides help for schools on teaching about poverty, sustainability and globalisation.

Stephen said “I support Think Global, an education charity, because when more people understand the impact that their decisions have on poverty and sustainability, the more of us there are who make good decisions, big and small. Being conscious of the ethics of our shopping, recycling or volunteering are just a few choices that shape our planet and its people. Research shows that good decisions start with learning about the world and how to make a difference.”

You can make a donation to Stephen’s challenge by visiting https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/stephentwiggmp you can also sign up to the challenge yourself!

Stephen signs up to Live Below the Line.

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:08:55 +0000

This week Stephen has signed up to Live Below the Line 2012 Global Poverty Project. The project will take place between 7-11 May and is a fundraising campaign seeking to raise awareness about extreme poverty. All those participating in the campaign will face a challenge of living on £1 per day for food, £1 being the UK equivalent of the extreme poverty line.

The Global Poverty Project educates people about the fight against extreme poverty and urges them to take action.Please visit www.livebelowtheline.com to sign up to the project or find out more.

Stephen meets young people at YPAS

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:38:54 +0000

Last Wednesday Stephen visited the Young Person’s Advisory Service (YPAS) in Liverpool. YPAS provides support services for young people aged 10 to 25 and has been doing so since 1966. Young people accessing the services at YPAS come to staff with a range of issues. A daily drop-in service is run for young people who may want to drop in for a chat or to participate in sessions.

YPAS provides one to one counselling services as well as facilitating group work on issues such as self –harm & self injury, sexual abuse, anger awareness and relaxation.

YPAS also has a LGBTQ group called GYRO (Gay Youth ‘r’ Out). GYRO “provides a safe, comfortable space where young people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans or Questioning their sexuality or gender identity (LGBTQ) can get to know other young people like themselves.

Stephen said “I want to thank staff and the young people I met at YPAS. It was important for me to hear about the issues facing young people and how YPAS is working with and listening to young people to try and help overcome these issues. It was especially interesting to hear from young people who have been helped by YPAS in the past and continue to visit as peer mentors to help other young people who are facing challenges and difficult circumstances.”

Special thanks to Wendy Traynor, Counselling Services Co-ordinator, for arranging the visit. Please visit www.ypas.org.uk to find out more about the invaluable work being done by staff, volunteers and young people at YPAS.

Stephen visits Bradbury Fields

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:06:02 +0000

Today Stephen visited Bradbury Fields in Yew Tree, Liverpool. Bradbury Fields provides services for visually impaired people who live in the Merseyside Area. The Society works with Social Services, The Health Authority and the Department of Education within Liverpool & Knowsley.

Bradbury Fields provides services for people of all ages and their aim is to help people gain as much independence as they want. The Society has 32 members of staff and lots of experienced volunteers.

Stephen met with Tom Dowling Editor of the ‘All Together Now’ newspaper which is published at Bradbury Fields. All Together is a registered charity set up to provide a news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability, long-term health conditions or age.

Stephen said “It was a pleasure to visit Bradbury Fields again and see the fantastic services being provided. I’ve taken away a copy of the free All Together Now newspaper; I will be encouraging all stores to stock this fantastic paper.”

Stephen attends launch of apprenticeship scheme in Croxteth‏

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:25:33 +0000

On Thursday 29th March Stephen attended the launch of a new apprenticeship programme in Croxteth, Liverpool. On the day Neighbourhood Services Company announced the programme in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Cobalt Housing, Liverpool Mutual Homes and the Private Sector.

The new apprenticeships are focused on providing twenty-two young people with skills for the construction industry. Neighbourhood Services Company is a Social Business which provides a diverse range of services including Building Construction & Environmental Landscaping Maintenance and catering to the public, private and community sectors.

Stephen said “It’s fantastic that NSC and their partners are launching this scheme. Providing opportunities for young people is so important and should be a main priority for us all. I want to congratulate the twenty-two young people and wish them the very best of luck with their apprenticeships.”

Stephen visits Red Balloon Learner Centre

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:14:24 +0000

Today Stephen visited The Red Balloon Learner Centre in Anfield,Liverpool. Red Balloons are schools which have been specifically set up for children between eleven and sixteen who have suffered bullying or trauma. In many instances students have endured such terrible bullying that they no longer wish to go to school.

Stephen met with Carrie Herbert the Founder and Chief Executive of Red Balloon. Carrie spoke about the three main aims of the Learner centres “to raise childrens’ self esteem, get them back on an academic track and return them to school, move them on to higher education or help them find employment.”

Red Balloon has an excellent record in helping young people, over 95% of the children who school at Red Balloon for over six weeks return to mainstream education or find work.

Stephen said “I am deeply impressed by the brilliant work done by Red Balloon in Liverpool and nationwide. The young people I met today are a credit to the impact Red Balloon has. I will do all I can to help secure the organisation’s future.”

Stephen visits Matthew Arnold Primary school

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:12:08 +0000

Last week Stephen visited Matthew Arnold Primary School In Liverpool in his capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Education.

The school offers a range of services on site; Children’s centre services; day-care provision and a speech and language centre.

The school strives to provide an inclusive atmosphere for students, parents and staff. A notable feature of the school is the ‘apartment.’ This space is fitted out to look like a living room. The aim is to give students a space that feels like home. The apartment is used for many things such as School Council meetings. Stephen met with the School Council in the apartment and answered their questions. Students raised issues in the local area, school dinners and talked about how they enjoy reading.

Stephen said “It was wonderful to meet with Headteacher Gary Mason, and Governors Helen O’Sullivan and Liz McLoughlin. I was so impressed by the questions being raised by Primary students, it’s always a pleasure to meet students who enjoy their school life.”

Stephen visits Fazakerley High School

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:08:02 +0000

Last Friday Stephen visited Fazakerley High School in his capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Education. Fazakerley High is an Engineering College in Liverpool. The School works closely with partners such as Scottish Power and Jaguar Land Rover in order to offer pupils oppurtunities which will allow them to progress in the engineering industry.

Stephen met with a sixth form history class and had a wide ranging discussion touching on everything from University options to local crime and community issues. AS level students took the opportunity to ask Stephen questions on Education, employment opportunities for young people and local issues in Liverpool.

Stephen said “It’s wonderful to meet with a group of students who are interested in their studies and what is going on in the local area. This is the second time I’ve visited Fazakerley High School, I’m always impressed by the enthusiam shown by students and staff. I look forward to visiting again in the future.”

Many thanks to History teacher Mrs Ormesher for arranging the visit.

Stephen launches CitizenCard campaign in Liverpool

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:11:17 +0000

Last Friday Stephen launched the ‘No ID, No Sale!’ campaign for CitizenCard in Liverpool. Stephen supports the campaign which calls on local retailers to ensure that only adults can buy lottery, tobacco and other goods with age restrictions.

The campaign was launched at Kal’s News in West Derby and Stephen was joined by students from Cardinal Heenan High School as well as CitizenCard’s Marketing Manger Nigel Catlow.

Stephen said “I already have 643 CitizenCard cardholders in my constituency but I am urging all young adults in Liverpool, West Derby to obtain a CitizenCard or similar ID that contains the police-endorsed PASS hologram. Only then can retailers fully implement the ‘No ID,No Sale!’ policy which allows adults to buy whatever they wish whilst ensuring that children cannot buy alcohol, tobacco and other restricted goods.”

Stephen celebrates World Book Day with Knotty Ash Primary students

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:19:03 +0000

Today Stephen celebrated World Book Day with children from Knotty Ash Primary School in Liverpool. World Book Day celebrates reading and the wealth of authors and illustrators children can choose from.

Stephen met with students to hear about their favourite books and stories. This is the 15th year that children of all ages in over 100 countries have celebrated World Book Day.

Reading is essential to a child’s learning, Stephen said, “Rigorous numeracy and literacy are the foundation blocks of a rounded education. Getting this right is fundamental to a child’s education. We know that poor attainment in literacy and numeracy by the end of primary school limits a child’s progress. That is why it is so important to get this right early on.”

“Given what we know about the importance of literacy and numeracy, it’s concerning that the Government is reducing support for early intervention programmes targeting children who have fallen behind with their reading development. The evidence shows that targeted interventions make a real and lasting difference; programmes like the fantastic Every Child a Reader campaign. As schools have a role in developing reading skills, so to do parents. Again, the evidence shows that where families read with young children, their progression is greatly improved.”