My Money Week will improve young people’s financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons, activities and debates in schools and other settings across the UK. Teachers in Birmingham Edgbaston can order a free Activity Pack, developed by pfeg, full of creative and engaging financial resources and ideas for how to deliver financial education to young people, from the age of four up to 19. Young people in Birmingham Edgbaston can also take part in the ‘A-Z of Money’, a national competition challenging them to learn more about money through creative writing.

Gisela said:

“It is important to start early in ensuring that the next generation learn how to manage their personal finances, I welcome this initiative by pfeg and Barclays.”

Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have the support of Gisela Stuart MP in promoting My Money Week this year, and I hope all schools in Birmingham Edgbaston will seize the opportunity to take part through our free activity pack, advice and support.”

My Money Week 2013 will also raise awareness of Barclays’ flagship UK community programme, Barclays Money Skills, and provide opportunities for Barclays employees to share their financial expertise and skills with young people in teacher-led My Money Week activities in local schools. In addition, this year will see extra resources targeted towards disadvantaged young people in both the school environment and the wider community.

Ashok Vaswani, CEO UK and Retail Business Banking at Barclays, said: “It has never been more important for young people, particularly those who are vulnerable, to be able to access the support they need to learn about money. Having sound financial skills and being confident in managing money is critical to everyday living and achieving future goals.”

Since the first My Money Week in 2009, more than three million young people have been helped to understand more about money and personal finance through focused activities in schools. In 2012 around 500,000 young people took part in My Money Week activities, with 99 percent of teachers reporting an increase in skills and knowledge and 91 percent of teachers reporting a shift in students’ attitudes towards money.

Teachers in Birmingham Edgbaston can pre-order their free My Money Week Activity Packs at www.pfeg.org/mymoneyweek

Gisela  met families and helped serve afternoon tea during a recent visit to Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, the free ‘home away from home’ for families of children being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.  Gisela was taken on a tour of the House and shown some of the 60 en-suite bedrooms, where families can stay for as long as they need to, as well as the communal kitchens, lounges and playrooms that provide families staying at the House with a chance to unwind and share experiences with other families.

Gisela says:

“I very much enjoyed the visit and learning more about the House. It was obvious from speaking with some of the families that the House has made a real difference during what for many of them is a difficult time. The team at the House do a great job and I was impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment to helping the families who stay with them.”

For more information about Ronald McDonald House Birmingham visit www.rmhc.org.uk/birmingham or contact Libby Aston, House Manager Email: Libby.Aston@uk.mcd.com, Phone: 0121 203 2004

Photography credit: Libby Aston

Ronald McDonald House Birmingham is one of 14 houses in the UK run by Ronald McDonald House Charities. It provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families of children being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The Welsh House Farm Big Local is a resident-led ten year project to help make the area an even better place to live.  Welsh House Farm is one of 150 areas around the UK that have qualified for £1 million National Lottery funding over 10 years.

What improvements happen will be dependent on the residents and partners who get involved in the project.  To find out more about the project visit www.localtrust.org.uk for examples of other areas and the work already done.

The Welsh House Farm Big Local project is supported by the Big Local Rep, Helen Thompson, who is helping the area achieve their vision.

The project is at the first stage of gathering ideas and inviting everyone on the estate to get involved.

A community barbeque is to be held on Saturday 25^th May at 12 noon, at the Keystone Centre, Purbeck Croft and a further meeting on Thursday 6^th June at 6pm, Welsh House Farm School to give out information about Big Local and assist in setting up a steering group.

For more information contact Helen on helenthompson.birep@gmail.com or on 07810 593577

The event is open to the public and will demonstrate the very latest developments in patient research across a wide range of specialities. This includes world class work on liver disease, genetic sequencing, trauma, heart disease, cancer, intensive care, sexual health, kidney disease and many others.

Gisela said:

“This event offers service users a great opportunity to meet with some of the best medical researchers in the UK.”

Interactive displays and talks will look at the latest developments in medicine, many of which are led by the world class researchers and clinicians here at QEHB. This includes our collaborations with the University of Birmingham and other leading academic and clinical institutions in the UK and around the world.

The event will be hosted in the main entrance at Queen Elizabeth Hospital between 10:00 and 15:00 on 20th May 2013.

Demonstrations include;

What does a liver look like
See a tiny robotic surgical drill in action
How do we research rare diseases
See how we learn from injured soldiers
How do we stop infections.

Presentations will be made by the following teams

10am – Rheumatology
10.45 – Cancer
11.30 – Diabetes
12.15 – Medical Physics

Gisela Stuart MP attended one of the most dramatic and distressing exhibitions ever promoted in the House of Commons highlighting the hidden nature of Modern Day Slavery.

The exhibition built by students from the Central St Martin’s College of Art depicts the four different kinds of slavery hidden away in our society. Curtains, doors, drawers and tea chests concealed the stories and photographs of survivors.

The survivors who shared their stories with the Human Trafficking Foundation to create the exhibition attended the opening. Among them was Cristina, a Romanian girl sold by her mother into prostitution in Birmingham when she was 16 and who narrowly escaped being snatched from her local authority care home by her traffickers. There was also a man, duped by a job advertised in Hungary, and on arrival here forced to work without pay, compelled to open a credit card account operated by his slave master, forced to claim benefits for non-existent children.

No one knows the real numbers involved. Yet, the Serious Organized Crime Agency knows that at least 2,000 victims are found each year. However, they believe that is the tip of the iceberg and that for every victim found, another ten remain hidden. The Human Trafficking Foundation concludes there must be up to 20,000 slaves in the cities, towns and villages of the UK.
Of these victims that have come to light, 10% are known to have come from the West Midlands.

Gisela Stuart said

“I was appalled to learn that even my constituency is affected by modern day slavery and that there will undoubtedly be deeply traumatised people who have been trafficked to the UK and abused living in my area.”
“As a result of what I’ve seen today, I want to ensure that everyone in my constituency is more alert to the signs of modern day slavery. I hope students in schools, public service workers, the police, as well as those in private business will join me in this task. In parliament, I want to see the government put modern day slavery at the top of the political agenda.”

Anthony Steen, Chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation said:

“What is amazing is that trafficked children, unlike adults, are offered no special are in spite of what they have been through. They have no safe haven since in local authority care hundreds of trafficked children go missing each year.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, the Prime Minister said:

“Modern day slavery comes in many forms, in many ways, and we have to have a really concerted approach to crush it, to stamp it out and to make sure that we look at the rights of those who are affected and take a criminal approach to those who are the traffickers and above all call it what it is: slavery.

“Congratulations to all of you for putting on this exhibition here in the mother of parliaments; it’s the right place for it to be. I very much look forward to seeing the exhibition, to meeting those who have been caught up in this appalling trade and to leading a government that will help stamp it out.”

Ends.

Further Information:

1. The exhibition was held in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons from Monday 22 April to 3pm Thursday 25 April.

2. The exhibition is the brain child of the Human Trafficking Foundation, sponsored by Peter Bone MP and the Officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking.

3. It was designed by three MA students from Central St Martin’s College of Arts – names. The photographs on the boards were taken by Sarah Kendal (Red Light Campaign) and those in the Human Cargo tea chest by Hannah Isted (Babyolive Photography) and record the invisible nature of the victim’s lives and their suffering.

4. The slave trade, although abolished in 1807, is big business today netting 36 billion US dollars a year. Human beings are traded as commodities, bringing untold misery to thousands.

5. The European Commission estimates that slavery has grown to 150,000 victims a year in Europe alone. In Britain, the sheer scale of slavery is growing – invisible and difficult to detect.

6. Britain has recently signed up to an EU Directive on human trafficking which sets out the minimum requirements needed by all EU Member State countries to fight collectively this crime.

7. The Centre for Social Justice recently produced a lengthy report on modern day slavery and concluded with 80 recommendations, see: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk

The 2013 Bevan Prize for Health and Wellbeing will be awarded in recognition of an individual and group or organisation in any part of the United Kingdom who have made an outstanding contribution to health and well being in their field in the past year (1st January 2012 – 31st December 2012), who promote the founding values of the National Health Service, i.e. comprehensive treatment, within available resources; universal access, based on need; and services delivered free at the point of delivery and work to ensure equality of access and equality of health outcomes.

Gisela said:

“This is your opportunity to nominate an employee of the NHS for an award in recognition of the service you have received. I would be delighted if you could also contact me with details of your nomination.”

The Foundation is seeking nominees from a wide range of backgrounds.

Nominees could include health care practitioners and professionals; scientists, academics or researchers; authors, journalists or bloggers; voluntary and support groups; or campaigners or activists.

Nominations are now open via the Bevan Foundation website until 22nd May 2013.

Entries will be adjudicated by Prof Sir Mansel Aylward, Chair of Public Health Wales; Geoffrey Goodman, past Chairman and now honorary Vice-President of the Aneurin Bevan Society; and Jaselle Williams, Bevan Foundation trustee.

The prizes (one recognising an individual and one recognising an organisation or group) will be awarded in London in July in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of the National Health Service.

For more information please visit the Bevan Foundation website.

Alternatively, you can contact Anne-Marie Carpenter at the Bevan Foundation on 0845 180 0441.

http://www.bevanfoundation.org/2013/03/the-2013-bevan-prize-for-health-and-wellbeing/

http://www.bevanfoundation.org/2013/03/the-2013-bevan-prize-for-health-and-wellbeing/bevan-prize-nomination-form/

www.bevanfoundation.org

During Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September eight teams of young people will carry out a campaign about a local issue in Birmingham. Once they have completed their campaign they will return to Queen Alexandra College and present the outcome to Gisela Stuart or to a local Councillor to obtain feedback and advice on how they could take their campaign further.

Tom Haigh, National Citizen Service Programme Manager at the Challenge Network asks:

“Our young people will be working with a number of local charities and organisations within the Edgbaston constituency. These include Cerebral Palsy Midlands, Queen Alexandra College, Aquarius and Birmingham Talking Newspapers.

Are you a local charity or social enterprise who is passionate about getting young people involved in the work that you do? If so then the Challenge Network is working with 1,400 16 yr olds this summer all of whom will be fundraising and carrying out funded projects for local charities. If you want to find out more please email me at tom.haigh@the-challenge.org ”

Gisela said:

“I took part in a Dragons Den exercise for the Challenge Network in 2011. I am pleased to hear that the programme continues to prove successful in recruiting young people.

I understand that last year 720 young people in Birmingham took part in the programme and that figures are set to double that this year.

The Challenge Network gives young people the opportunity to learn new skills that could improve their prospects in the job market.

I recommend that all young people in the constituency sign up for this opportunity.”

http://www.the-challenge.org/

Wednesday 3rd July 2013

Gisela Stuart invites you to the Edgbaston Orchid Dinner, on Wednesday 3rd July, 6.30pm for 7.30 at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Birmingham B15 3TR.

On 3rd July 1953 Edith Pitt became the first woman MP to represent Birmingham Edgbaston. In 1966 Jill Knight succeeded her and in May 1997 I followed them to Westminster. On the 3rd July this year, a woman will have represented Birmingham Edgbaston continuously for 60 years. There is no other constituency in the country where this has happened, and I believe this unique record should be acknowledged and celebrated.

I am organising a fundraising dinner on Wednesday 3rd July at Birmingham Botanical Gardens to celebrate this milestone. The Tiny Babies, Big Charity Appeal at Birmingham Women’s Hospital will benefit from the evening, aimed at equipping the Orchid Room in the Neonatal Unit with vital medical equipment http://www.justgiving.com/bwhtinybabiesbigappeal

Our compere for the evening will be Kay Alexander, a well known Midlands personality from her days as a BBC television newsreader.

I would be delighted if you can join me for what I am sure will be a most enjoyable and very special occasion. Everyone is welcome. As well as marking a unique record and paying tribute to women in public life, the occasion is a great opportunity to support an established Birmingham charity with connections to the constituency.

Tickets cost £50 each or tables of 10 for £450, which includes a pre-dinner drink and a three-course meal. Please follow this link to the Edgbaston Orchid Dinner booking form.

http://www.giselastuartmp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Edgbaston-Orchid-Dinner-booking-form.pdf.

If you would like any further information, please contact Lesley Bagshaw at my office on 0121 454 5430 or e-mail me at giselastuart@yahoo.co.uk

I do hope you will join me.

Let me say something about Margaret Thatcher and the representation of women. I do so as a Member of Parliament whose constituency has been represented by women for longer than any other constituency in the country—since 1953. The first of those women was Dame Edith Pitt. The then Conservative and Unionist party had to nominate her as the candidate because the local association had rebelled against the original nomination on the basis that it had a perfectly good candidate, albeit a woman, and the party caved in. When Dame Jill Knight was nominated in 1966, the Conservative association said “We have already tried a woman, so we will have a man now”, and she said “I will accept that argument, but only if it works both ways.” Of course, it did not.

10 Apr 2013 : Column 1659
As the Prime Minister said, Margaret Thatcher broke through that glass ceiling. She kicked doors open. Indeed, she kicked doors open for Labour women, in a way that they perhaps did not entirely appreciate, because the trade unions had an enormously powerful role in candidate selections. It benefited us when the unions were forced to provide more openings for women, and when “one member one vote” and many similar changes came along, although Margaret Thatcher would not have thought of those developments in that way.

I do not think Margaret Thatcher realised that the problem was more systemic. Notwithstanding what was said by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs Laing), before the 1997 election there were more men called John than there were women MPs in the House of Commons. In May 1997, 121 women were elected, which meant that there were more women MPs in one intake than there had been in the entire history of Parliament. I do not think we are right to lay the blame for that at the door of Margaret Thatcher, because it was a reflection of the times. I think that if she had not been the way she was, she would not have been in the position that she was in.

I have asked myself why she is still so controversial. A few years ago, The House Magazine gave Denis Healey a lifetime achievement award, and it was Geoffrey Howe who presented him with it. Two old adversaries met in friendship at Speaker’s House. Denis Healey said “When you get to my age, there are no enemies any more; there are just people who are still alive with you.” Somehow, I do not think that Margaret Thatcher would have seen it in that way. She was fighting to the very end, and I think it was a sign of the times that she had to fight to the very end.

Whole generations have forgotten what 1979 was like. I came here from Germany in the 1970s. I know that Margaret Thatcher would not want us not to learn any lessons from the battles that she had fought—some lost, some won, and some which continue. I am thinking in particular of the role of the market. It is interesting that Margaret Thatcher considered that Hayek’s book “The Road to Serfdom” should be compulsory reading. Many Government Members, and probably even more of my hon. Friends, will be surprised to learn that I agree that it should be compulsory reading, as a reminder of the role of the market. [Hon. Members: “Come over to this side!”] No, it is not a question of “Come over to this side”.

Similar arguments have been advanced about the force of the market. It has been argued that it actually liberates. The market does not need to be made social, because it is already social. It challenges vested interests, and lets outsiders in. In Germany, that was a social democratic argument advanced by Ludwig Erhard, the father of the social market economy. One legacy of the entrenchment of Thatcherism in the ’80s that might have to be looked at now and in years to come is the polarisation of the argument with false options. We are boxing ourselves into corners, which will not be terribly beneficial to either side of the House. If we believe that markets are social and important—in everything Margaret Thatcher did, she realised that they could challenge the status quo, vested interests and outsiders, and bring them in—perhaps we should recognise that they are also socialist.

10 Apr 2013 : Column 1660
After all she said, why then can I vividly remember the moment Margaret Thatcher left No. 10—Government Members have talked of tears—as being to me an enormous joy? I have been reflecting on why I felt so strongly. It took me back to the Kent miners’ strike in March 1985. I was in Essex, my children were small and I was listening to the radio about the end of that bitter, final strike. I was in tears, but could not work out why. I think it was because the people at the bottom were taking an enormous hit and suffering for the mistakes of people in power, whether people in government or the trade union representatives. The same thing is now happening again in parts of Europe. It would have been interesting to hear what Margaret Thatcher would have made of what is happening in the eurozone, where the people paying the price are not the politicians who took wrong choices or the people in power who made mistakes, but the generations of unemployed people.

That is what people associated with the Thatcher Government and what makes that Government that much more contentious. She is one of those few figures whose obituaries are not sufficiently balanced to reflect her achievements as well as her weaknesses, which she had—as she herself said, nobody is perfect. The reason for the insufficient balance is that polarisation. She was one of those public figures for whom it will take much longer for both sides to make a true assessment, but make no mistake—I think now of all the figures of Prime Ministers in the Lobby—she was one of the defining figures of the last century. The House should be proud that the first woman Prime Minister of this country will be honoured in the way I think she deserves to be honoured—as someone who served her country for longer than any other Prime Minister—and I think that the House is rightly doing that today.

The full tributes are available on Hansard at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130410/debtext/130410-0002.htm#130410-0002.htm_spnew6

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=12939&st=17:45:43.8130000

The Inspire the House award has two categories; Best contribution by a community group and most inspirational person.

Gisela said:

“Please do nominate any inspirational young person or community group that you feel has gone that extra mile in contributing to another individual or to the local community. These acts of goodwill need proper recognition and the Inspire the House award is an excellent award.

I would also be delighted if you could let me know about anyone you nominate, so that I can send my congratulations”

If you think that you know somebody who deserves to be recognised then please complete the Kids Count Inspiration Awards nomination form that can be downloaded from the Kids Count website.

http://www.kidscount.org.uk/

The Kids Count Inspirational Award take place on 24th June on the Terrace Pavilion, at the Palace of Westminster.

The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 15th May 2013.