Category Archives: big society

January 31, 2013 · 12:51 pm

MP joins campaigners to launch national ‘Enough Food For Everyone IF’ campaign in Rochester

On Wednesday 30 January, the Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle, the Bishop of Tonbridge, helped launch ‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’, a national multi-agency campaign calling for an end to global hunger. He was joined outside Rochester Cathedral by the Very Rev Dr Mark Beach, Dean of Rochester Cathedral, Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood, Emma Kevan, Regional Coordinator for Christian Aid and by local supporters representing some of the 100 charities and agencies taking part.

‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’ is the largest coalition of its kind in the UK since Make Poverty History in 2005. The coalition warns that despite there being enough food in the world for everyone, nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night, and two million children die from malnutrition every year.

The campaign calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to use the UK’s G8 presidency in 2013 to take action on the root causes of the hunger crisis in the poorest countries.

The ‘IF’ movement challenges the Prime Minister to tackle 4 big IFs to ensure there is enough food for everyone:

IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land, and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, not biofuels for cars.
IF governments keep their promises on aid, invest to stop children dying from malnutrition and help the poorest people feed themselves through investment in small farmers.
IF governments close loopholes to stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries, so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger.
IF we force governments and investors to be honest and open about the deals they make in the poorest countries that stop people getting enough food.

Speaking at the regional launch in Rochester, the Rt Revd Dr Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge, said:

“For some years I was a parish priest working in Zambia, and one of the saddest things I had to do was to bury young people, who simply died of hunger. But before it gets to that extreme, hunger brings tiredness and lethargy which means people can’t concentrate, can’t take advantage of education, and find it difficult to work. When we think about the significance of hunger – if we’re able to combat it, not only are we saving lives, but we’re raising potential.”

Bishop Brian urged those gathered to spread the word, saying:

“I’m totally supportive of this campaign – let’s share the message that ending hunger is within our reach.”

Mark Reckless, Conservative Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood, helped unveil the ‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’ banner at Rochester Cathedral, and pledged his support for the aims of the campaign. He said:

“The idea of having a law [to spend 0.7 per cent on aid] is something I rather like the idea of, because a problem with government spending is that there is not enough parliamentary control. For that reason, I would support bringing policy in this area into law.”

He added:

“On the point of transparency and tax, if it’s known what multinationals pay in various jurisdictions, then you can put public pressure on them to pay their fair share.”

Emma Kevan, Christian Aid’s Regional Coordinator for Kent said:

“If we can get greater international tax transparency, it will make it harder for money to be hidden in tax havens. This will mean that all governments will have more money to boost farming and nutrition which will allow people to help themselves. We really need to raise our voices through this campaign and improve things for everybody.”

More information about the campaign and other events taking place can be found by visiting the website: http://enoughfoodif.org

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December 17, 2012 · 1:41 pm

MP advises residents to make checks before donating to charitable collectors

Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood is warning residents of Medway to check they are giving to a registered charity when approached for donations. 2 in 5 adults across the UK do not make any checks when approached by a collector for a charitable donation, according to an independent ICM poll commissioned by the Charity Commission and the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).

Christmas is a traditional time for giving and charities work hard to raise money during this time to fund their work. Almost half (44%) of donors give directly to charity at Christmas time, giving an average of around £46 to the good causes they care about. 81% of those who give at Christmas stated they will be donating similar amounts this year as they did in 2011.

Almost all collections are genuine, but some people will try to abuse the generosity of others for their own gain. With some charities having experienced fraud, it is vital that the public know that their donations are going to the right place. The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, and Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), the self-regulatory body for UK fundraising, have come together to highlight the risk of fraud to donors and charities alike, and to issue their tips for giving confidently this Christmas.

Mark Reckless MP, says:

“In a tough economic climate it is heartening to see so many Christmas donors continuing to support charities which provide vital support for those most in need. However, it is important for people to check that the charity is registered before giving. It only takes a few minutes to check for a registered charity number and for the FRSB tick, but these are vital steps in ensuring your money goes to the right place.”

Follow these tips to avoid charity scams this Christmas:

Before giving, check the charity’s name and registration number. You can verify this at the Charity Commission’s website at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk.
When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed.
If in doubt, ask the collector for more information – a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity.
Genuine fundraising materials should feature the charity’s name, registered name and a landline contact number. Be wary of those that list only a mobile number.
Look for the FRSB tick logo indicating that the charity is signed up to fundraising regulation, encouraging you to give with confidence. http://www.givewithconfidence.org.uk
To check whether a fundraiser is authorised to collect money in a public place, contact your local authority or, if in London, the police. If it is a private place, check with the owner.
Take care when responding to emails or clicking links to a charity’s website to ensure that they are genuine. Instead, search online for your favourite charity to check you have the right web address.
Carefully review collection bags for clothing and household goods to ascertain whether they are from a genuine charity.
After making these checks, if you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and inform the Charity Commission.
If in any doubt, contact your favoured charity direct to make a donation.

Alistair McLean, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Standards Board – the charity fundraising regulator across the UK, says:

“More and more public complaints reported to us at the FRSB question the legitimacy of fundraising appeals. Where charity fraud occurs, it not only diverts much-needed funds from the nation’s charities, but it comes at an even greater cost of damaging public trust and future giving.

“Although charity fraud remains rare, it is essential that we all do what we can to make it increasingly difficult for criminals to cheat charities and their supporters in this way. And that simply means being aware and, if in doubt, making a few checks to ensure your money ends up where you want it to be. Above all, don’t stop giving. Charities need your support now more than ever.”

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November 9, 2012 · 6:18 pm

Eastgate House: Update on a Rochester treasure

Cllr Kelly Tolhurst, Tracy Stringfellow and Mark Reckless MP visit Eastgate House

Eastgate House spanned the whole of Dickens’ writing career, being the girls school in The Pickwick Papers and later the nuns house in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Built by Sir Peter Buck for his family in 1590, the intially open turret gave him a view of his work responsibilities at Chatham Dockyard and the house represents the height of late Elizabethan architecture

Eastgate House has had a very varied history since then. It was used as a girls school during Dickens’ time in the Rochester area and it was converted into the city museum between 1897 and 1903. It stopped being used as such in the 1960s on early health and safety concerns, in light of which many large and very heavy models of ancient Rochester were also left in situ. It has since remained central to our celebrations of Dickensian Rochester, although electrics from between the wars and other such problems severely limit its use.

I visited Eastgate House again today for a final briefing on our heritage funding bid, which is to be determined by the relevant lottery funding board on 30th November. The bid is for a little less then a one and a quarter million pounds with another best part of a million to be funded or raised locally. The money would transform Eastgate House by allowing sympathetic restoration and the bringing back into public use of much of the house. It is not just an Elizabethan house but a living symbol of Rochester history since then.

I have greatly enjoyed working with Rochester West councillors Ted Baker and Kelly Tolhurst (pictured) and the excellent Tracy Stringfellow who has masterminded the bid. I was with my now seven month old baby Jamie when visiting today, and I am pleased to say he managed to touch the large expanses of wood every time the lottery funding bid was mentioned. I hope that we succeed.

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September 13, 2012 · 10:20 am

A Fantastic Display

From left: Alison Bucknall, Mark Reckless MP and The Mayor of Medway, Cllr Vaughan Hewitt

I was delighted to be one of the guests at the grand opening of the Friends of St James’ Church Flower Festival in Cooling last Friday.

Celebrating the life and times of Charles Dickens, the flower festival was a fantastic opportunity to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of perhaps our most revered author after Shakespeare.

Located in the idyllic village of Cooling on the Hoo Peninsula, St James Church was immortalised as the location where Pip meets the convict Magwitch in Great Expectations, which many see as Dickens’ greatest work.

The church itself dates back to the 13th century and, thanks to precious voluntary work done by the Friends of St James Church, led by their tireless Chairperson Alison Bucknall, the church remains in incredibly good condition and open to the public all year round.

I was honoured to be given a special tour of St James Church by John Marks who makes sure the church is open every day to visitors. The vestry, decorated with over 1000 cockle shells to represent St James, the church’s patron saint, is quite unique and is worth visiting on its own.

The church, regaled in a beautiful display of floral design, was quite remarkable and it was great to see so many from the local community and further afield coming together to commemorate the life of Charles Dickens and to enjoy this wonderful and historic building.

My thanks and best wishes to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make this event such a success.

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May 24, 2012 · 11:00 am

Mark Reckless MP Joins Charity In Call For Action Against Irresponsible Dog Ownership

Mark Reckless MP and Laura Vallance

Mark Reckless MP, Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood, joined Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, today to call for action on tackling irresponsible dog ownership at the charity’s annual House of Commons reception hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick MP.

Dogs Trust unveiled a stunning photographic display depicting the work it carries out within communities to help reduce the problems associated with irresponsible dog ownership alongside its policy document, ‘Taking The Lead, Tackling Irresponsible Dogs Ownership’. The event provided a platform for MPs to talk to Dogs Trust staff about the work carried out on the ground to encourage owners to train, neuter and microchip their dogs.

Mark Reckless MP said tackling anti-social dog behaviour in Rochester and Strood had become a key issue for constituents:

“Incidences of anti-social behaviour involving dogs have been increasing in many areas so I am delighted that Dogs Trust is proactively looking to tackle the issue by getting down to grass routes. As I indicated recently in the House of Commons, legislation has its part to play in preventing at least some of these terrible incidents of injury which we see every year.

However, outreach work in local communities is also vital in order to deal proactively with dog owners to help prevent dog attacks from occurring. I want put on record my appreciation of those organisations such as Dogs Trust who continue to work incredibly hard on this matter.”

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said:

“Dogs Trust works with over 300 local authorities to tackle the root causes of irresponsible dog ownership. We know from working in affected communities that this is a complex social issue; one that requires a multi-agency approach to target harder to reach groups. As the largest dog welfare charity in the UK, we believe that we’re in the best position to promote change by engaging with dog owners, schools, dog wardens, young offenders, housing associations and the police. We are delighted that Mark Reckless MP supports the work that we are doing.”

Summary of Dogs Trust work in local communities:

Since 2010, Dogs Trust has been working on-the-ground with urban dog owners inLondonto tackle the issue of so-called “status” dogs. The City Dogs Project is a pioneering scheme that targets young urban dog owners by appealing to them on their level. The City Dogs Team has so far carried out over 1,500 microchippings and issued over 2,000 neutering vouchers in Greater London. Between May 2010 and December 2011, 135 City Dog events took place; with over 50 dog owners asking for free one-to-one dog training sessions with our City Dogs trainer.
Dogs Trust also offers select young offenders inLondonthe option to work with its Training & Behaviour Advisers. Through Youth Offender Training teams, they can use their reparation hours to socialise and train dogs waiting to be rehomed.
For years Dogs Trust has been working with vets to provide subsidised or free neutering for dog owners living on means-tested benefits in disadvantaged areas. The charity currently works with over 1,000 vets across the country.
Dogs Trust offers free microchips to every local authority and housing association in theUK. The charity trains local authority staff to microchip and can even provide them with free scanners.
Responsible Dog Ownership Events – These highly popular events are organised in partnership with councils and local Housing Associations. They provide a range of advice and leaflets about all aspects of dog ownership plus neutering vouchers and on-site access to free microchipping and low-cost preventative vet care.
“Estate Days” – Working with local authorities, Dogs Trust identifies areas where irresponsible dog ownership is most acute. By visiting these areas and offering leaflets, dog ownership advice, free microchipping and £10 HealthCheck Vouchers, the charity has reduced the numbers of dogs being abandoned on the streets.
For those areas where dog abandonment is highest, Dogs Trust offers local authorities free neutering vouchers which can be given to those dog owners who need them most.

Since 2003, Dogs Trust has been providing free workshops to primary schools across most of the UK. The charity now has 13 full-time education officers who conduct around 3,000 classroom presentations a year. Education officers are briefed to target schools in communities with particularly bad social problems.

For further information, please contact the Dogs Trust online press office at www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.

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February 15, 2012 · 6:20 pm

MP welcomes Balfour Centre reprieve

Mark Reckless MP (middle) with Cllrs Sylvia Griffin and Trevor Clarke visit the Balfour Centre

Mark Reckless MP has welcomed the decision by Medway Council to extend the Balfour Centre consultation period following a late bid from Medway Community Healthcare, which provides community NHS services to the people of Medway, to take over the running of the centre in Pattens Lane.

Mark, along with local ward councillors Sylvia Griffin and Trevor Clarke, recently visited the centre to discuss the consultation and to meet with and listen to some of current users of the centre.

Following a last minute bid from Medway Community Healthcare, Medway Council’s cabinet yesterday voted unanimously to extend the consultation period for the Balfour Centre, which supports adults with disabilities, to explore the viability of the proposal.

Speaking after the decision, Mark said:

“Many disabled people clearly enjoy the time that they spend at the Balfour Centre and gain skils and social opportunites which otherwise may not be available to them. I was impressed by the commitment of Balfour centre users and staff to the centre.

I am delighted that Medway Council have run a genuine consultation and that Medway Community Healthcare have come forward with these proposals to take over the running of the centre.”

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January 13, 2012 · 6:31 pm

MP pays tribute to Crisis charity walkers

Mark Reckless MP has paid tribute to all of the volunteers who took part in the recent Walk to End Homelessness campaign which has raised over £5,000 for the charity Crisis.

Forty walkers completed the 60 mile journey from Canterbury Cathedral which finished three days later at Southwark Cathedral to mark 40 years of Crisis at Christmas.

The Walk to End Homelessness, which was originally called The Crisis Pilgrimage and last took place in the 1990s, marked the 40th anniversary of Crisis at Christmas and Crisis’ No One Turned Away campaign, calling on the Government to strengthen the law so that no one is forced to sleep rough.

The government recently announced a further £20 million to provide single people facing homelessness the help they need to get back on their feet and ensure that they don’t have to spend time on the streets.

Mark Reckless said:

“Homelessness can be devastating and I am pleased to see the government, local council and charities like Crisis working to tackling it.

I would like to pay tribute to the fantastic work undertaken by Crisis to help people keep out of the cold, and the remarkable volunteers who took part in this walk and everyone who supported them.

I strongly support the work being done to help keep people off the streets and I welcome the government’s determination to back charities, councils and volunteers for homeless people.”

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May 27, 2011 · 2:34 pm

Carers Week 2011

Local MP, Mark Reckless has teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year’s Carers Week (13-19 June) and recognise the contribution made by those people in Rochester and Strood and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

The theme for Carers Week 2011 is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. The work they carry out is vital for their families and friends, and for their communities.

Mark and Angela have joined together to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles.

Mark said:

“Thousands of people in Rochester and Strood sacrifice not only their time, but also their money and their health in order to care for a loved one. Together they save this country an incredible £119 billion every year. I am particularly keen to see us do more to support the excellent work carers do and particularly the aspect of respite care, as I feel it is hugely important that our carers are able to be given time to relax and rejuvenate, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are receiving the care and attention they need.”

Angela Rippon has personal experience of being a carer. She says:

“For a number of years now I’ve become aware of the extraordinary job that carers do throughout this country. I feel that it’s important that anybody who has any knowledge at all stands up and be counted for them and make the job that they do public, because they should not be invisible, they should be out there and being seen as the heroes and heroines that they are. It’s a strain that people accept willingly and lovingly, and if they’re prepared to do that, I think that as a civilised nation we should be prepared to do something in return.”

Others supporting this campaign include: Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason OBE, Jack Charlton OBE and Martin Lewis.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 9 national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel & Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

For more information about local events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week, visit www.carersweek.org.

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April 30, 2011 · 5:44 pm

A Wonderful Day!

I was privileged yesterday to have won a place in the ballot for MPs and Parliamentary staff to watch the wedding parade pass the gates of Parliament. It was a wonderful occasion and one that I shall remember for the rest of my life.

Mark with Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, and Claire Perry, MP for Devizes

...and with Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, and her dashing Naval Officer husband

Flying the Flag in Rochester and Strood

We had a wonderful range of street parties across the constituency, ranging from a dozen or two to several hundred attendees, but all united in celebration.