News

Dementia Friends, sponsored by Alzheimer's Society, want people to understand what it might be like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.  Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, who is a champion to help improve the lives of sufferers of this condition and their carers, has become a Dementia Friend.

Stephen said, "Dementia is a health issue that touches not only the patient but also affects the family, and many of us will be directly affected as one in three people over 65 develops dementia.

"I have become a Dementia Friend to help raise awareness of what everyday life is like for someone with dementia. we must do more to help make our area more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of those affected by dementia.  A little more understanding could make a huge difference and I am pledging to make sure dementia sufferers get the best possible care locally."

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

Local resident, Adam Rowe has joined Barclays, Stevenage branch as an apprentice following a short period of unemployment after his studies at Nobel and Da Vinci Studio schools in Stevenage.

Barclays Stevenage had been searching for a new apprentice for some time and approached Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, to see if he knew of any young people seeking work. Stephen was able to help make an introduction through school contacts.

Stephen said, "It was a pleasure helping Adam into his role and I know Barclays are always looking for more young people to employ as they get promoted so quickly there are always vacancies to fill. I spend a lot of my time trying to help people into work and am delighted that over 95% of local people are now in employment. One of my main priorities is to reduce the gap between education and employment so there are more opportunities for young people locally."

Adam said, “I am honoured to have been offered this apprenticeship at Barclays. It is a brilliant starting point for my career. I would like to thank Stephen McPartland for the role he played in putting my name forward for the application process.”

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

Partners Ayna Miah, Forhad Chowdhury and Tahir Ali, who all live in Stevenage, spotted a gap for a store aimed at providing basic and authentic ethnic foodstuffs for the growing diverse community in the town. Now their new shop,  Eastern Groceries and Halal Meat in Popple Way, is a reality, and they asked MP Stephen McPartland to officially open it.

Stephen said, "I am always proud to welcome new businesses to the town and I was particularly pleased that all those involved in this new project live and work in the area. There is a massive variety of products on offer and I wish them the best of luck as they begin serving the local community."

Ayna commented about the new business, "Stevenage has been growing into a diverse and rich community for many years now. With it, we have observed a growing need. We feel by opening this store it will ease the burden on some families travelling 12 miles to Luton or 30 miles to London for the basic Saturday food shop, but also allow the wider community to try something different and have a taste of something more ethnic and more authentic.

"We would like to thank our local MP, Stephen McPartland, for visiting our shop and hope others venture to the store try something new and exciting."

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

The Garden House Hospice Business Forum was pleased to welcome Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, to an event hosted by FIRA at their facilities in Stevenage.

Stephen introduced the event, held in recognition of the important contribution companies make to the work of the Hospice charity, and which also gave those present an opportunity to network.

The support of local business is vital to the future care provided at the Hospice and, by understanding the different things different companies are looking for, working together and with the local community creates a partnership that is good for all.

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

Stephen McPartland MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group, presented the Young Furniture Maker of the Year award at The Furniture Makers Company's Student Presentations evening to celebrate the UK’s young design talent.

Stephen says, “It is a real pleasure to meet the designers of the future, and I have been particularly impressed by the range of skills on show. The company is doing a huge amount of work with young people, as we have seen through these projects, and I am very happy to support the Furniture Makers Company and its Young Furniture Makers programme. Seeing young furniture designers having 100% success in getting jobs is very encouraging for the industry.”

As the furniture industry’s central organisation, charity and patron, The Furniture Makers Company works with the industry to support industry schemes, projects and competitions that encourage students to excel.

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

JJ's Formal Hire has reached the finals for Groomswear Supplier of the Year representing the Eastern Region in the English Wedding Awards 2013.

The family shop, based in Market Place in Stevenage town centre, was officially opened by Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament in August 2012, and the firm was nominated for the award during its first year of trading.

Stephen said, "I am delighted they have been nominated for the award and achieved a place in the finals during their first year of trading. It is fantastic that another new small business is going from strength to strength and this is another example of Stevenage leading the way in helping the UK economy recover."

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

Local MP, Stephen McPartland visited the town centre store to try out the new 4G service now available in Stevenage.

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage said: “I experienced first hand the amazing speed of the new 4G service and can see it has the potential to transform the way we live, work and communicate.4G is the next generation of mobile services and I’m proud that Stevenage is leading the way as one of the first towns to benefit from this technology giving local people access to some of the fastest mobile speeds in the world.”

The 4G network, which brings customers speeds on average five times faster than 3G, is available in a number of towns and cities across the UK and will extend to cover almost all the population by the end of 2014.

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference

Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, has welcomed the ElectricSafe register which is helping local people find electricians they can trust to do the job properly.

Stephen said, "Electrical safety in the home is very important as each year around 3,340 people are admitted to hospital following an electric shock in the UK, with 3,822 domestic electrical fire resulting in 14 deaths. It is important that we are all aware of the simple steps we can take to reduce potential electrical risks in the home and hire a competent, registered electrician when requiring electrical work to be done in the home.

"I was delighted that when I popped in my home postcode in Stevenage into the ElectricSafe register, a large number of qualified electricians in Stevenage were displayed."

All ElectricSafe electricians are regularly assessed and are required to meet strict qualification requirements, work to a high standard and operate a fair and efficient process for dealing with complaints.

Click here if you would like to help Stephen make a difference