Some time ago, when door knocking with David Lepper, I met a resident who used to volunteer with a charity that helped children with their reading and she was very upset that the charity had just withdrawn its support from schools in Sussex. After a bit of research we discovered ‘Brilliant Reading’ a new charity that was prepared to take its place and today I had the pleasure of giving the welcome address to a newly established group of volunteers. The stories I heard from the volunteers were funny and sometimes sad, but always inspiring – what a wonderfully dedicated group of people – it almost made me wish I was back at school!
Just time to pop back to the office and catch up on emails and letters before joining my team outside Balfour Schools to meet parents as they collected their children. We chatted to lots of parents and two Mums expressed a need for better and safer cycle lanes – something I fully support! Under a Labour Council, Brighton and Hove became a ‘cycling demonstration town’ and Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, has cited the City’s green travel plans as leading to 500,000 fewer car trips in 2006. She said, “This can only help ease congestion locally as well as improving air quality, health and fitness.”
From here it was straight on to Brighton Women’s Centre Open Day where I met the new Chief Executive, staff, trustees and funders. I had a chance to chat to some of the practitioners about the services offered to women and hear more about their work. I’ve been to some of their meetings to discuss lap dancing and the image of women. We parted agreeing to meet up again at the Pride Festival on 2nd August.
Final stop was a reception at Sussex Family Mediation Service to meet Chief Executive Gerry Roberts, trustees and local solicitors. There was clearly a lot of concern about changes to the Legal Aid system and this is something I’m aware of from my work at the London Advice Services Alliance and Child Poverty Action Group.
Posted on June 20, 2008 in Education, Environmental and Green Issues, Out and About in Brighton.
