Lynne Featherstone MP announces local public meeting with Health Minister

Posted on 26th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Health Minister Norman Lamb will attend a public meeting in March, to discuss his work on the NHS, social care, and mental health with local residents.

The meeting – arranged by local MP Lynne Featherstone – will take place at 7:15pm on Wednesday 25^th March at a venue in Hornsey.

Residents interested in attending should email Lynne Featherstone MP for details.

In Government, the Liberal Democrats have:

Improved services across the NHS, with 6,000 more doctors, lower waiting times and cancer drugs for 30,000 people.
Taken mental health seriously, putting £400m extra into early support.
Introduced the first ever cap on the cost of social care, so people don’t have to sell their home to pay for their care.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have pledged an extra £8bn in NHS funding if they are in Government after May.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Liberal Democrats believe that the NHS should always remain free at the point of delivery. In Government, Norman Lamb and his team have protected the NHS budget and put mental health on the agenda.

“I’m very much looking forward to welcoming Norman to the constituency, and hearing about the work he has done to protect the NHS, improve social care, and to ensure that mental health is on the same platform as physical health.

“The meeting is open to the public – if you’re interested in attending, please contact me!”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Cypriot Community Centre

Posted on 26th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone last week visited the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green, to speak to users of the centre.

The Centre provides a range of services including a lunch club, meals on wheels, classes, training and advice services. The Centre also runs the Cypriot elderly & disabled group, which provides day care.

During the visit, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green discussed the upcoming elections and her current local campaigns, including work she is doing to promote unity within Haringey.

As part of this campaign, the Liberal Democrat MP is visiting local community centres, religious institutions, youth groups and more – to discuss finding solutions to extremism and to promote unity and community cohesion, in response to incidents like the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

The local residents at the centre backed the local MP’s approach – agreeing that keeping in touch and having conversations is the best way to alleviate tensions and prevent division in society.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented

“I have visited the Cypriot Community Centre on a number of occasions – and I’m always so impressed by the services provided for local residents.

“The managers at the centre do a fantastic job and are so inclusive – it’s exactly what you want from a community organisation. I really enjoyed visiting and discussing the issues of the day with local residents!”

Lynne Featherstone MP discusses FGM awareness with local community champions

Posted on 25th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last Thursday joined in with the Jan Trust’s Community Champions Day.

The Trust – who are based in Lynne Featherstone MP’s constituency – held the day as part of their ‘Against FGM’ project.

During the visit, the local MP joined a roundtable discussion on how to raise awareness of FGM, and watched a number of presentations by the community champions.

In Government, the Liberal Democrat MP has launched a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement to end FGM. She has also announced mandatory reporting of FGM for frontline professionals.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also recently held a local conference – attended by over 100 North London professionals – on working together to end FGM.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Four years ago, very few people had heard of FGM. Now, thanks to the work of brave campaigners, it is very much on the agenda. So many people are working hard to raise awareness and end the unacceptable practice for good.

“We’re really leading the way here in Haringey. It was great to have Jan Trust staff at my local FGM conference, and to attend their community champion project just two days later.

“By working together in Haringey and beyond – we will raise awareness and end FGM.”

Lynne Featherstone visits Islamic Cultural Centre & London Central Mosque

Posted on 23rd Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited the London Central Mosque on Wightman Road to discuss any concerns about divisions within local society.

Members of the congregation told the local MP that they are aware of an increase in ‘anti-Muslim’ rallies – and that the Muslim community here feels more vulnerable after the actions of extremists in other countries.

They expressed further concerns about how some political parties and some media outlets are portraying the issues, which is causing further division.

However, the members of the congregation were encouraged by religious leaders, the Borough Commander and the Liberal Democrat MP all working together to find solutions and encourage unity.

The visit is one of many being undertaken by Lynne Featherstone MP, as part of her ‘unity’ campaign. The campaign based around searching for solutions to extremism and promoting community cohesion in Haringey.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“In a fair and equal society – no community would feel more vulnerable than another. So it is really upsetting to hear that the local Muslim community currently feels at risk, because of events in other countries.

“That’s why I’ve started the unity campaign. I’m visiting communities and young people across Haringey to discuss ways to prevent both extremism and intolerance.

“It is really encouraging to see the Mosque taking an active role in encouraging people to report hate crimes, and also to be vigilant in order to prevent extremism. These are real actions which could prevent further violence.

“From day one – my party the Liberal Democrats have stood up to UKIP and the anti-immigration rhetoric from the other parties. It simply is not welcome here in Haringey.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits ‘Exposure’ journalists

Posted on 23rd Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone last week visited Exposure – a multi-award winning charitable youth media enterprise based in north London.

The Liberal Democrat MP met with Andreas Koumi (the Project Manager) and a group of young journalists, who were volunteering at Exposure during half term. The journalists were writing articles for Exposure about bullying and disability – amongst other things.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green discussed her unity campaign – and how anything from different ages, races and religions can lead to division and bullying.

They then discussed how to prevent this, and encourage cohesion in the community. The media in particular was discussed – and the group agreed it had a very important part to play in encouraging unity, rather than fear.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The unity campaign I’m running is all about getting out there, talking to different communities and searching for solution to both extremism and intolerance.

“The young people at Exposure were really articulate and well informed, and had some really good ideas about how the media can better encourage unity and cohesion. I’ll certainly take their ideas on board – and wish them the best of luck with their future careers!”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Muswell Hill Library, as petition signatures reach almost 2000

Posted on 19th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited Muswell Hill Library, to take a look at the facilities and to discuss the future of the library.

The library, which has between 100 and 350 users per day, is now providing downloadable books, magazines and newspapers, as well as internet services and events for children.

During the visit, a local resident and library user expressed support for the campaign, and told the MP how important the services are for her and others, particularly local children.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green started a campaign to save the library late last year, after Labour-run Haringey Council’s budget plans revealed an intention to relocate the service.

Almost 2000 residents have signed the Liberal Democrat MP’s petition, which calls on Labour-run Haringey Council to remove the proposed closure and relocation from their budget plans.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was great to visit the library and see first-hand how valuable the services are to local residents – from young children taking part in activities, to elderly residents accessing newspapers and the internet.

“Almost 2000 local residents have backed the campaign to keep the library services in the historic building on Queens Avenue. It would be much better to install a lift in the current building – which is the only thing it lacks – rather than undergo a full relocation.

“Together, we are calling on Haringey Labour to withdraw their plans to relocate the service when the budget proposals go before the full Council next week.”

Lynne Featherstone MP holds FGM conference in Haringey

Posted on 18th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone yesterday held a conference on ‘Working Together to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM.)’

The conference, which took place at Hornsey School for Girls, was attended by over 100 health, social care, education, police and community professionals from across north London.

The conference was opened by Lynne Featherstone MP, and included speeches from campaigners Nimco Ali and Alimatu Dimonekene. During the opening session, students from Hornsey School for Girls presented a dramatic piece.

Throughout the day, the attendees were split into smaller groups. They discussed the work already being done to end FGM, and how the different sectors could work together to spot warning signs and protect girls.

While a minister at the Department for International Development, Lynne Featherstone announced a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement for change. As Minister of State for Crime Prevention, the Lib Dem MP recently announced that frontline professionals will have a mandatory duty to report cases of FGM.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“FGM is an unacceptable practice. In a truly fair society, where everyone has equal opportunity to get on, FGM would not happen. That’s why we have to keep working together and raising awareness until the day when no girl is at risk of FGM.

“Thanks to brave campaigners like Nimco and Alimatu, ending FGM is now very much on the agenda. As a Minister for Development and now Crime Prevention, I have worked with them and my team in Government to launch a £35 million programme to support the movement to end FGM, and more recently, to announce mandatory reporting.

“And of course, I want to tackle FGM and protect girls locally, too. That’s why I put together the conference – and it was fantastic to see professionals from across North London come together to discuss how to work together to prevent FGM.

“I’d like to thank all the speakers, those who helped organise, and particularly to Hornsey School for Girls for hosting the conference – it was a great success, and hopefully the first of many!”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits apprenticeship and training schemes

Posted on 13th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP yesterday visited Broadwater Farm community centre, to meet with local residents who are involved in successful projects across Haringey.

Along with Communities Minister Stephen Williams, the Liberal Democrat MP met young people taking part in the Building Lives Apprenticeship Scheme.

The scheme helps hundreds of people a year into sustainable construction careers across London. Around 70% of the participants were not in education, employment, or training before becoming an apprentice.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also met members of the Little Flames Youth Cadet Service, a programme for 9-18 year olds. Alongside learning skills themselves, they deliver first aid training and provide first aid support to several local events.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Schemes like ‘Building Lives’ and the youth cadets are doing great work to help young people learn skills. They are a real positive force in our borough, and I enjoyed seeing the work they do first hand.

“We have a great story to tell in our local area. Unemployment here has halved since 2010, and youth unemployment in particular has more than halved!

“As the local MP – I hold annual apprenticeship events to bring local schemes and jobs together with local young people looking for work. Everyone should have equal access to these opportunities.”

Time to talk

Posted on 11th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Last week was ‘Time to Talk’ week run by Mind and Rethink as part of their campaign to end mental health stigma.

The Time to Talk campaign encouraged everyone to take 5 minutes to have a conversation about mental health.

Ordinary people are the drivers for change – and telling people how you feel, or listening to someone, can make a huge difference.

Mental health is too important to fall off the agenda. One in four will have a mental health condition at some point in our lives – so all of us will know someone affected.

The most recent statistics for Haringey show over 8,000 people have been diagnosed with depression. The real figure is likely to be much higher.

Lib Dems will stamp out the mental health stigma For decades mental health was pushed aside in favour of physical health. Successive governments let the stigma continue, and none of them tried to break down the barriers to treatment.

When the Lib Dems entered Government, we were determined to change this. We’re providing £400 million more for talking therapies, £54 million for children’s mental health, and £1.2 million in staff training.

Perhaps most importantly we’re introducing ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health. This means that mental health must now be given the same priority – fixed waiting times etc – as physical health.

The stigma around mental health must end, and that’s why the Lib Dems in Government will always make sure that mental health is given the attention it deserves.

100 professionals confirmed for local MP’s FGM conference

Posted on 10th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Over 100 North London professionals have signed up to attend Lynne Featherstone MP’s upcoming conference on ‘working together to end FGM.’

Health workers, social workers, police, teachers and community groups will get together at the conference – which is being held at Hornsey School for Girls on Tuesday 17^th February.

There will be a number of sessions for professional to discuss how they can best work together to prevent FGM and support local girls.

The conference will be opened by Lynne Featherstone MP, and will also include speeches by prominent FGM campaigners Nimco Ali and Alimatu Dimonekene.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green is also the Minister for Crime Prevention at the Home Office. The Lib Dem MP previously held a position at DFID, where she announced a £35 million programme to help end FGM within a generation.

There are a small number of spaces still available for the conference, which can be booked by contacting the Liberal Democrat MP.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“In a truly fair and equal society – no girl would be at risk of undergoing FGM. That’s why I will continue to raise awareness and campaign for better support and protection for girls until FGM is no longer practised at all.

“This conference will bring together different professionals, campaigners and survivors from across North London, and will start conversations about how working together can benefit local girls who may be at risk.

“I’m really looking forward to the event. There are still a few spaces left for the conference – please do get in touch if you’re interested in attending.”