Earlham Primary secures funding to improve buildings

Posted on 9th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP has today announced government money to rebuild Earlham Primary School in Wood Green.

The news has been welcomed by local MP Lynne Featherstone, who visited Earlham Primary last week and called for the school to be included in the Government programme.

The money will come from the Priority Schools Building Programme, a £2bn government scheme spearheaded by the Liberal Democrats, to rebuild those schools across the country suffering most from wear and tear.

Schools included in the programme are now able to start developing detailed plans, and are expected to be completed in 2017.

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP said:

“I am delighted to announce money that will allow Earlham Primary to make badly needed improvements to their building.

“Lynne Featherstone MP made a very clear case as to why Earlham needs this money, and I look forward to seeing the improvements.”

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, said:

“This announcement is fantastic news for families and teachers in Wood Green.

“Earlham Primary badly needs to upgrade its classrooms and other facilities. This money fought for and delivered by Liberal Democrats in government will make a real difference.

“Making sure all children in Wood Green get a fair start in life should always be a top priority, and I can’t wait to see Earlham’s plans develop.”

Local MP calls for Schools Buildings Money for Earlham Primary

Posted on 6th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Local Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has called on the Schools’ Minister to deliver money to rebuild Earlham Primary School in Wood Green.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green visited the primary school today, and was given a tour by Head teacher Oweda Harrison. Many of the buildings and classrooms are in need of repair.

Hundreds of schools across the country are seeking money from the Government’s Priority Schools Buildings Programme – to refurbish and rebuild old buildings.

Schools’ Minister David Laws, also a Liberal Democrat, is set to announce the successful schools in the £2bn programme before the end of the month.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Earlham Primary is a fantastic local school, but it does urgently need money to improve its buildings. I have already contacted the Schools’ Minister to ask that Earlham is included in the Priority School Building Programme.

“In a truly fair society, all children should have equal access to decent school facilities. I have made this case to government ministers and will continue to do so.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits local secondary school

Posted on 12th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP recently visited a local secondary school, Woodside High, to meet with newly elected school council members in year 7 and attend a Q&A.

The students had the chance to ask their local MP a variety of questions about her political career and the work she is doing locally and in Government. They also discussed the importance of education, and the experience of starting at a new school.

This Liberal Democrats in Government have introduced measures like the ‘Pupil Premium’ to help schools. The £2.5 billion fund puts more money in schools, targeted at pupils who need the most help. This fund has given Haringey schools an extra £13.1 million this year.

At the end of the visit, the children presented the Lib Dem MP with a gift to thank her for coming.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was a pleasure to visit Woodside High and see how the new intake of children are getting on.

“I always enjoy visiting local schools in my constituency. It was great to see how engaged the children were with politics and how well they are settling into such a wonderful school.”

Unemployment in Hornsey and Wood Green drops to just 3%

Posted on 16th Oct 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone has welcomed yesterday’s employment figures, which show that 30.76 million people in the UK are now in work, the highest level on record.

The number of people unemployed has fallen below 2 million for the first time since 2008, while youth unemployment has seen the largest annual fall since records began.

Over the last year every region and nation in the UK has seen a fall in unemployment – again, the largest annual fall since records began, which brings the rate to a new 6 year low of 6%.

In Lynne Featherstone’s constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, unemployment has fallen to just 3% – down from 5.2% in 2010. Youth unemployment locally has halved.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The employment rate is back up to the pre-recession levels – and it’s no surprise, with nearly 1.3 million more people working full time since 2010.

“I’m so pleased that we’re leading the way in Haringey, with local youth unemployment down by half since 2010.

“The apprenticeship event I held this year was full young and ambitious people looking to get into work. I’m glad that they have a better chance to find work now than they did before 2010.”

Haringey youngsters secure interviews and training courses at Lynne Featherstone MP’s apprenticeship event

Posted on 29th Aug 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP yesterday hosted a packed apprenticeship event at Haringey Civic Centre in Wood Green.

Over 100 people came through the doors to take a look at the opportunities available with organisations such as Barclays, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and the National Apprenticeship Service.

At the event, one attendee secured an interview at a local restaurant, six people signed up for a stewarding course at Tottenham Hotspurs, and local organisation 5e enrolled 15 people on their ‘skills boost’ programme.

25 of the people who attended expressed an interest in a community cadet course with the London Fire Brigade, and 14 will attend an open day at the North London Garages next week.

Youth unemployment in the Lib Dem MP’s constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green has halved since 2010. At the event, the local MP said she wanted Haringey to continue to lead the way in getting into work.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“This year’s apprenticeship event was a great success. I’d like to thank all the companies who came along to advertise their courses and vacancies, and wish all the attendees who signed up for courses and open days the best of luck.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to kick start a career and I am so pleased to be able to advertise them to local youngsters by putting on this event. Creating apprenticeships is a Lib Dem priority, and we’ve worked with businesses to help create 1.8 million new positions in the last 4 years.

“With youth unemployment in my constituency halved since 2010, our bright young talent here in Haringey are really setting a great example to the rest of the capital!”

Local apprenticeship event and falling youth unemployment

Posted on 14th Aug 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Youth unemployment in Hornsey and Wood Green (my constituency) has fallen again! In fact, youth unemployment here has halved over the last four years – down from 7.1% in May 2010 to just 3.1% in June.

This means more and more local young people are getting into work, learning skills and earning money – which is definitely a step in the right direction.

Under the previous Labour Government, education standards fell and youth unemployment rose. Some young people got stuck in the benefits system. Labour threw endless money into this system, and they ended up trapping people, who found they would get more money being unemployed than they would in a job. This is no way to incentivise young talent into work!

When the Lib Dems entered Government in 2010, creating jobs and apprenticeships, and getting all able people back into work, was one of our top priorities.

Working with businesses, we have helped to create one million jobs since 2010, and 1.8 million apprenticeships. Employment rates are now at a record high as the economy continues to recover.

And I want to make sure we keep up in Haringey. Our young people must be aware of, and able to access, all of these opportunities.

That’s why I’m holding my second annual apprenticeship event, on the 28^th August at Haringey Civic Centre. There will be companies at the event with hundreds of vacancies, which local young people can ask about and apply for.

You can also come just to find out a bit more information and ask questions.

An apprenticeship really is a great way to kick start a career. They take between one and four years to complete and combine practical training in a job with study. That means you get paid to study and learn a trade, whilst also being able to make contacts in an industry.

And you get a qualification too – an advanced level apprenticeship is equivalent to two A level passes, and others can lead to the attainment of a Foundation Degree.

Last year, the apprenticeship event was a great success – one young person was taken on the very next day! I hope we can do even better this year.

So if you are a young person, unemployed or just looking for a new challenge, do come down to the Civic Centre (High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LE) on the 28th August between 2pm and 6pm – to meet employers and find out more!

Youth unemployment in Lynne Featherstone’s constituency halved

Posted on 7th Aug 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has welcome news that youth unemployment in her constituency has halved since 2010.

In May 2010, the youth unemployment rate in Hornsey and Wood Green was 7.1%. Four years on, the figure in June 2014 is just 3.1%.

Overall unemployment in Lynne Featherstone MP’s constituency is also down – from 5.2% in 2010 to 3.2% now.

Getting people into work is a Liberal Democrat priority in Government. Since May 2010, over 1 million new private sector jobs and 1.8 million apprenticeships have been created.

Local MP Lynne Featherstone holds an annual apprenticeship event in Hornsey and Wood Green, to try and boost the numbers of young people getting into work. The next event will take place on the 28^th August.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I am so pleased that youth unemployment in my constituency has halved since 2010. Getting young people into work is so important, that’s why it was and is a Liberal Democrat priority in Government.

“With one million new jobs and 1.8million apprenticeships created since 2010 – it’s easy to see why unemployment – particularly youth unemployment – is falling so drastically.”

Lynne Featherstone MP supports Wood Green animal shelter

Posted on 28th Jul 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP visited Wood Green, The Animals Charity in Lordship Lane on Friday. As well as housing a rehoming centre for cats, the charity now runs as a preventative clinic, taking action to care for animals before they become unwell.

The ambitious new programme will include a range of proactive services including parasite clinics, weight management programmes, vaccinations and Pet MOT’s, as well as ‘Snip and Chips’ for Cats and Dogs.

The local MP was shown around the facility and introduced to several of the cats that are seeking to be rehomed – including a number of kittens. Lynne was given the opportunity to hold the new-borns during the tour and was told about the centre’s need for fosterers to care for pregnant cats and orphaned or abandoned kittens.

Wood Green Chief Executive Clive Byles said:

“I am glad Lynne was able to find the time to come and see us and get an appreciation of what we do. It was 90 years ago this year that we first opened our doors in Wood Green to help pets and their owners.

“We are proud of the difference we have made to the lives of thousands of pets and their owners and are excited about working even more closely with residents of North London to improve awareness of pets and their needs, for the benefit of the pet, their owners and the community generally.”

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The centre has a dedicated and caring team of staff, and I was very interested to hear about the new proactive preventative care plan. We love our animals and want them to be healthy, so making sure that they do not become ill in the first place and teaching pet owners how best to care for them is a very progressive change.

“It is great to see the work being done with cats that have been abandoned. Finding them loving homes is paramount, as is ensuring that those who need extra care have someone to foster them. I do hope local people who have the time and resources will be able to offer a home, either permanently or as a fosterer, to these adorable animals.”

Lynne Featherstone MP to host Apprenticeship event in Haringey

Posted on 25th Jul 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green is to host her annual apprenticeship event on the 28th August at Haringey Civic Centre, from 2-6pm.

The MP will be teaming up with JobCentre Plus in Wood Green once again to put on the event, so that Haringey youngsters can meet companies with apprenticeship vacancies, find out more about how to apply and even secure apprenticeships that will kick start their future career.

Last year, the event was attended by around 20 employers, with over 1000 opportunities between them, and over 100 young jobseekers. Following the event, companies have confirmed that they have taken on some of Haringey’s young people – with one young person being offered an apprenticeship the very next day.

There have been over 1.8 million apprenticeship starts since the start of 2010 and Liberal Democrats in Government are committed to delivering 2 million apprenticeships by the end of this Parliament.

In Lynne Featherstone’s constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, youth unemployment has halved since 2010.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“With youth unemployment continuing to fall in Haringey, I’m pleased to be able to do my bit to bring these great opportunities to young people in Haringey and I’m really looking forward to this year’s event.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to kick start a career and combine practical training in a job with study. That means you get paid to study and learn a trade, whilst also being able to make contacts in an industry.

“If you’re a young person, a parent, looking for work, or looking to try something different, please do come along and find out more!”

Lynne Featherstone MP attends Iftar dinners in Hornsey and Wood Green

Posted on 23rd Jul 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP, along with Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Tottenham Turhan Ozen, last week visited two local Mosques for Iftar dinners – the evening meal where Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan.

The Liberal Democrat MP gave speeches at both the Fatih Mosque in Wood Green and at the Diyanet Mosque in Hornsey.

In both speeches the local MP spoke about the strong Muslim community in Haringey, and how she has met so many local Muslims by holding advice surgeries at Mosques and opening new local businesses.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also spoke about her experiences as a Government Minister at the Department for International Development, which has enabled her to meet Muslim and other communities in Africa.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was an honour to attend the Iftar dinners and share the wonderful food and experience with the local mosque communities. I’d like to thank both Mosques for the invitations.

“When Ramadan falls in the summer months, it is particularly demanding, and I have huge respect for the many Muslims who commit to fasting every day for a month, between sunrise and sunset.

“My work in international development means I get to travel overseas to meet such a wide range of communities. But Haringey is just as diverse – with 180 languages spoken here! It’s great to spend time with the communities here too and take part in these important events.”