Don Foster MP - Bath's #1 Supporter
Look out for loneliness this Christmas - Foster
Don Foster MP is urging Bath residents to “look out for loneliness” over the coming Christmas and New Year period.
Don sharing a smile with a resident of Bridgecare Retirement Home
Earlier this year, Don highlighted international research that showed an average of 10 per cent of the over 65s feel they are lonely or very lonely.
In Bath & North East Somerset this means there are around 3596 lonely pensioners who could be experiencing serious long-term effects on their health as a result.
Calling on people to sign up to join the Campaign to End Loneliness, Don is also asking that Bath residents consider neighbours or friends who may be alone over the festive period and beyond.
Commenting, Don Foster MP said:
“We know that loneliness is bad for your health – one estimate has put it as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
“While many will meet up with family and friends over Christmas time, for those without company, feelings of loneliness can be heightened.
“In the short term we can all help by looking out for isolated family, friends and neighbours over the holiday period. Think - Can you visit? Or perhaps involve them in plans? Face to face contact can make a big difference.
“Beyond Christmas you can help combat loneliness by supporting organisations such as the Campaign to End Loneliness, Age UK BathNES or Contact the Elderly so that Bath can be stronger together.”
Councillor Simon Allen (Liberal Democrat, Radstock), B&NES Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing said:
”In Bath and North East Somerset we have strong communities who look out for each other but still some of our neighbours will have the experience of being on their own.
“Finding those who are lonely at Christmas is vital, but their lives must be helped all year round. A wave or hello can make all the difference and can improve your own WellBeing at the same time. The Council will continue to work with its partners to do what it can to end loneliness.”
Janet Dabbs, Chief Executive of Age UK BathNES added:
“Loneliness can have a devastating effect on health and wellbeing. At Age UK B&NES we go a long way in providing friendship and support to 1200 older people through our activities and services.
“We have 150 volunteers who support older people throughout the county and we are always looking for more.
“As well as older people seeking long lasting friendship and companionship, some are looking for romance, and why not, as Marie de Nennzel said, ‘the warmth of your heart keeps your body from rusting.’”
£1.7 million present for Bath schools
Schools in Bath have been given a £1.7 million Christmas present by Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.
The cash is an increase in the Pupil Premium funding, which targets extra money to schools depending on the number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds they have.
The Pupil Premium is a major Liberal Democrat priority that is being delivered by the Coalition Government.
In Bath, 1,970 pupils are expected to be eligible, meaning that our schools are set to benefit from an extra £1,751,000 to support disadvantaged children.
The Pupil Premium covers any primary or secondary school pupil that has been registered for Free School Meals in the past six years. For 2013/14, the Premium will be worth £1.65bn, or £900 per pupil, in total.
Commenting, Don Foster MP said:
“Liberal Democrats are building a strong economy and fair society where everyone can get ahead. To do that we need to make sure that children are not held back by poverty and disadvantage.”
“For too long, social background has been a deciding factor in a child’s chances for the future. I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are helping every child in Bath to reach their full potential.
“This money does not just help the poorest children, it helps every child. Fewer children falling behind means less disruption in class and a better education for everyone.”
Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Schools Minister, David Laws said:
“We are already seeing across the country how the Pupil Premium is making a difference to children’s lives. Extra tuition, better IT resources and closer work with parents are all examples of how the Pupil Premium is being used to support the most disadvantaged pupils and benefit all their classmates too.
“That’s why I’m so pleased that, next year, we’ll be extending the Pupil Premium to another half a million children, and increasing the money that schools get to £900 per pupil.
“This means that, as a result of Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government, more children will get a better start in life.”
Liberal Democrats reveal favourite Children’s Books!
At this years party conferences the National Union of Teachers compiled a list of attendees’ favourite children’s books. If you’re looking for a good book this Christmas, then look no further!
Promoting the campaign to read with children each night, you too can share your own favourites via @nutonline
Talking to Liberal Democrats in Brighton this Autumn, here were their respective nominations:
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• Lord Addington
• Lord Newby, Deputy Chief Whip / Government Spokesperson for HM Treasury
• Richard Younger-Ross, former MP
Rupert Bear by Mary Tourtel
• Sir Bob Russell MP
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon
• Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
• Roger Williams MP
• Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Advocate General for Scotland
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
• Stephen Williams MP
Badjelly the Witch by Spike Milligan
• Baroness Sharp of Guildford
Biggles by Captain WE Johns
• John Hemming MP
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
• Lembit Öpik, former MP
Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Annette Brooke MP
• Lord Clement-Jones
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
• Dan Rogerson MP
• John Leech MP
A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Dan Rogerson MP
The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr
• Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister
Little Bear and Little Tiger by Janosch
• John Pugh MP
Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat
• Baroness Jolly
Beaver Towers by Nigel Hinton
• Don Foster, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Baroness Kramer
Modern Chess Openings
• Evan Harris, former MP
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
• Chris Huhne MP
The Twits by Roald Dahl
• Kevin Maguire, The Mirror
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• David Ward MP
Charlotte’s Web by EB White
• Mark Williams MP
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
• Tessa Munt MP, PPS to Vince Cable MP
Bless the Beasts and Children by Glendon Swarthout
• Denys Robinson, Liberal Democrat Education Association
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
• Mark Hunter MP, Assistant Whip
• Paul Homes, former MP
Just William by Richmal Crompton
• Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Sir Menzies Campbell MP
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• David Laws, Minister of State for Schools
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
• Martin Horwood MP
Noddy and Big Ears by Enid Blyton
• Catherine Bearder MEP for South East England
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
• Tom Brake MP, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis
• Tim Farron MP, President of Liberal Democrats
I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay
• Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Tom Rabbit by Martin Waddell
• Greg Mulholland MP
Perkin the Pedlar by Eleanor Farjeon
• Baroness Williams of Crosby
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley
• Baroness Brinton
Watership Down by Richard Adams
• Jo Swinson MP, Minister of State for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs
Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State, Department of Health
Hot Hippo by Mwenye Hadithi
• Alistair Carmichael MP, Deputy Chief Whip / Deputy Leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
• Jenny Willott MP, Assistant Whip
