Some recent highlights

One of my favourite community project visits was the Huntingdon Community Garden. James and the team showed me their gardening and skills project for adults with learning disabilities. I was impressed with the sensory garden and the volunteers’ knowledge of vegetable families.

I spoke at the 2023 Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Care Leavers Summit about ESOL provision. I shared my lived experience as a migrant in the UK learning English and the views of providers and experts attending the Sub-Regional Local Planning Partnership for ESOL, which I have been chairing.

Over 10,000 people in the Huntingdon constituency live in a household with a veteran; around 1 in 7 of us. I was glad to meet with the Royal British Legion and Labour Friends of the Forces at Labour Conference to discuss how Labour in Government can improve the lives for our veterans.

`I enjoyed speaking to some volunteers at Huntingdon Eco Fair stalls, including the Huntingdon Community Swap clothes stall where we spoke about the cost of living crisis, environmental initiatives & the need for councils (& councillors) to be visible and promote what they are doing in their roles!

I met with one of the local councillors at Coneygear centre to see the new library as well as the garden. We need more community centres like this in Huntingdonshire, bringing residents together for events and activities, including family activities. I’m also there quite often for Labour meetings!

On a hot summer day, I walked with one of the Huntingdonshire County Councillors from Alconbury, where the County Council meets, to Huntingdon. We then took the busway to Cambridge via St Ives and spoke about the need to address rural transport, as we failed to book the Ting bus.

I love spending my time in St Ives, especially walking by the beautiful riverside. I was speaking to some local councillors about how we can improve the community announcement boards, like this one in the picture. There are so many great community projects and events and we need to ensure all residents know about how to get involved.

We live in a beautiful constituency with many hidden nature walks. One of the not so hidden spots is Fen Drayton Lakes - you can see them from the Busway. I enjoy stopping there on my way to or back from Cambridge to walk and enjoy the amazing views. We need to do more to promote the benefits of such places.

I met with Stagecoach to learn more about the challenges and opportunities to improve our public transport. Many residents told me they would like an “express” service between Huntingdon and St Ives. Rural transport is challenging without significant subsidy, but the Ting trial is looking promising.

As Vice-Chair of Communities in the county, I have the privilege of visiting many libraries. Libraries are not only places for books (although the Summer Reading Challenge is great!) but they become warm hubs and community spaces for so many of our residents.

This book swap has to be my favourite place in Buckden! It is so important local residents have access to services where they are and local communities have a big role to play in working with business, local authorities and volunteers to use spaces creatively.

I learnt a lot from our council officers, parishes and partners at the Flood Action conference in St Ives this year. It is crucial that our communities receive the support they need to prevent as much as possible and mitigate the impact of flooding and be empowered to take action locally.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson visited New Shire Hall in Alconbury to discuss with councillors how to collaborate on a cultural strategy for our region. I believe cultural activities should be accessible to all, led by local communities and supported by local as well as central Government sustainable funding.