Jon
Ashworth MP formally launches the Highfields Business Forum |
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Friday
January 24 2014 |
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Jon
attended the launch of the Highfields Business Forum at
the Highfields Centre.
Speaking ahead of the event Jon said: “The Forum is an
excellent initiative to bring together businesses from
Highfields and St Matthews. Not only can common issues
be identified but the businesses will have a stronger
and louder voice to be heard. The Belgrave businesses
have shown what can be achieved by uniting together with
one voice, and I’m confident the Highfields Business Forum
will be as successful.”
The Highfields Centre has been delivering business support
services in the area for the last year. Those gathered
for the Business Forum launch heard from local people
who have already received support, including Malcolm Fife
who has been assisted to set up Muzik-I, a music and entertainments
business.
Priya Thamotheram, Head of Centre, commented: “The launch
of the Highfields Business Forum will provide a much needed
opportunity for local businesses in the Highfields and
St Matthews areas to come together and to have their voice
heard in a way that has not been done before.”
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“It
will also be an opportunity to find out how our new Leicester
for Business support service, including the new Business
grants, can assist with your particular business objectives
and how in turn it can contribute to the betterment of
our communities.”
The event on Friday was the first in a series of round
table discussions on the issues facing local business,
wioth local people volunteering to be on a ‘steering group’. |
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Photo
above left, Jon speaking at the launch next to
Priya Thamotheram, Head of Highfields Centre photo
above, Jon taking questions from the floor, next
to a representative of Belgrave Business Association
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any photo for enlargement
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Jon
Ashworth MP visited Leicestershire Ethnic Elderly Advocacy Project
(LEEAP) |
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Friday
January 17 2014 |
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Jon Ashworth
MP met with Committee Members, staff and people who have
used the service and their relatives
Speaking during the visit, Jon said: “It is clear that
the Project provides an essential service to the elderly
members of the community. The need for this service will
continue to grow as family structures change and people
leave their home city to find work and to settle down.”
LEEAP provides support, advice and advocacy for elderly
members of the black and ethnic minority communities.
It is a unique Project that is based within the communities
that it serves.
One service user commented to Jon: “Although I am new
to the Project it is very welcoming and there is a sense
of belonging. The staff understand, and are sensitive
to, the needs of the community.”
LEEAP has over a thousand service users and Jon heard
about the different work the staff and Committee Members
have undertaken including claiming welfare benefits, ensuring
the City Council provides the necessary property adaptations
to enable people to remain in their homes, applying for
energy efficiency measures to help reduce energy bills
and housing problems. |
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Jon
was joined on his visit to LEEAP by the Assistant Mayor
for Communities, Councillor Manjula Sood MBE. Jon stated:
“It was a pleasure to come and visit the scheme with Councillor
Sood and meet with the Committee Members, staff and service
users and hear at first hand the need that the Project
meets.” |
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Photo
above left, Jon answers questions with Padmini
Chamund (Vice Chair), Nanubhai Patel (Secretary) and Councillor
Manjula Sood MBE, photo above, Jon is
presented with a garland by the Secretary of LEEAP, Nanubhai
Patel , with the Vice Chair, Padmini Chamund
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Jon Ashworth MP chairs a Parliamentary meeting to develop a strategic
business relationship between the UK and India |
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Wednesday
January 15 2014 |
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Jon
Ashworth MP chaired a Parliamentary meeting of the Industry
and Parliament Trust, UK India Business Council and prominent
businesses to develop a strategic business relationship
between the UK and India.
The meeting was attended by numerous Ministers and Members
of Parliament, including Baroness Verma of Leicester, as
well as business representatives from varying sectors.
The Director of Tata Limited, Dr David Landsman, spoke at
the meeting, as well as representatives from companies such
as Rolls Royce, Cox and Kings, Diageo, Tesco and others.
Jon said: “The whole
point of this meeting was to see how we could improve our
trade and investment relations with India. India is an emerging
economic superpower, and our large Indian diaspora in Britain,
particularly in the business world, means that we can contribute
to that growth.” |
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“Leicester
is an obvious example of how UK-India trade can work.
We have a strong local business community that already
has trading links with India, and if we can expand that
it’d be great for the local economy.”
“But it’s not just in Leicester where I’d like to see
this; I want to see trade and investment with India in
all parts of the UK.”
India has had high levels of economic growth in the last
decade. Its lowest level of GDP growth was 4.4% in the
second quarter of 2013, but this rose again to 4.8% in
the third quarter. Comparatively, Britain’s economic growth
for those quarters was only 0.7% and 0.8%.
UK businesses have already been working to strengthen
trade and investment with India. The UK Indian Business
Council has opened its first business centre in Gurgaon,
roughly 20 miles south west of New Delhi, and plans to
open hubs in Mumbai and Bangalore in 2014. |
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Jon
commented further: “The facts speak for themselves. Businesses
organisations are keen to develop these links further
– the knowledge, expertise, and existing links we have
in Leicester means that we can really contribute to and
benefit from these developments.” |
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Jon Ashworth MP ‘takes a step’ against prejudice by signing the Holocaust Memorial
Book of Commitment |
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Tuesday
January 14 2014 |
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Marking
Holocaust Memorial Day this week, Jon Ashworth signed
the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in
the House of Commons, honouring those who died during
the Holocaust as well as honouring the extraordinary Holocaust
survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people
about what they endured.
Monday 27th January will mark the 69th anniversary of
the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp
Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder
in history.
In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial
Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged
by schools, faith groups and community organisations across
the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust
and subsequent genocides. |
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Jon
Ashworth stated: “Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary
of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death
camp Auschwitz-Birkenau – and is an important opportunity
to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join
members of my community in the fight against prejudice
and intolerance.”
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational
Trust, said: “We are proud that Jon is supporting Holocaust
Memorial Day. It is vitally important that we both continue
to remember and learn from the appalling events of the
Holocaust – as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge
antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.”
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right, Jon signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book
of Commitment in the House of Commons |
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photo for enlargement |
Click
here to Read more about
Holocaust Memorial Day |
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Jon
Ashworth MP officially opened the Sue Ryder charity shop |
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Friday
January 10 2014 |
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Shoppers
keen for some budget-friendly retail therapy will be able
to bag some fantastic finds at the London Road store,
which is located in a prime position, just two minutes
from the train station.
Sue Ryder business manager Annette Wallis said:
“Our fabulous new store will offer an excellent shopping
experience, whether you're looking for clothing, handbags,
books, furniture, DVDs, electrical items or any number
of other shopping delights. Why not make it your first
port of call when you arrive in town? Sue Ryder promises
to be the place to shop in Leicester, with proceeds going
to help Sue Ryder provide specialist hospice and neurological
care.”
Led by shop manager Emma Harrowven, the Sue Ryder staff
and volunteer team were on hand to show shoppers around
the store, which was packed to the rafters with a great
selection of quality second hand clothes, accessories,
furniture, electricals and books as well as a wide range
of new goods, including gifts clothing and dolls' houses.
The new shop promises to be a treasure trove of bargains
including special furniture and electricals department.
Jon Ashworth stated: “As well as helping to fund care
for people with life-changing illnesses, this new Sue
Ryder Shop provides volunteering and employment opportunities
for local people. And after the expense of Christmas there
will be lots of bargains for Leicester residents.”
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Money
raised from the shop will help Sue Ryder to continue to
provide local expert and compassionate care to people
living with end of life and long-term conditions such
as cancer, stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, dementia,
Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and motor neurone
disease.
There is a dedicated information point in the shop where
shoppers will be able to find out more about what their
money will be spent on and how they can join in other
fundraising events and activities.
Shop manager Emma Harrowven said: “We are recruiting volunteers
to help with everything from sorting and preparing stock
to merchandising and sales and are also appealing for
people to donate good quality clothing, books and bric-a-brac.
By supporting Sue Ryder in this way, local people can
help us to make a real difference to the lives of the
people we care for each year.”
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Photo
above left, Jon cutting the ribbon with people waiting
to go into the shop and look for a bargain, Photo above,
Samira Jamaale (Assistant Manager), Jon and Emma Harrowven
(Shop Manager)
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Anyone wanting to join the volunteer team should email
Emma at [email protected]
or call 0116 2554376.
For further information about Sue Ryder visit www.sueryder.org
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