After May Jones was presented with her MBE at Buckingham Palace she met her local MP, Jon Ashworth, at the House of Commons.

May started the Neston Action Group in 1997 which ran successful campaigns. When the Group disbanded May continued to work to improve the local community. Her many successes have included the installation of security doors and making homes safer in Neston Gardens.

Jon said: “May more than deserves her MBE for her commitment and dedication to the Saffron Lane Estate. Since I was elected the MP for Leicester South I have met May regularly to ask her advice and to make things happen in the area, such as the Saffron Christmas Party which has been held at the Kingfisher Centre in 2011 and last year at the Linwood Centre.”

Jon Ashworth MP presented SAFTAs to all the nominees at the Saffron Working Men's Club.

Prior to the event, Jon stated: “I'm looking forward to attending The SAFTAs on Friday. The awards ceremony is a great way of recognising the role that volunteers play in the local community. It is an honour to be asked to present the awards to people from the Saffron and Eyres Monsell area. Both these estates have togetherness and a community spirit that cannot be bettered.”

The SAFTAs are organised by Saffron Community Health Alliance and this will be the fifth annual event. The theme of the evening was the 1960s and there was be entertainment from DK Alexander and inspirational poems by the Creative Writers Group.

Karen Pickering, from Saffron Community Enterprises, commented: “This means so much to local volunteers who freely give their time and invest back love, energy and enthusiasm to make Saffron and Eyres Monsell a better place to live, work and play. We need community spirit to regenerate the life of the area for generations to come.”

Local Councillors, Elly Cutkelvin and Virginia Cleaver, will also be at the Awards Ceremony.

Councillor Cutkelvin commented: “It is a privilege to represent the Saffron area. The Estate has many unsung heroes who give their time for the benefit of others, and it is only right that they receive recognition of their vital work in the community.”

Awards were presented to local people who have helped to make lunches for elderly people, assisted at trips and friendship groups, organised community events and who have helped to ensure that local resources are directed in the right places to the right people.

Jon Ashworth MP met with staff and students at Wyggeston Queen Elizabeth I College. The Sixth Form College primarily serves the whole of the City.

Jon attended an AS Politics Class where he is answered questions on various issues, including the role of Party Whips, House of Lords Reform, the need for more women MPs and economic growth.

Jon said: “It was clear by the nature of their questions that the students have a keen interest in politics. I hope I gave comprehensive answers and I maybe even inspired some of the students present to stand for office in the future.”

On Friday March 15 Jon Ashworth MP hosted the ‘Mental Health Summit: The Need for Social Support' at the Council Chamber in the City's Town Hall.

This Summit looked at the need for social support in providing vital care and services to those affected by mental health issues, and builds on the work of the Pre-Summit that took place in November last year.

The Summit was attended by approximately 50 key local stakeholders from the City Council, Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicestershire Police, and voluntary sector groups.

The key message of the Summit was that clinical and health services alone are not enough when addressing mental health issues; there is also a need for social support. Pledges were sought from the key organisations during the Summit in order to reinforce this message.

The Summit started positively when Councillor Cooke, who chaired the morning session, announced that he would be The Councillor Advocate for Mental Health.

Jon stated: “I was delighted that Councillor Cooke agreed to take on this Advocate Role. Mental health service users, carers and voluntary sector organisations now have a point of contact within the City Council who will raise their concerns on their behalf.”

The Summit aimed to get all organisations working together for the improvement of mental health in Leicester.

Jon Ashworth MP hosted the ‘Mental Health Summit: The Need for Social Support’ at the Council Chamber in the City’s Town Hall. The Summit looked at the need for social support in providing vital care and services to those affected by mental health issues, and builds on the work of the Pre-Summit that took place in November last year.

In November’s Pre-Summit, Jon and various representatives from the voluntary sector obtained the views of 60 mental health service users and carers. The views given at this Pre-Summit have been analysed by the Service User and Carer Research Network (SUCRAN) based at De Montfort University, and a report on these issues was presented at the Summit.

One of the key messages of the Summit was that clinical and health services alone are not enough when addressing mental health issues; there is also a need for social support.

Jon Ashworth stated: “Key to this social support, whether it be supported housing, drop in facilities, getting out and about and various types of learning or educational activities, is the role of the Voluntary and Community Sector and its relationship to the statutory sector. The benefits of social support shouldn’t be underestimated, and this Summit will allow us to convey that message. It’s important that those people who make the decisions about mental health provision in Leicester recognise the need for such social support and the value of the voluntary Sector.”

Friday’s Summit was attended by up to 60 key local stakeholders from the City Council, various NHS organisations, Leicestershire Police, and voluntary sector groups. It is hoped that the social-support message will reach key decision-making individuals in these agencies.

Jon commented: “It’s especially important that these people hear our message because from next month the government’s Health & Social Care Act will come into effect. This Act, which restructures the NHS, will see commissioning duties move from the Primary Care Trust to Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group and the transfer of vital public health responsibilities to the City Council. With central government making huge cuts to voluntary organisations we need to ensure that statutory bodies are aware of the key issues that exist in mental health care.”

James Dooher, author of the Report on the Mental Health Pre-Summit Research, warns: “If the erosion of the voluntary sector continues, we will no doubt see an increased demand for statutory services in both primary and secondary care, which obviates any potential savings that may have been made.