Jon Ashworth MP visited St Peter's Church in Highfields to support their latest regeneration project, of which he is a project Patron.

The St Peter's Church building is a Grade II listed building, and the Parochial Church Council is launching a new building project to ensure that it remains a sustainable place of worship. The project will develop the Church, and its existing ancillary facilities, and aims to make St Peter's a focal meeting point for communities in Highfields.

Jon said: “I am delighted to be associated with this very important development for Highfields, which will be offering warm and welcome new facilities for the whole community.”

Ted Cassidy MBE has been appointed as Project Manager to drive forward the Highfields St Peter's project. He said: "I feel privileged to be involved with the St Peter's Project team, helping to secure this precious Victorian Church as an inspiring place of Christian worship and as a welcoming and thriving community hub for the wonderfully diverse community of Highfields and beyond.  This heritage and community support project has significance not only for the local area but for the City as a whole."

Today Jon Ashworth appeared on BBC East Midlands News to condemn the government's bedroom tax. He appeared with one of his constituents, Stephanie Chapman, who is a full-time carer hit by the bedroom tax.

Ms Chapman cares for two members of her immediate family, but she will now have to pay the bedroom tax for a small room on the ground floor of her property.

Jon highlighted how the bedroom tax would hit the most vulnerable in society. He commented: “The bedroom tax will hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society in an environment where social security is already being cut.”

“Additionally, instead of reducing the housing benefit bill, this policy could actually lead to a higher housing benefit bill. People will be forced to move into private sector properties where rents are uncontrolled, and the higher rents will mean that local authorities will end up paying out more in housing benefit payments. So under this crazy policy the taxpayer could end up paying more!"

The bedroom tax came into effect in April this year, and families across the country are facing cuts in the housing benefit payment they receive. In Leicester city, there are roughly 4,014 households that are affected by the bedroom tax. Those with one spare bedroom are having to pay an additional £11.07 per week, and those with two or more spare bedrooms need to find an additional £19.97 a week.

Jon Ashworth welcomed the Archibishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, to Leicester in the wake of the Woolwich attack that took place on Wednesday 22 May.

The Archbishop visited Leicester to stress the need for unity and harmony amongst the city's religious communities, amid fears that Drummer Lee Rigby's death would spark attacks on Muslim communities around the country. He condemned the attack in Woolwich, and stated that such behaviour had “no place in Islam”.

While at Masjid Umar the Archbishop stood alongside the Bishop of Leicester, mosque committee members, and representatives from the Muslim Council of Britain to call for solidarity. The imam at Masjid Umar, Muhammed Sindhi, condemned the attack during Friday prayers and stressed that “in Islam there is no space for terror or terrorism”.

Jon Ashworth visited Eyres Monsell Memory Cafe to attend the Tea Party celebrating Dementia Awareness Week.

Jon stated: “The Alzheimer's Society Memory Cafe is a brilliant idea. People with dementia or memory problems, and their families and carers, can meet up and share experiences and learn from each other in a relaxed social environment.”

The Eyres Monsell Memory Cafe is held on the fourth Friday of each month at the Eyres Monsell Community Centre. As well as the session on 24 May falling in Dementia Awareness Week, it also marks the first anniversary of the Cafe.

Jan Lambert, Peer Support Group Facilitator at the Alzheimer's Society, commented: “People really enjoy coming to the cafes across Leicester City because they can talk to others facing similar challenges. It offers an opportunity to get information about the disease and services available to help people live well with dementia in a fun and supportive environment.”

Jon Ashworth MP visited Francis Street on Friday 24 May 2013 to collect a petition to re-open the Francis Street Post Office. The petition was organised by a local business-owner, Mr Harish Amlani, who owns a newsagent in the area.

The issue came to Jon's attention when a constituent wrote to him in January this year about the need for a Post Office in the area. Since receiving that letter, Jon has been in contact with local businesses and residents as part of a campaign to re-open the Post Office.

Speaking before the visit, Jon said: “The closure of the Francis Street Post Office is clearly a key issue to both local residents and local businesses in this area. I got in touch with the Post Office about the need for the Francis Street Post Office to be re-opened, but unfortunately they told me there was nothing they could do. As the local MP I don't want to ignore what's important to the local community, so I provided a petition for residents and local people to sign.”

Jon met apprentices from Foundation Housing Association which provides affordable housing and housing related support across the City of Leicester.

The apprentices from Foundation and the wider East Midlands Housing Group have made it through to the national finals of the “2013 Apprentice Team of the Year” finals.

Jon stated:“It is fantastic that the team from East Midlands Housing Group are now through to the finals. Apprenticeships provide invaluable opportunities for young people who also develop their skills, knowledge and experiences, as well as making a huge contribution to their employer's success.”

The “2013 Apprentice Team of the Year” is a nationwide competition supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and run by Brathay Trust. The Team from East Midlands Housing Group came through the Regional heats and will now attend an adventure challenge at Brathay's residential training centre in early June.

Speaking ahead of his visit Jon said: “I often visit St Andrews as it is important to see what is happening in the area and to meet local residents. This is an opportunity for people to raise any issues they may have with me and their local Councillors.”

Jon was accompanied on his walk around St Andrews by local Councillors Patrick Kitterick and Lynn Senior, the Police, City Wardens, and representatives of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the City Council's Housing Department.

The patch walk was organised by the St Andrews Tenants and Residents Association that has an office on Walnut Street.

Angie Beale, Chair of the Tenants and Residents Association, stated: “Myself and all the members of the Association are delighted that Jon visited St Andrews again. It is a pleasure to have Jon around and I know that residents raised their concerns with him.”

There have been on-going parking problems on the estate especially at a key junction for entering St Andrews.

Jon Ashworth MP met with Citizenship and Politics Students answered questions on the work of a Member of Parliament.

Jon answered questions on the role of MPs in representing their constituents, the effectiveness of the House of Commons in holding the government to account and the electoral system.

Jon said: “It was good to visit Regent College again. I was really pleased to hear that Regent recently received a ‘good' Ofsted report for the first time. I regularly visit colleges and schools in my Constituency and I hope I contributed to the students' learning and understanding of Parliament during my visit.”

Regent College was inspected by Ofsted at the end of March and received the second highest rating.

Jon Ashworth MP visited the Freemen's Park campus of Leicester College on Friday 10 May to meet with the Principal of the college and members of the Student Council. The visit gave the college an opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both the student body and the governing body.

Jon met with Verity Hancock, Leicester College Principal, and Anish Thakkar, Student Governor as well as other members of the Student Council.

Jon said: “Leicester College offers such a wide variety of courses for its students, many of which are vocational in their structure. Their apprenticeships prepare students for the world of work, and with youth unemployment figures in Leicester being so high, these options are becoming increasingly attractive to young people.”

“At a time when vocational courses are more popular, I wanted to visit Leicester College and speak with the Principal and students about issues that matter to them.”

“Earlier this year, during National Apprenticeship Week itself, the Government made clear its stance on vocational training by refusing to offer apprenticeships in Government departments. I want to see what students think about this, and they've already told me that they want to raise a number of student finance issues with me.”