Jon Ashworth MP lends his support to hospitals Christmas campaign |
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Friday December 19 2014 |
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This Christmas Jon Ashworth is lending his support for the Leicester’s Hospitals and Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland Christmas present campaign - Making Christmas Special!
This is the third year that the hospitals have joined forces with Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland to raise awareness of those older patients who will be too ill to leave Hospital and celebrate Christmas with their families.
So far we local people and staff have donated almost 600 presents which will be delivered to wards by Leicester's Hospitals Volunteer Service on Christmas Eve. We still need around 250 gifts to make sure that every older patient has a gift to open on
Christmas morning
Tony Donovan, Executive Director at Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland said: “Christmas is a time for giving and it is so heart-warming that so many local people have given so generously to older patients they don’t even know and will probably
never meet.”
“Nobody wants to spend Christmas in a hospital bed but for some there is no option. We will at least be able to bring some seasonal cheer to the wards on Christmas Day thanks to the hundreds of gift bags brought into Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland
shops and Leicester Hospitals.”
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Carole Ribbins, Deputy Chief Nurse at Leicester Hospitals added: “We continue to be overwhelmed each year at the generosity of local people, including our own staff, it’s tremendous. Thanks to everyone who has donated particularly our own charity who have helped with gifts and distribution.”
Local MP Jon Ashworth, who lent his support to the campaign in previous years, visited the Leicester Royal Infirmary and presented a gift to John Lacey. Jon commented: “I would like to thank everyone for being so generous and donating so many gifts. The support of local people has been magnificent and shows that the true spirit of Christmas is still strong in Leicester.”
“I would like to say a special thank you to all of the Leicester's Hospitals Volunteers who will be working hard delivering the gifts to all of the wards ready for Christmas morning.”
“I am proud to again support this special local campaign.”
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| Photo right top, Jon presenting gift to John Lacey, photo right bottom, Jon with John Lacey and Tony Donovan, Executive Director at Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland |
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Jon Ashworth MP attends Coleman Primary Assembly and meets the winner of his annual Christmas card competition |
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Friday December 12 2014 |
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Jon visited Coleman Primary School to present a signed certificate, a framed copy of the Christmas card and a prize to the winner of this year’s competition.
The winning picture that is on the front cover of Jon’s Christmas Cards, is by Khushi Patel, aged 10.
Jon said: “Khushi’s winning picture is brilliant and brings to life the joy of Christmas. There are snowmen, reindeers, Father Christmas and a Christmas tree in the picture by Khushi. It’s perfect for my Christmas Card.”
The designs by the two runners up, Mohammed Shah who is in Year 6 at Charnwood Primary School and Benyve Makamu who is aged 10 and attends Holycross Catholic Primary School, are shown on the back of Jon’s card.
Jon also presented certificates to Gurleen Tatla for her Diwali Card and Rushda Abusary for her Eid Card.
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| Photo above, Jon presenting Khushi Patel with her certificate, gift and framed copy of the Christmas Card |
Nigel Bruen, the Head Teacher at Coleman Primary School, said: “We are delighted that Khushi, from Coleman, won a well deserved first place. We are also very pleased that Jon has decided to use an Eid card and a Diwali card from those we sent with our Christmas entries, as these are also festivals that we celebrate at Coleman and in Leicester.”
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| Photo above, Jon with (left to right) Rushda Abusary, Khushi Patel and Gurleen Tatla |
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Jon commented: “I want to thank all the children that entered my annual competition his year. It was a really hard decision to pick a winner as there were so many excellent designs. I wish all the staff and children at the schools in my Constituency a very happy and Merry Christmas.” |
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Jon Ashworth MP encourages people to ‘shop local’ |
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Wednesday December 3 2014 |
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This Saturday, 6 December, is Small Business Saturday which highlights and celebrates small business success.
Jon said: “On Saturday, and over the weekend, please consider shopping ‘local’ and supporting small businesses in your communities. There are many fantastic small businesses throughout my Constituency. On Sunday I will be at the Clarendon Park Christmas Fair, which is the fifth Christmas Fair to be held on Queens Road.”
“As well as the vibrant shops on Queens Road, there are small businesses on Evington Road, that I am supporting through the ‘Pride in Evington Road’ Campaign, Francis Street and Allandale Road in Stoneygate and Abderdale Road in Knighton, as well as shops all along Saffron Lane and Aylestone Road, and the newly built shops in Eyres Monsell, and not forgetting the numerous small shops in Highfields and St Matthews.” |
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The Small Business Saturday UK initiative was started last year by Labour’s Spokesman for Business, Chuka Umunna MP, after seeing the success of Small Business Saturday in the USA.
Jon commented: “Small Business Saturday aims to support, inspire and promote small businesses on 6 December and beyond. As the local MP I always want to know what is needed to support businesses in my Constituency.”
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| Photo right, Jon and Rachel Reeves MP at a small business in Highfields’ |
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