Dear Constituent,

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is encouraging constituents to donate their old technology to be refurbished and given to schools to assist children learning from home.

Michael Brooks and Cerid Grimshaw run ZenTec Network Solutions, an I.T. support company based in Dukinfield. During lockdown, they decided to appeal to other business owners to donate their old tech so that they could refurbish them and help children in need for their school work.

They made their first donations in December to a children’s home in Hazel Grove, Tameside East Foodbank, and St. Phillip’s & St. James’s food bank.

Since Christmas, they have started an appeal on social media and on Thursday Gwynne joined them as they made a donation to Ravensfield Primary School in Dukinfield, who needed more IT so that pupils without devices can learn from home during the current national lockdown.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“This crisis has highlighted so many inequalities in our society, including a digital divide which leaves some children unable to learn from home. Unfortunately, the Government has been far too slow in addressing this crisis.

 

“What Cerid, Michael and ZenTec have done is absolutely fantastic and will make such a difference to the children at Ravensfield and elsewhere.

 

“This is a brilliant initiative and I’d encourage all constituents who have a spare laptop or tablet to consider donating to this appeal.

 

“I’d also like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to ZenTec and to everyone who has already donated”

If you have old IT devices you no longer use and you want to donate it for them to refurbish and pass on to school children, then please contact them on: 0161 359 3986 / [email protected]

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has welcomed the publication of the Eve Appeal’s guide to genetic testing.

The ‘Ask Eve: Genetic Testing in Ovarian Cancer’ has been developed from the British Gynaecological Cancer Society’s clinical guidelines and has been adapted for a patient perspective.

It aims to explain gene alterations and genetic testing for ovarian cancer patients so that they have the information and support they need after their diagnosis.

The Eve Appeal also have a series of videos with the Gynae Clinical Nurse Specialist, Tracie Miles, explaining some key information around genetic testing in ovarian cancer available to watch on their Youtube channel.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“These are fantastic resources for anyone who is living with ovarian cancer.

 

“When you are diagnosed with a new illness it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to start or what to read.

 

“This is a clear guide written specifically for patients and I would strongly encourage anyone diagnosed with this awful disease to take a look at these resources.”

You can download the guide here.

 

As the clock strikes midnight on 31st December each year, amidst all the hugging, drinking and Auld Lang Syne-ing, we all collectively hope that the year to come will be better than the last. For once, we can all be fairly confident that these hopes will be realised. Put bluntly, 2020 was a pig of a year and I’m fairly sure that we’re all delighted to see the back of it.

We’ve all faced difficulties, whether it’s not seeing our families, losing jobs or businesses, feeling isolated and lonely or losing loved ones to the virus. As a community, the events that are normally such highlights – like ReddFest or Friends of Reddish Vale’s seasonal events – have been cancelled, along with countless birthday parties, weddings and religious festivals.

In all these dark times though, 2020 did give us one very positive thing indeed and that was the launch of the newspaper that you hold in your hands (or are scrolling down online) right now! The Heatons Post has been a delight to read through these difficult times, full of positive stories about the brilliant things going on in Reddish and the Heatons despite the pandemic and the lockdown. Thanks to the Heatons Post team for all their hard work keeping the community connected and informed during this time! 

Just because we’re in 2021, the challenges that we face won’t magically disappear, but there is much to be hopeful about in this new year. Vaccines are being rolled out which will allow social distancing to be phased out, businesses will be able to reopen and we’ll be able to spend time with friends and family again. What’s more, if there’s one thing that 2020 taught us all, it’s how fantastic the community is we have here – together I believe we can support each other to make sure we all have a happier, healthier 2021.