Good morning john,

This week's newsletter starts with a focus on providing our young people with the skills required by the local community and employers. In this light, it was brilliant to visit Northumberland College to see the range of courses available to students.
 
I also had the privilege of presenting an award from the Prime Minister, and the third round of the Culture Recovery Fund is to be opened soon. 
  
As ever, if you have an issue you would like to raise with me as your local Member of Parliament, please email: [email protected]
 

Key skills to help build back better

I visited Kirkley Hall with local Ponteland Councillors Lyle Darwin and Richard Dodd to meet with new Principal Nigel Harrett to discuss how the college has progressed since the merger in 2019. 

As the only Further Education College in Northumberland, Northumberland College plays a key role in meeting the skills needs of the future for the community and employers across Northumberland. The visit emphasised the importance of Further Education Colleges playing a significant role in the recovery of the economy from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The campus offers such a diverse range of course options from dog grooming to animal care and veterinary nursing.

Northumberland College will play a crucial role in creating the skills for the future as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Hexham's Diane Morton presented with award from the PM

I presented the Points of Light Award to Diane Morton, Director of Wag and Company.
 
The Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community. Every weekday the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the Daily Point of Light award.

Wag and Company aim to end loneliness for older dog lovers by making visits to their own homes, in care homes and hospitals. The charity has so far benefitted 3,118 people across the North East with 75,746 friend visits having already taken place since 2016.
 

The whole team at Wag and Company have done such a fantastic job over so many years and I am delighted Diane has been recognised for her hard work by the Prime Minister.
 

Third round of Culture Recovery Fund to be opened

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced that the final £300 million of the Government’s £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) will support organisations in need of urgent funding.

Applications are due to open for some parts of this funding shortly and it is hoped that thousands of arts, heritage, cultural and creative organisations will be supported to secure their future, building on the success of the fund so far.

The Culture Recovery Fund has already provided £1.2 billion to more than 5,000 organisations and sites across the country, protecting an estimated 75,000 jobs and supporting almost 100,000 freelancers.

I encourage any organisation who might be eligible across Tynedale and Ponteland to apply when applications are opened imminently.

Guy Opperman MP

Member of Parliament for Tynedale and Ponteland