Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool and Shadow Minister for Young People this week lent his support to Abbeyfield Week 2011 by taking part in a generational skills swap in Parliament. Mr Wright was joined by the well-known TV and stage actor and Abbeyfield patron Geoffrey Palmer in Parliament to raise awareness of this innovative scheme, which brings together older and younger people to encourage them to swap invaluable skills.

The events were spearheaded by Abbeyfield, a not-for-profit organisation which has over 700 houses and 80 care homes across the UK, as part of their annual Abbeyfield week. This year’s theme is AGEnda – a generational skills swap which will see events hosted at a number of their local residential homes to encourage and improve greater understanding between generations. It will also enable residents to have a fun day interacting with young people to swap skills which are currently unknown to each other.

The parliamentary event was held ahead of Abbeyfield Week, which will take place between 10th-19th June.

Iain Wright MP said:

“I am pleased to be able to support this innovative scheme to help raise awareness of the importance of skills swaps. Too often in modern life we overlook the need for different generations to get together and learn new skills such as IT, cooking, and reading. It also provides an excellent opportunity for generations to discuss the differences in their lifestyles to encourage better understanding.”

Paul Allen, Chief Executive of Abbeyfield said:

“We are delighted that Iain Wright MP is supporting this year’s Abbeyfield Week – AGEnda: A generational skills swap. We would like to see more of these generational skills swaps in areas across the country to enable better understanding between different generations. Schemes such as this not only help alleviate loneliness amongst older people, but also teach younger generations skills that they might otherwise have missed.”

Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool, has presented a petition signed by hundreds of Hartlepool people to the House of Commons regarding the loss of bus services in the town and surrounding areas.

Iain said:

“I’m unhappy with the quality of bus services in Hartlepool operated by private bus companies. I was determined to highlight to the House of Commons the need to have a better bus service for Hartlepool and the surrounding villages. Many people will be left isolated as a result of these cuts and services and businesses in the town will close.

The response to the petition was fantastic, with many hundreds of people signing the petition in a matter of days. For example, people from the village of Elwick spent their weekend knocking on doors asking their neighbours to sign the petition. I am very grateful for their efforts and hopefully the response from the Secretary of State for Transport will provide some additional support so that passengers in the town can receive a better bus service.”

The specific wording of the Parliamentary petition presented to the House of Commons is:

To the House of Commons

The petition of residents of the borough of Hartlepool.

Declares concern that residents in areas of the borough such as The Headland and Burbank, as well as villagers in Dalton Piercy, Elwick and Greatham, have been left isolated and without transport following the decision of Hartlepool Borough Council to cut public subsidy to private bus companies.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Transport to work with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, residents of the borough, Hartlepool Borough Council and bus operators immediately to reinstate the services and then to secure a financial settlement and a regulatory framework which provides a comprehensive, reliable and cheap system of bus transport in Hartlepool, designed to address the social and economic needs of passengers in both the urban and rural areas of the borough, rather than the narrow interests of private bus companies.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool, is lending his support to The Stroke Association’s Know Your Blood Pressure campaign and is urging the people of the town to get their blood pressure checked in a bid to raise awareness of the dangerous link between high blood pressure and stroke.

Iain had his blood pressure tested this week at a Parliamentary Know Your Blood Pressure event hosted by The Stroke Association. With annual Know Your Blood Pressure day fast approaching on the 9th April this was just one of hundreds of events which are taking place across the UK throughout the year to encourage the public to get their blood pressure checked in order to reduce their risk of stroke.

Every year 150,000 people will have a stroke in the UK. It is estimated that 40% of these could be prevented by controlling high blood pressure.

Iain, whose son Benjamin suffered a stroke a number of years ago when he was 12 years’ old, said:

“I’m delighted to be supporting The Stroke Association’s Know Your Blood Pressure campaign. Thousands of strokes could be prevented every year if more people took steps to control their blood pressure. Having your blood pressure taken is a quick and painless measure and it’s one that could save your life. I’d strongly urge everyone to visit The Stroke Association’s website at www.stroke.org.uk/kybp to find out more about the campaign.”

Over the last year more than 20,500 people have had their blood pressures taken at Know Your Blood Pressure events throughout the UK. Over 40% of people were recorded as having high blood pressure.

Kate Allan, Know Your Blood Pressure Coordinator for The Stroke Association said: “High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke, but it is a condition which can be controlled through medication and healthy lifestyle changes. There is no doubt that blood pressure testing really can save lives. There are millions of people walking around with high blood pressure who are simply unaware that they may be at risk of having a stroke. Getting your blood pressure checked could be the first step in reducing your risk.”