Parliament may have been in conference recess, but it has been a busy and rewarding few weeks here in Aldershot and Farnborough.
Among my commitments were a meeting with residents from North Town in Aldershot, and a roundtable with headteachers and other professionals at local schools to discuss better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Both meetings reminded me why I wanted to serve in the first place: to bring people together, to listen, and to find practical ways to make life fairer and better for our community.
Our North Town Constituents Meeting brought around 30 residents together with their local councillors to talk openly about their concerns and get support with the issues affecting them. We covered everything from housing and healthcare to roads, schools, and local facilities. It was an honest and constructive conversation, and I’m so grateful to everyone who came along.
I know not everyone agrees on every issue, but what struck me most was how deeply people care about the place we call home and the future we’re building together. As your MP, I represent everyone in our community – whether or not they voted for me — and meetings like this are a vital part of that. Many people left with practical help already underway, and I left reminded that real change often begins with a single conversation.
Another focus during conference recess has been special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), an issue that touches so many families in our community. I have spoken with countless parents doing everything they can to get their children the right support, and I know how hard and exhausting that journey can be. Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and every parent deserves to know their child will be understood, supported, and given the best possible start.
That is why I brought together headteachers and SENCOs from across Aldershot and Farnborough for a roundtable on how we can strengthen local SEND provision. It was truly inspiring to be in a room full of teachers who care so deeply about making sure every child gets the help they need. We spoke about early intervention, fair funding, and how schools can work together so that no family is left battling for support alone. The Government is preparing its new SEND White Paper, and I’ll be feeding in the experiences of our local families and teachers directly.
Both the North Town meeting and the SEND roundtable reminded me that change works best when it starts with listening. By coming together, residents, parents, and professionals, we can make sure every family and every child in our community has the chance to thrive.
