MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating another huge win today!

After years of us campaigning for an extension of free school meals in order to help tackle child poverty, the Government has finally listened - any child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible from next year.

As recently as March, the Government voted down our amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have extended free school meals and automatically enrolled those eligible.

After immense pressure, the Government’s change of heart to implement a Lib Dem manifesto commitment is a fantastic victory for campaigners fighting to ensure no child goes hungry.

The change will improve children's nutrition, boost educational attainment, and help families struggling in the cost of living crisis.

Are you thinking about floods?

Sir Ed Davey   on 27th April at 04:15  wrote:

“According to Kemi Badenoch, a Lib Dem is someone who’s good at fixing their church roof and is liked by their community.

I couldn’t agree more. “

One of those Lib Dems who is deeply involved with her community, Sarah Hearne writes:

“As we enjoy one of the warmest and sunniest springs on record, flooding isn’t going to be at the forefront of your mind.  But as climate change increases the chance of extreme weather events, homes in North Somerset are at risk of being inundated. 
Just last year, we experienced our wettest February in over 100 years with 260% more rain falling than normal. That rain has to go somewhere and the last place you want it is in your home.

That’s why Nailsea Climate Emergency Group, with support from Nailsea Town Council, are asking Are You Flood Ready? with their flood awareness event on Saturday 14 June 2025.    Full details by clicking on the blue linked page…"

Sarah, North Somerset Liberal Democrat executive member, is an enthusiastic part of the planning team.

Ed Davey recently said that Liberal Democrats are ‘people who care about our communities, and get things done’ and Sarah is doing her best to exemplify this in her work with the group.  The main focus of the day is the FloodPod which will be in Nailsea Town Centre between 10am and 3pm.  The pod will show you ideas on how to protect homes and businesses from flooding.  There will also be expert advice on hand from Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, aka Flood Mary, who specialises in property flood resilience support and has experienced the devastating impacts of being flooded first-hand.

The action then moves to Nailsea Methodist Church on Silver Street from 5pm, starting with a panel to give information on the impacts of flooding and how communities can become flood ready.  
Then at 7pm there will be a screening of The End We Start From (Cert 15), a gripping film starring Jodie Comer and Benedict Cumberbatch.  Free tickets can be booked for the panel and film at TicketPass.

‘It’s going to be a fantastic day,’ said Sarah. ‘Whilst it can be scary to think about having your home flooded, we hope to empower people to know there’s things they can do – not just individually but as a community.  In planning the event it has become clear that the best way we can protect ourselves is to look out for each other and we really hope that one of the big results of this will be stronger community ties.  So please come along and don’t forget to spread the word!’

Well!  THAT was fun!

Games Day!  Good company, good weather, decent grub (Blush!).

We need to do more of this because the Council Elections are only two years away and we want not only to hold on to our three wonderful councillors, but hopefully to add to their number.

So the next gathering is due to be a barbecue at the lakeside home of one of our members in Portishead.  Watch this space!

And thanks to our guests' generosity we raised £140 for the Portishead branch with a tombola.

:-)

So - what happened at the annual dinner?

It seems a long time ago but it was a wonderful evening.  40 of us met up and shared good food, good company, good conversation and the chance to catch up with not just one, but two MPs!

Brian Matthew, newly elected for Melksham and Devises, and Tessa Munt, Wells and Mendip Hills, came to be with us.  Brian spoke of the “delights” of eventually being elected and joining the House of Commons after many years of service on his local council.

We were so encouraged by the evening that we have come away determined to arrange more events this year.

Advanced notice; the first of these will be a Board Games afternoon and evening on the 10th of May.