March: A big step forward for Erewash

March was a big month for me, with lots going on and plenty to report, ending with some really exciting personal news! Here’s what I’ve been up to this month.

Celebrating reading and opportunity

March began on a thoughtful and slightly lighter note with World Book Day. Like many people, I have seen first-hand the mix of joy and stress it can bring for families, but at its heart it is about something genuinely important: encouraging a love of reading. Books open doors, expand horizons and give young people the tools they need to succeed. That is why I am proud that we are supporting the National Year of Reading and investing in school libraries, ensuring every primary school has access to good books.

For me personally, reading has always been a valuable escape from the pressures of political life. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, it provides space to think, reflect and reset. Encouraging that habit in the next generation is one of the simplest and most powerful things we can do.

Listening to residents on the doorstep

A significant part of March was spent out in the community, particularly on the doorsteps in places like Draycott. These conversations are always wide-ranging, from potholes and council tax to international affairs and the future of our local economy. They are also invaluable. They provide a direct line to what people are thinking and feeling, far beyond what any report or briefing can offer.

It was encouraging to be able to share plans from Labour-led Erewash Borough Council to freeze council tax, parking charges and brown bin fees while continuing to invest in our towns. At the same time, frustrations about the condition of local roads came up time and again. These are not abstract policy debates, they are everyday concerns that affect people’s quality of life.

Strengthening our town centres

The future of our high streets remains a key priority. This month I worked closely with the Long Eaton Business Partnership to promote their new survey on the town centre. The aim is simple but important: to gather the views of the people who actually use these spaces and shape a long-term vision based on that input.

Town centres are changing. Retail is evolving, and we need to think creatively about how to make these spaces vibrant, welcoming and economically sustainable. That means listening to residents, supporting independent businesses and ensuring that investment reflects local needs.

Taking Erewash’s voice to the Treasury

One of the most significant moments this month was a meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray. Opportunities like this are rare, and I made sure to use every minute to raise the issues that matter most to Erewash.

We discussed Junction 25A, SEND funding, support for New Stanton Park, potholes and the future of our town centres. These are not small matters, they are the building blocks of local growth and quality of life. Meetings like this often go unseen, but they are a crucial part of ensuring that our area is heard at the highest levels of government.

Education and young people

As a former teacher, I always value time spent in schools. This month I visited both Dallimore Primary School and St John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Kirk Hallam. Speaking with Year six pupils about the role of an MP and discussing serious issues like modern slavery with older students was both engaging and thought-provoking.

Young people are deeply aware of the world around them, and they ask direct, challenging questions. It is a reminder that the decisions we make today will shape their future. Ensuring they have access to high quality education and opportunities must remain a central priority.

That commitment was reinforced by the announcement of an additional one point nine million pounds in SEND funding for Derbyshire. This forms part of a wider national investment to support inclusive education, expand specialist provision and ensure that more children can thrive in mainstream settings where appropriate. Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and this funding is a step in the right direction.

Supporting residents one to one

Alongside broader policy work, much of my role involves direct support for individuals. My constituency surgery in Kirk Hallam provided an opportunity to sit down with residents and discuss issues ranging from housing to immigration policy. These meetings are often deeply personal, and while the details remain confidential, they are a vital part of representing the community.

It is through this casework that I see most clearly how national policies affect people’s daily lives. Whether it is resolving a bureaucratic delay or helping someone navigate a complex system, these interventions can make a real difference.

Community action and the environment

One of the more unusual but memorable experiences this month was joining a volunteer toad patrol between Draycott and Church Wilne. Volunteers from the Long Eaton Natural History Society are working to protect migrating toads as they make their way to breeding ponds, helping to prevent further population decline.

It was a simple but powerful example of community action. Local people coming together to protect wildlife and improve their environment. These efforts often go unnoticed, but they play an important role in preserving the natural spaces around us.

Transport, infrastructure and growth

Transport remains one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for our area. I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on investment in the East Midlands, highlighting both the promise of developments like New Stanton Park and the pressures they place on existing infrastructure.

There is real potential for growth, but it must be matched with proper investment in roads and rail. Reconnecting Stanton to the railway network and progressing plans for Junction twenty five A are essential steps. Encouragingly, two billion pounds has been committed to transport improvements in the region, and I will be working closely with regional leaders to ensure Erewash benefits.

Accessibility is also a key concern. In Parliament, I raised the challenges faced by people with mobility issues at Long Eaton station. Reliable lifts, accessible platforms and modern facilities are not optional extras, they are fundamental to a fair transport system.

Fairness in higher education

I also spoke in a parliamentary debate on the student loans system, an issue I feel strongly about. Having experienced the system as both a student and a member of university staff, I know its strengths and its flaws.

At present, the system places a heavy burden on many graduates while failing to provide sustainable funding for universities. It raises important questions about fairness, particularly when those from less advantaged backgrounds often graduate with the highest levels of debt. Reforming this system is complex, but it is necessary if we are to create a fairer and more effective model for higher education.

Investing in health and wellbeing

There was very welcome news this month with the announcement that Long Eaton will be home to one of the first new neighbourhood health centres in England. This represents a significant step forward in making healthcare more accessible and joined-up.

Bringing services together under one roof, extending opening hours and linking health with wider support services has the potential to transform how people access care. It is about prevention, convenience and reducing pressure on hospitals. I will be following this closely as it develops.

Backing local initiatives

It was also a pleasure to support community fundraising efforts, including a visit to a Comic Relief bake sale at Nottingham Building Society. These events may seem small, but they reflect something much bigger: the generosity and community spirit that runs through Erewash.

Similarly, continued engagement on the doorstep and in local campaigns, including the upcoming parish council by-election in Draycott, highlights the importance of grassroots involvement in our democracy.

Supporting families and early years

Towards the end of the month, we secured fantastic news for families in Ilkeston with the announcement of a new Best Start Family Hub in Cotmanhay. This forms part of a major national investment aimed at supporting children and families from pregnancy through the early years.

These hubs will provide a wide range of services, from health support to parenting advice and early intervention for children with additional needs. They build on the legacy of Sure Start and represent a renewed commitment to giving every child the best possible start in life.

A new role in the Home Office

The month concluded with a significant personal development, my appointment as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Home Office. This is an important responsibility, supporting ministers in one of the most critical areas of government.

While the role comes with certain limitations, including stepping back from some public speaking on Home Office matters, it also provides a valuable opportunity to raise issues affecting Erewash directly within government. It is a chance to ensure that our community’s voice is heard where decisions are made.

Wins this month

My team have been working as hard as ever to support local people – here’s an array of this month’s wins:

• Secured a resident’s driving licence from the DVLA after delays prevented them selling their car.

• Worked with Erewash Borough Council to bring an empty property back into use.

• Supported a resident at an EHCP tribunal, securing specialist school provision.

• Arranged removal of offensive graffiti from a Long Eaton business park.

• Helped a local business secure a contract with Transport for London.

• Got an interactive speed sign installed on Moorbridge Lane in Stapleford.

• Reported and resolved a cluster of potholes in Ilkeston.

• Asked Derbyshire County Council to investigate a dangerous obstruction on a public right of way.

• Helped a resident secure a gas connection and avoid fines.

• Reported offensive graffiti in Kirk Hallam and ensured it was cleared.

• Secured a repair to a resident’s broken front door

• Supported a resident in finding a new home after landlord neglect.

• Assisted a resident facing homelessness due to a section twenty one notice.

• Secured one hundred and fifty pounds in compensation for incomplete works.

• Urgently restored a resident’s driving licence after a seven month DVLA delay.

• Worked with the council to increase street sweeping around Quarry Hill.

• Helped clear rubbish and debris from a public right of way in Hallam Fields.

• Got Derbyshire County Council to schedule repairs on Sawley Lane.

• Successfully removed three hundred pounds of incorrect NHS prescription penalties.

• Secured repairs for several potholes on Poplar Road in Breaston.

Looking ahead

March has been a month of momentum, from local conversations on the doorstep to national discussions in Westminster. It has reinforced the importance of staying connected to the community while pushing for change at the highest levels.

Looking ahead, my focus remains clear: securing investment in infrastructure, supporting families and young people, strengthening our town centres and ensuring that growth benefits everyone. There is still much to do, but with continued engagement and determination, I am confident we can keep moving Erewash forward.