September: Huge funding incoming!
September has been a mixture of fighting for investment, standing up for our community when it’s under attack and celebrating the very best of Erewash. From Cotmanhay to Sandiacre, Long Eaton to Ilkeston, I’ve been out and about across the constituency, meeting people, hearing concerns and hopefully helping to make a difference. Here’s a look at what September has held, the challenges, the campaigns and the reasons to be hopeful for the future of our towns and villages.
Investment for Cotmanhay and a new model of local decision-making
The month began with the kind of announcement that makes all the early mornings and long nights worthwhile. On 4th September, we secured brand new investment for Cotmanhay through the East Midlands Mayor’s £3 million Community Development Fund. What makes this different to other pots of money is that it won’t be dictated by Westminster civil servants or even local councillors, the decisions will be in the hands of community groups who already know Cotmanhay best.
This principle of community empowerment is something I’ve been pushing for since I was elected. It isn’t enough to have money parachuted in, people must feel that the investment belongs to them. When residents see their own ideas shaping the future, investment is more likely to succeed. I’ll be heading out into Cotmanhay soon to talk directly with people about how they’d like to see it used.
And then, just three weeks later on 25th September, I was able to share even bigger news, £20 million secured for Cotmanhay over the next decade, £2 million every single year. Ilkeston has been overlooked for far too long and this sustained commitment is about putting that right. Again, the crucial detail is that the community itself will decide how the money is spent. That’s democracy in action at the local level and I can’t wait to keep the conversation going about priorities.
Fun, food and glitter tattoos
It hasn’t all been policy announcements. On 6th September, I was delighted to join the Every One Eats family fun day at the Stute in Ilkeston. After being postponed due to the summer storms, the event came back bigger and better, full of music, stalls and smiling faces.
Events like this are about more than just having a good time. They show what community spirit can do when people roll up their sleeves and make something happen. I had brilliant conversations with families, enjoyed the entertainment and even walked away with a glitter tattoo.
Standing up for the Canaan Trust
The month wasn’t without its darker moments. On 10th September, I had to respond to deeply troubling reports that the Canaan Trust, one of our most respected local charities, had been targeted with threats and harassment.
The Canaan Trust has served our community for over thirty years, offering support and shelter to those who need it most. I’ve visited them many times, including earlier this summer at the opening of Aspire House, their centre for vulnerable women. To see them attacked by malicious rumours linking them to protests they had nothing to do with was utterly disgraceful.
I spoke directly with the Trust’s leadership, reassured them of my support and raised the matter with the Prime Minister. Let me be clear, political disagreements are one thing, but harassing a charity and its staff is beneath us as a community. Erewash is better than this and I’ll always stand with those who put compassion into action.
National politics and personal connections
The following day brought me back to national party politics. On 11th September, after much thought, I announced my support for Bridget Phillipson in Labour’s deputy leadership election. As Education Secretary, Bridget has been a champion for young people and as a fellow former teacher I’ve admired her commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity. I’ve seen first-hand how approachable and thoughtful she is, always willing to listen to colleagues new and old. Choosing who to back wasn’t easy, Labour has many strong voices, but I’m confident Bridget represents the best of our values.
That same day, I also took part in the Virtual Dementia Tour in Parliament. Using goggles, headphones and spiked insoles, it recreated the sensory overload many people with dementia live with daily. It was harrowing and profoundly moving. Dementia has touched my own family and I know it affects countless households in Erewash. Experiences like this only deepen my determination to fight for better dementia care and support.
Walking the ‘wash, raising funds for bleed kits
One of the biggest projects I’ve been working on this month has been the campaign to install bleed kits across Erewash. These kits, like defibrillators, can save lives in emergencies by helping to control bleeding while an ambulance is on its way.
On 12th September, I announced that I’d be “Walking the Wash”, trekking from the bottom of Sawley to the top of Cotmanhay, to raise money for more kits. By the time I set off on 18th September, we’d already raised £2,200, thanks to the generosity of local people and businesses, as well as support from Erewash Borough Council and Derbyshire Police.
The walk itself, on the 19th, was unforgettable. Setting off from the Harrington Arms in Sawley and finishing at the Mallard in Cotmanhay, I covered the length of the constituency with a fantastic team by my side. Along the way I was joined by local residents, police officers and supporters. We talked about our towns, our history and our hopes for the future.
By the end, we’d raised more than £3,000, enough to fund many more life-saving kits. I was stiff the next day, but it was worth every step. This campaign has shown me the best of Erewash, people pulling together to make a tangible difference.
Working across party lines for infrastructure
Not every campaign is about health or social issues, sometimes it’s about roads. On 13th September, I met with Councillor Wayne Major at the Lapis Lounge in Sandiacre to discuss proposals for a new M1 Junction 25A. Wayne is a Conservative and while we often disagree politically, on this we’re united.
The roads through Sandiacre and the surrounding villages weren’t built for the volume of traffic they now carry, particularly heavy lorries heading for the motorway. A new junction could transform the situation, relieving local congestion and making life easier for residents. I’ve already raised the issue with government and Highways England and I’ll keep pushing, with cross-party backing, until we get the infrastructure we need.
Celebrating Erewash culture and skills
September also gave me plenty of chances to celebrate the creativity and talent in our community. On 20th September, I attended the launch of the Erewash Museum’s exhibition “From gas masks to garden parties, wartime Erewash eighty years on”. It was a moving reminder of the sacrifices made in the past and a testament to the dedication of our volunteers who keep the museum alive.
Then, on 23rd September, I joined the Furniture Manufacturers’ Apprentice Showcase at Long Eaton town hall, organised by Webs Training and the Guild of Furniture Manufacturers. Seeing the quality of work produced by our apprentices, from elegant tables to fully upholstered chairs, was inspiring. As chair of the parliamentary group for furniture and flooring and as a former teacher of engineering apprentices, I will always fight for skills training. Long Eaton has a proud heritage in furniture making and it’s vital we secure its future.
Finally, on 28th September, I visited Derby College Group’s Broomfield Hall site, a working farm that teaches land-based courses. From horticulture to animal care, it offers opportunities you simply can’t get in a classroom. Meeting students and staff and even Jim the miniature Shetland, reinforced my belief that practical skills are as valuable as academic ones. Green approaches to farming and animal management will be crucial in the years ahead and it was heartening to see them embedded in local education.
Wins this month
As always, my team are working very hard to support local folks. Here’s an array of this month’s wins:
- Got £250 reimbursed for an Ilkeston resident after long-delayed landlord repairs
- Secured kitchen repairs for a tenant after a pest infestation was left unresolved
- Raised parking concerns on a dangerous bend in Long Eaton, now under review by the highways team
- Pressured EMH Homes to bring an empty, neglected house back into use
- Won £2,500 back-payment for a resident wrongly hit by benefit fraud and DWP errors
- Confirmed a pedestrian survey for Draycott Road, Sawley, to assess the need for a crossing
- Helped a resident obtain a replacement birth certificate after years of difficulty
- Reported unauthorised phone masts for planning enforcement action
- Secured home-to-school transport for a child in Ilkeston after a sudden contract refusal
- Found an NHS dentist for a cancer patient needing urgent pre-treatment care
- Recovered £1,000 in missed universal credit payments for a Long Eaton parent
- Improved signage on a parking meter to prevent fines and confusion
- Won £1,400 for an Ilkeston resident wrongly docked Carer’s Allowance
- Got EMH Homes to fix a dangerous missing storm drain cover in Long Eaton
- Secured council works on a rat-infested empty property affecting neighbours
- Arranged more regular street cleaning for Skeavington’s Lane in Cotmanhay
Looking ahead
Threading through it all has been a common theme, community. Whether it’s deciding how millions of pounds should be spent, rallying to support the Canaan Trust, or walking miles together to raise funds, the strength of Erewash lies in its people.
Being your MP is an immense privilege and months like this remind me why. There is so much more to do, from tackling the challenges of crime and public safety, to building the infrastructure we need, to ensuring no community feels forgotten. But I’m confident that by working together, across parties, across towns and across generations, we can build a stronger, fairer future for Erewash.
Here’s to October and to keeping up the momentum.