A few words from Ian, your local MP

4.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jul 2010

As we approach the summer break from parliament, I seem to have become busier and busier. I've done so much, yet had so little time to tell you all about it. Here's an update on just some of the wonderful and interesting things I've been doing in and around the constituency over the past few weeks...

I was pleased to welcome the two winners of the local UK youth awards to parliament. Andy McDonald, an excellent and enthusiastic youth leader was escorting them. Andy, who is Head of the Tees Valley Youth Achievement Foundation http://teesvalleyyaf.org/ - part of UK Youth - invited 16-year-olds Christine Rouse and Ross Boyle, who both studied at the centre three days a week, to the parliamentary reception as reward for their hard work in showing the biggest improvements in social development. They were awarded achievement certificates by Undersecretary of State for Education Tim Loughton MP, in the presence of such figures as Dame Judi Dench and Nigel Mansell.

Ian is impressed with the Local Involvement Network

I also attended the Redcar and Cleveland Link AGM, where I met and spoke with people involved in the Local Involvement Network. The network provides health advice and wide-ranging care to others. This is an excellent example of people coming together to improve the lives of the rest of the community.

Continuing to visit all the schools in the constituency, I have met with the Head of Nunthorpe School, where I engaged a sociology class in a debate about power in politics.

It's great to be seeing so many of the constituency's schools in such a short space of time. I've also recently visited Redcar Community College where I had a tour of the school, and St. Benedict's Catholic Primary.

Outside of the classroom, I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the Dormanstown v Coatham school football match, where I got to award the winners' medals to the Dormanstown School team. It was great to see the pupils having fun and representing their schools in a thrilling game.

Though not in the constituency, Teesside University http://www.tees.ac.uk/ (university of the year!!) is an institution we should be proud of. Many of my constituents study or consider studying at Teesside and its successes impact on the local area. I discussed a variety of issues with the university's Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. I also dropped in for a coffee with the new officers of the students' union. http://www.tees-su.org.uk/ This sabbatical team acts as the voice for the student body and I am keen to listen to what the area's students have to say.

In a very busy few weeks, I have also dropped in at the New Marske School fete where it was encouraging to see the local community out in force, attended Sea Sunday and the launch of the Tees Valley Apprenticeship Programme, and paid visits to Cleveland Potash and to Zoe's Place Baby Hospice http://www.zoesplace.org/ - one of the few dedicated baby hospices in the country, and whose staff do truly commendable work.