Every parent here in Fylde wants to give their children the stability of a warm and loving home. However, for all manner of reasons, family homes can and do break down, leaving children facing upheaval and distress through no fault of their own. At such difficult times, no one is better placed to support these children than those who already know and love them.
To do this, families need support, something I am pleased has been recognised by the Government in its new plan to reform Child Social Care.
A funding increase of £200 million has been announced, targeting greater recruitment, retention and training for social workers, and an emphasis on building lasting relationships with families that provide long term stability and support.
This is a positive step. Kinship Carers, including many here in Fylde, already play a vital role across child and adult social care. They are unsung heroes and I know how important it is their contribution is recognised and rewarded. The Government has recognised the importance of family ties and will prioritise, where loved ones are unable to take up guardianship of a child, finding a suitable foster family with links to nearby relatives, giving children a greater sense of stability as they develop into adulthood.
On Wednesday I was in Kirkham, to see for myself the first stages of work on the exciting Kirkham Futures project, a regeneration scheme I have backed throughout. Reaching this point has taken several years’ hard work and, with £13 million secured for the town centre through a series of bids for Government funding and an additional grant from Lancashire County Council, it is great to see the first shovels in the ground.
While I know that initial works has caused increased congestion in the town centre, it is important to focus on the long-term vision for Kirkham, breathing new life into the high street and historic Market Square and building on the town’s fantastic heritage. I cannot wait to see the works, supporting so many independent, locally-owned businesses completed.
Last week was Nuclear Week in Parliament, with events held to raise awareness of the industry’s contribution towards reaching net zero while delivering energy security for our country and creating highly skilled jobs. Government backing for this industry is vital, ending our reliance on foreign powers for our energy needs and vulnerability to price spikes.
Such discussions can easily be seen as distant but, when so many in Fylde are worried about energy costs, nuclear quite literally has the power to lower our bills.
It was fantastic to have Westinghouse apprentices, based at Springfields, the UK’s only civil nuclear fuel manufacturing site, participate in a nuclear apprenticeships and skills fair. It is a great source of pride that Fylde is such an active participant in this industry, helping support the UK’s future energy security. These apprentices are the embodiment of the opportunities on offer.
Nevertheless, I believe that this is only the beginning and continue to push the Government to commit to Fylde manufactured fuel supplying the next generation of nuclear power stations, ensuring the site and its world-renowned work force flourish for decades to come.