At its HQ in St Neots, the RRT holds regular training events for its volunteers & the emergency services to ensure they work effectively together when crisis situations arise. I look forward to visiting Ross, UK Head of Operations (pictured), & the team in St Neots to find out more about their work.
This week the RRT is hosting over 200 events across the country for 20,000 police officers and support staff to say thank you for the service they provide, which is so vital but can go unnoticed.
The teams also work with other community-based charities and organisations to support people experiencing homelessness, disability and health issues, and disadvantaged children and young people.
The RRT’s role in the UK is to provide hot food and drinks to the emergency services when they are involved in operations supporting the public – this has included the Grenfell Tower fire; Huntingdon train attack; terrorist attacks in London and many more across the country.
The RRT is a worldwide network of volunteers supporting emergency service workers during disasters and crisis situations, as well as supporting the public through a range of services and initiatives.
To celebrate the launch of the first national Police Appreciation Week, today in Parliament I met the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) whose HQ is based in St Neots.
Our independent businesses are already fighting to survive rising costs and business rates, they shouldn't have to worry about shoplifting too.
Residents of Fenstanton will know shop owner Amit, pictured with me outside Ash's Shop, and will have experienced the hugely positive impact he has on the community. Hearing that he struggled to get support when he was attacked by shoplifters in his shop is just not good enough.
Cambridgeshire is already one of the lowest-funded police forces in the country because the Government’s funding formula uses out of date population data which is over a decade old. We are being short-changed and I will continue to press this point to the Government.
That means 3 in 4 four shoplifters are walking away with no consequences – the message to every would-be thief is that the odds are in their favour. We need the Govt to fund police resources focused on communities & times this crime is happening, & a criminal justice system that follows through.
I was appalled to see figures revealed today that show shoplifting in Cambridgeshire has nearly tripled in five years and yet only one in four cases results in a charge.
My team and I have taken up a number of personal cases on behalf of both infected and affected people - please do get in touch with me at ian.sollom.mp@parliament.uk if you are impacted and feel you need support.
We understand that getting full compensation to everyone impacted takes time, but transparency and honesty through that process is vital to prevent further harm.
For the Minister to simply brush them off as being on the prioritisation list - when still no one in the cohort has received a single payment to date - is simply not good enough.
Many people in this group are seriously unwell and living with advanced disease, and people are dying while waiting for the support they and their families need.
These people have waited decades for redress, and the sense of helplessness and inequality they are feeling now about having lost out on years of interim support is only causing further harm.
At yesterday's statement on the work of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, I specifically raised the case of people whose infection was not within the original eligibility criteria for the scheme, and who have consequently not received any interim compensation or support from the Government.
At every opportunity, I am continuing to push the Government for fair and full compensation for everyone impacted by the Infected Blood Scandal.
Ian Sollom MP calls for reforms to ‘broken’ child maintenance system
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Alongside these sessions, the CDA also has a Befriending Scheme and community groups to help deaf people feel connected, confident, and heard. And they are always looking for volunteers! You can find out more via cambsdeaf.org
No need to book an appointment - just turn up for a cup of tea and a chat while your hearing device is fixed. You can find out the locations and times via this link: cambsdeaf.org/hearing-help/
The Hearing Help service is free and provides assistance with repairs, battery changes, and general maintenance to help ensure devices work properly.
And now the CDA has added more sessions to its Hearing Help services across the county - including in St Neots, Cambourne, Bar Hill, Histon and Girton.
👂🏽I have been pleased to meet with and support the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association (CDA) which does fantastic work supporting the deaf community.
Parliament is now in recess for Easter, and I'm looking forward to getting out across the constituency to speak to residents on their doorsteps ahead of local elections on the 7th May.
I am committed to standing up for everyone in our community and will continue to press the Government to change course.
They spent the evening sharing with me their experiences of moving to the UK from across the world and integrating into their local areas, and the damaging impact on their careers, financial situation, and family lives that these changes will have.
At the end of the week, I held a community meeting in St Neots attended by 70+ residents due to be impacted by the Government's proposals to change Indefinite Leave to Remain.
We saw skylark plots, beetle banks, wildflower nectar strips and even two yellowhammers - right at the end of their season in our area.
Back in the constituency on Thursday, I was fortunate enough to have a tour of Hope Farm in Knapwell and to meet the RSPB team to see how innovative, nature-friendly farming can improve biodiversity in our area while still producing commercial crop yields.
