Gillian Keegan - Private fanchat

Today is where we remember and honour the millions of Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust.

We must ensure that as memories fade, the lessons do not.

In recent months I've been deeply horrified to see the scenes of antisemitism taking place on the streets of Britain, in the aftermath of Hamas' horrific terrorism in Israel.

Education is the way that we can ensure that when we say “never again”, we really mean it.

Thank you to the Holocaust Educational Trust (UK) for all your vital work.

I met Jo Cox when I was still the Conservative candidate for Chichester. Her passion and enthusiasm for politics and the difference being an MP can make to the lives of those in need shone through.

Her advice to me as a prospective MP? Go for it!

We lost Jo all too soon, and I am sad we never got to work together in Parliament.

However, The Jo Cox Foundation are carrying on her legacy with their new report on tackling abuse and intimidation in British politics.

The report and its 28 recommendations look to define what steps we can take to make life safer for political representatives and candidates, while preserving the UK’s long and honourable tradition of robust political debate.

I’m passionate about encouraging more women into politics, and I’m so pleased Jo’s foundation are taking a leading role in making that a better and more open experience.

Nearly two years ago, we woke up to the heartbreaking news of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

Two years on, our Ukrainian friends are devastatingly left without many of their loved ones and with their society in desperate need of repair.

But their bravery and resilience has shone through – and that’s why Ukraine will win this war.

I’m proud that the UK has led the world in supporting Ukraine, and that so many families across our country opened their homes as part of efforts that saw us welcome over 180,000 Ukrainians to the UK.

This included 20,000 Ukrainian children, who have been immersed in our education system with British children – ensuring they are able to access the high-quality education they deserve.

I have been truly humbled to see these young people – from early years right through to university – achieving great things in the face of unimaginable adversity.

I was grateful to meet with Ukrainian Education Minister Dr. Yevhen Kudriavets this week at the hashtag conference to discuss the progress of our Ukrainian students and how we can work together to rebuild their country when they win this war.

Coming into politics after a 30-year career in international business, I know the value of a highly-skilled workforce to both business and individuals.

When you boil it down, that’s what education is for: providing individuals with the skills they need to succeed in life.

Yet too often, we’re pigeon-holed into a narrow path in life, not given the opportunities to fulfil our potential.

That’s what we’re trying to resolve with our skills revolution.

Since 2010, this government has completely transformed our skills system, with nearly 70% of occupations now accessible via an apprenticeship, introducing T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, Higher Technical Qualifications and 21 Institutes of Technology.

Yesterday, I was delighted to host the launch of our new campaign at Google where I met apprentices, Higher Technical Qualification students, and business owners who have benefitted from our government-backed skills offers.

It was really inspiring to hear people talking about the transformative impact of our high-quality courses on their lives.

Whether you want to become an apprentice, retrain into a different career, improve your maths or digital skills, or just want some advice from the National Careers Service, there is an opportunity for you.

A huge thank you to everyone at Google for hosting us - in particular to Eileen Mannion and Kevin Kells.

Visit our website here:
https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/skills-for-life

Is there a much-loved local building or asset you're trying to preserve for future generations?

The Government has set aside £150 million over four years as part of its Community Ownership Fund which helps communities take ownership of local assets at risk of being lost.

We've already felt the benefits of the Community Ownership Fund here in the Chichester constituency. I was pleased to support the Selsey Pavilion Trust's successful bid which saw them awarded £300,000 towards the restoration of Selsey Pavilion as a multipurpose community arts and heritage centre for the whole of the Manhood Peninsula.

What other community venues would you like to see preserved for the future?

Applications for the latest round of funding close at noon on 31st January, so make sure you get your bid in soon!

Find out more about applying here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-prospectus--2

I am incredibly concerned by reports that the Manhood Classics Car Club have been forced to cease their informal meetings at East Beach in Selsey following the threat of legal action from Chichester District Council.

I am working with the organisers and local businesses to get to the bottom of this and ensure this Selsey institution can continue to operate.

You can read my letter to Chichester District Council at the link below.

Manhood Peninsular Classic Car Club - Read Gillian's letter to Chichester District Council Gillian is deeply concerned by reports of legal action being threatened by Chichester District Council against the Manhood Peninsular Classic Car Club. This popular local group is based in Selsey and has huge support both locally and further afield.

A lovely write-up in the Daily Mail over the weekend highlighting the wonderful Selsey.

As the article says - Britain at its best!

A great afternoon out and about meeting residents in Chichester and hearing people’s priorities. Huge thanks to the team for braving the cold - it was worth it for the warm reception we received on the doorstep!

Fantastic news that UKHarvest and Selsey Community Forum have both been given grants from the Government's Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund.

I know that this funding will be a huge boost to the essential work these two charities do in and around Chichester.

Keep up the good work!

Gillian Keegan MP celebrates with local charities as tens of thousands in government funding awarded Two local charities have been awarded tens of thousands of pounds in funding to support their work as part of the Government’s £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund (CCLF).

Family means everything to me.

In the best and worst moments of my life, it's family that have been there for me.

Whatever your family looks like and wherever your family comes from, a loving family helps to nurture stable communities, happier individuals and a more cohesive society.

That's why I've been determined to support working families with the cost of childcare - so parents don't have to choose between having a career and having children.

And it's also why we promised in 2021 that we would deliver Family Hubs across 75 areas of England.

Today, I'm delighted to announce that we have delivered on this promise.

Whether it's supporting breastfeeding, antenatal classes or parentcraft sessions, Family Hubs help parents to establish nurturing, supportive environments for their children all the way from birth to when they turn 19.

This week, it was wonderful to visit Kingsway Family Hub in Halton - just a stone's throw away from where I grew up - and see first-hand the incredible support families like mum Chloe and son Douglas are benefitting from.

Have a look at our latest progress on Family Hubs here 👇

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/family-hubs-now-open-in-75-areas

📝 Consultation Now Open 📝

West Sussex County Council have opened their consultation on the proposed move of Jessie Younghusband School and the expansion of provision for children with SEND at St Anthony’s School.

It's important that a full range of views is represented so I would recommend all those impacted to engage with the consultation before it closes on 31st January.

Consultation on the relocation of Jessie Younghusband Primary School, the expansion of St Anthony's School and proposed Catchment Area Changes Overview Relocate Jessie Younghusband Primary School It is proposed to relocate Jessie Younghusband from its current location to a new 1 Form of Entry (FE) Primary School (210 places) which is being built on the housing development West of Chichester, known as Minerva

From practical action to clear up sewage in the harbour to supporting our NHS - my plan for Chichester is one that delivers for people across our constituency. Read more in my weekly column for the Chichester Observer.

My Plan for Chichester in 2024

Lovely to see our National Park captured in all its beauty in this year's South Downs National Park Annual Photo Competition. What's your favourite spot on the Downs?

‘Spellbinding’ image of autumn leaves in the snow in South Downs A “spellbinding” image of autumn leaves in Wolstonbury in West Sussex has won the annual photographic competition run by the South Downs…

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a new trend of more children being absent from school.

It is not a challenge unique to England. We are seeing similar trends across all parts of the UK and around the world.

All the data shows that the more time that children spend in the classroom, the better for their resilience, educational outcomes and life chances.

So, I’m really concerned about absence, and improving attendance is my number one priority.

Last year, we made progress, with 380,000 fewer children persistently absent or not attending school.

But we know we need to go further.

That’s why today, with schools returning from Christmas break - I am taking further action 👇

1. We’re expanding our attendance hubs programme, where leading schools share practical solutions with others, to help break down barriers to attendance. This will support 1,000 more schools, helping over 1 million pupils.

2. We’re widening our attendance mentor programme which gives intensive one-to-one support to pupils who are persistently absent, working with them and their families to help break their barriers to attendance. This will help 10,000 persistently and severely absent children and their families to improve attendance

3. We have also committed to further legislation in the coming months to modernise and improve how schools record and share data on attendance. This will support teachers and school leaders to understand where there may be an absence issue in their school.

4. Last year, we also formed a group called the Attendance Action Alliance to target the main causes of poor attendance. We’ve been hosting meetings with these experts across education, health, mental health, social care and the police to work together to improve attendance.

But we cannot do this alone. Everyone in government, parents, schools, pupils and wider services themselves need to play their part.

With working patterns changing and more parents working from home, I know it can be even harder to get children out of the door and into school - especially when they are feeling a bit anxious or have a mild cough or a cold.

But school matters. Attendance counts.

So, we must rebuild the social contract between parents and schools and make sure that we are all working together towards this important mission of improving attendance.

As we enter the new term and into 2024, we have a huge opportunity to build on the good progress we made last year and ensure that all children are in the classroom.

Find out more about what we’re doing to tackle absence in schools here 👇

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/03/improving-school-attendance/

🎉Happy New Year!🎉

I hope your 2024 has got off to a good start. You can read my column from last week's Chichester Observer below which looks back on an amazing year for Chichester in 2023.

Gillian's Weekly Column: Looking back at 2023 - 28th December 2023 Happy Christmas from Gillian Keegan! Friday, 22 December, 2023 We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!