****Announcement**** Please note we are shut on Good Friday 7th April. We reopen the following week 10-12 Laindon Community Centre #LoveBasildon Basildon Council @BBWVolcentre Basildon Basildon Conservatives Safer Basildon Gateway 97.8

Though a year has passed since the invasion of Ukraine, charities and groups in #Essex continue to support migrants and refugees. This includes help when they arrive & for their integration. We worked with Masonic Charitable Foundation on funding this: bit.ly/433oJs6 #FundedbyECF

My final 'blog' as High Sheriff of Essex. With thanks to Dr James Bettley JP DL for maintaining the excellent website. highsheriffofessex.com/2023/03/31/the…

***********Announcement**** We are open as usual this Friday from 10-12 at #Laindon Community Centre for all residents of #Basildon Borough if you can bring something with address on and £3.50 for Annual Membership fee🙏🙏🙏

Delivering in the dry - hooray! Teams are out across Brentwood today. #4thMay Conservative Councillors' Association #VoteConservative

Essex is blessed with a beautiful countryside and an extraordinary coastline, and with the arrival of Spring, there is an extra incentive to make the most of it. Read our latest Essex Life article on local groups which utilise the power of nature: bit.ly/3MG18rF

🎙New podcast from Feeding Britain, where we take an in-depth look at the work being undertaken across our network to eliminate hunger from the UK. Episode one, featuring our Number Seven citizens’ supermarket in Birkenhead, now available here: open.spotify.com/episode/58Yf4c…

Last Friday, I cut the ribbon to officially open Thurrock CF's new Community Engagement Café, Spacious Place. Many thanks to the team for inviting me – I can already see that it is going to be a big asset for Thurrock. stephenmetcalfe.org.uk/news/stephen-m…

Very interesting visit to University of Surrey last week to discuss the undoubted impact #AI will have on us all. We must ensure that AI is a force for good and deployed with appropriate safeguards. stephenmetcalfe.org.uk/news/stephen-m…

We had a great planning session last week focussing on our event in #Southend on 16th Sept. Put it in your diary as we share our hopes to Transform the Reputation of #Essex Transforming Essex Anna Firth Denise Rossiter ECOC Chelmsford Diocese SouthendStreetPastor BBC Essex Premier Christian Radio

My fellow Essex MPs and I met with Roger Hirst - for Essex to discuss how Essex Police can further tackle knife crime. Thank you to Julie Taylor for her funding of life-saving first aid kits for knife crime victims. Thank you to Anna Firth for her leadership on #knifecrimeawarenessweek

Our community supermarket programme is expanding to Colchester and Canvey Island. We're seeking delivery partners for new shops offering affordable food and household essentials to even more residents in the county 🚚 Visit: essex.gov.uk/news/community… Essex.Gov

The next phase of our community supermarkets is underway&we are looking for delivery partners. Details below 👇 👇 Jaywick and Laindon are up and running & we aim to have a community supermarket in every borough / city / district by next Feb. #LevellingUp #communities

It was great to see the Panel for the Searle Trust last week. We meet with them annually to agree grants to charitable causes and individuals in #Debden. This Fund honors a woman named Emily Searle and a plaque has gone up in the local church about her gift to the community👏

Work is underway in Long Ridings Ave to repair the defects near the school. I raised these for action & they’re being done this week during half term, to minimise disruption. The road is currently closed whilst the work takes place.

📣 Your New Volunteer Network E-Bulletin is Here - mailchi.mp/31e1b6418d1a/e…

Celebrating our first 2 Community Supermarkets in Jaywick & Laindon with partners Community Supermarket Basildon & Andrew, CEO of FoodCouncil. I announced a Sept roll out of 2 more in Canvey Island & Colchester. There’ll be one in every borough by next March. #levellingup #Essex

Visit to Community Supermarket Basildon in Laindon, helping out as part of our “Summer of Volunteering. “ Membership is growing with more people shopping at reduced prices & having a free cuppa & friendly chat 😊 ☕️ 🛒 By March every borough/district/city will have a community supermarket.

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Delighted to open Harlow’s Bounty Club Community Supermarket. 6th in Essex&we are well on our way to one in every borough/city/ district. The shops provide lower priced fresh& long life food. Thanks to the wonderful team who helped to make it happen. 🥘🍲 🥗 @halfon4harlowMP