As Parliamentarians, we are always looking at ways to support our constituents. The people, businesses, schools and organisations that make up our communities deserve the strongest voice, and it is my job to ensure that they are heard. So It is critical to give local organisations a voice in parliamentary process when they come forward, such as SOBs – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide.
I’ve long campaigned for the necessity to have better mental health support and the need to do more to tackle the tragedy of those taking their own lives. Suicide is preventable, not inevitable. Volunteering with Samaritans on Tyneside, I understand how critical intervention can be, but also how important it is to support those who are affected by losing a loved one this way. Research by a number of organisations clearly shows that those who have been bereaved by suicide face a heightened risk of suicide . It’s essential that we act to support those bereaved by suicide.
I committed in my maiden speech to doing all that I can to prevent suicide, and as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary group on Suicide and Self Harm Prevention for a number of years, I have had the privilege of meeting some incredible people working to support others who have experienced losing a someone close to suicide.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – SOBs is a national network of volunteer-led peer-support groups for people who have been bereaved by suicide. I was pleased to host the charity and its volunteers, including Mark and Korin, from Consett, who co-founded the Consett branch in 2023. SOBs were able to explain to Members of Parliament how their local groups can support those affected by suicide. I was able to attend one of the Consett group’s sessions last year and heard from the people there just how important the group was to them.
Sadly, here in the North East, we have high rates of suicide. I want to thank SOBs’ Mark and Korin, and the many other voluntary organisations working in the region, that support is available for people who have lost family and friends to suicide.
Having personal experience of this issue, I am grateful to them for ensuring that this exists within my constituency.
Back up the east coast main line, the job of listening to constituents takes further shape within the summer months as much like schools, Parliament rises for summer recess. However, far from jetting off to somewhere sunny, it is an opportunity to engage with those in the constituency.
During the year, parliament is sitting every Monday – Thursday, leaving only Fridays and weekends to visit around the constituency, which in my case stretches a full 50 min drive.
The peak summer months offer more daylight and time to get around the constituency in a much more fulfilling manner, visiting businesses, constituents and organisations to arm myself for the debates and discussions to come in the autumn, and to ensure I can voice what Blaydon and Consett needs.
The summer so far has ranged from intimate discussions within Ryton’s Mens Shed, seeing how they support the community and give local lads a voice to speak out, to Garnder Aerospace and hearing about the integral work they do to support the construction of AirBus planes.
Within the wider region, I’ve been lucky enough to hear from Northumbria University’s brand-new Space Skills and Technology Centre, hearing of their vision for advancing the North East’s space sector through cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development looking to build a future industry for the North East that will create thousands of jobs.
I’ve also met with GPs from across County Durham to hear about the need for further support and funding, ensuring that community care within the county can continue to be a priority, ensuring that communities are supported in a pro-active manner.
I often hear criticism of Parliament that MPs ‘just care about themselves’, far from that troupe, the voices that engage in the parliamentary process and the need to fight for improvements in legislation is led by those within our everyday communities who look for positive change. Summer reaffirms my belief in the Blaydon and Consett’s role in that process.