It was great to speak to the senior leadership team at the University of Greenwich as I visited the Avery Hill Campus to discuss their plans to break down barriers for students, establish local community projects and their ambitions to lead the sector in social mobility.
I enjoyed taking a tour of their excellent medical facilities, talking about the student experience for my constituents and their values of inclusivity, collaboration and social impact.
Universities are vital for education, local employment and community projects. I’m proud to work alongside this ‘outstanding’ institution to deliver both for my constituents in Erith and Thamesmead and more broadly for South East London.
Great to speak to the @UniofGreenwich leadership team about their ambitions for students and our community. 📝
Universities are vital for education, local employment and community projects. I'm proud to work alongside this 'outstanding' institution to deliver for SE London. pic.twitter.com/On2ssuQCSm
The attacks in Southport last month left every decent person in shock and disbelief. My thoughts continue to be with the families, neighbours, and friends of the three little girls who lost their lives, and the other children and adults injured in this senseless act.
While some attempted to exploit this tragedy to advance their own agendas, I’m pleased to see the people of Southport, along with communities like ours in Erith & Thamesmead, have instead come together to condemn these acts.
I thank all those who reached out to me following these incidents. I will continue to work with community leaders and follow developments closely.
Visiting Temples in Erith & Thamesmead with the Mayor of Greenwich
I was delighted to visit the two local temples – Pashupatinath Temple and Greenwich Hindu Mandir. It was nice to be joined by Cllr Jit Ranabhat, the Mayor of Greenwich.
It was also great to meet so many local activists and members of the Greenwich Nepalese community.
Summer Festival at Shrewsbury House
I had a wonderful time at the Summer Festival at Shrewsbury House. It was such a great lineup of live music, with some brilliant local beers from Bexley Brewery, and tasty food from the Garden Café.
It’s great to have so many creative people and organisations in our constituency.
Dosa and Sambal Express Visit
It was also great to have some lovely food during my visit to the Dosa & Sambal Express in Plumstead in Greenwich. They have some nice choices including the Chicken Masala Dosa, Chilli Paneer and the Mango Lassi. Looking forward to going back!
Green Flag Awards for green spaces in Erith and Thamesmead
This month I was pleased to write to congratulate the organisations and groups who manage three green spaces in our community – Lesnes Abbey Woods, Eaglesfield Park and Plumstead Gardens – who were awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award for 2024.
Congratulations to all the residents who I know put in long hours to make these parks and gardens look as good as they do.
First Cabinet Office Questions
At the first Cabinet Office Questions under the new Government, I outlined our commitment to strengthening our national resilience, and how lessons will be learned from COVID-19 and tragedies such as Grenfell.
If you want to watch this then follow the link here, or if you would prefer to read the text, then follow the link here.
Furthermore:
Exam Results Day – This month I wished all the best to students across Erith & Thamesmead and the country who were awaiting their exam results.
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice Rebrand – Exciting to see the new brand for the retitled ‘Community Hospice’, who do so much across Greenwich and Bexley, and where I am a proud patron. Find out more here.
Congratulations Team GB and all the best to Paralympic Athletes – I’m sure we’re all proud of Team GB’s success at the recent Olympics and wishing the best to the Team GB Paralympic Athletes as the Paralympic Games begin!
VJ Day – This VJ Day, 15 August 2024, I joined all those who shared their gratitude for the sacrifice made by our armed forces during World War II.
Visit to National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – Pleased to go on my first visit to the NCSC in my role as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office and meet the expert teams working hard to keep the public safe online.
Stay updated on social media
For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).
Following my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, I was pleased to answer questions at the first Cabinet Office Questions under the new Government.
I responded to important questions under my new brief, including strengthening our national resilience, learning the lessons for the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing ourselves for tragedies like the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
Additionally, I confirmed that the Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will chair a Cabinet committee on resilience to review our preparedness against the range of risks the UK faces. You can find out more about this work here.
If you want to watch these Cabinet Office Questions then follow the link here, or if you would prefer to read the transcript, then follow the link here.
Social Media Post on 26th July 2024:
At Cabinet Office Questions, I outlined this Government's commitment to strengthening our national resilience, and how lessons will be learned from COVID-19 and tragedies such as Grenfell.
Last month, I was delighted to join Cllr Jit Ranabhat, the Mayor of Greenwich, in a visit to two local temples – Pashupatinath Temple and Greenwich Hindu Mandir.
It was great to meet so many local activists and members of the Greenwich Nepalese community as we visited these two important places of faith in our community.
As I said at the time, I was incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and the blessings given to me during my visit.
Thank you to the management committees at the Temples for hosting me and to the Royal Borough of Greenwich Nepalese Society and the Greenwich Mummies Forum for their hospitality.
Social Media Post on 28 July 2024:
It was great to meet with community activists yesterday with @JitRanabhat. I am so grateful for your welcome and blessings.
https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/27.07.24-Visit-to-Hindu-Temples-3.jpg12222048Abena Oppong-Asare MPhttps://www.abenaoppongasare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SM-Logo-3.pngAbena Oppong-Asare MP2024-08-09 17:47:002024-08-20 13:26:03Visiting Temples in Erith and Thamesmead with the Mayor of Greenwich
I had a wonderful time at the Summer Festival at Shrewsbury House on August 2nd. It was such a great lineup of live music, with some brilliant local beers from Bexley Brewery, and tasty food from the Garden Cafe!
It’s great to have so many creative people and organisations in our constituency!
https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/240802-Shrewsbury-House-Summer-Festival.jpg14961496Abena Oppong-Asare MPhttps://www.abenaoppongasare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SM-Logo-3.pngAbena Oppong-Asare MP2024-08-03 11:58:482024-09-02 14:29:52Summer Festival at Shrewsbury House
I am honoured to be a patron of the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. So I was delighted that the Hospice was one of my first visits since my re-election. This year marks the Hospice’s 30th anniversary and they have been recognising everyone who has helped them get to this point.
Following the visit, I have also been excited to see the new branding for the Community Hospice, who do so much for residents in our constituency and across Greenwich and Bexley. You can see their new brand on their website here: https://communityhospice.org.uk/.
On social media, I was pleased to congratulate the Hospice team and their CEO Kate Heaps, who’ve been working so hard to make sure the great work at the hospice continues.
Social Media Post on 1st August 2024:
Exciting to see the new brand for @comm_hospice, who do so much for residents in our constituency and across #Greenwich and #Bexley.
Congratulations to the hospice's CEO @heapy25 and all her team, who've been working so hard to make sure the great work at the hospice continues. https://t.co/t8XzfWUvsi
It’s important to support local hardworking businesses, especially when they produce such amazing dishes!
I recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Dosa & Sambal Express in Plumstead in Greenwich. Chicken Masala Dosa, Chilli Paneer, Egg and Fish Roll and the Mango Lassi was brilliant.
I would highly recommend people in and around Erith and Thamesmead visiting them, the staff were friendly and the food was of a high standard.
On Thursday 4 July 2024, I was very thankful to be re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead. It has been a great privilege to represent this constituency since 2019 and I am committed to continuing to work tirelessly on your behalf.
I’m also so proud to have helped elect a Labour Government on a manifesto of change and its plans to rebuild our economy, our public services and trust in politics.
You can read my full message of thanks to constituents on my website here. You can also watch my victory speech here and watch me being sworn into Parliament here.
Greenwich and Bexley Hospice Visit
I am honoured to be a patron of the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, so I was delighted that the Hospice was one of my first visits since my re-election.
This year marks the Hospice’s 30th anniversary and they have been recognising everyone who has helped them get to this point.
Erith and Woolwich Kabaddi Tournament 2024
Thanks also to the Erith & Woolwich Kabaddi Club for organising this year’s Erith and Woolwich Kabaddi Tournament on Winns Common. I attended last year and so it was great to come again and to be joined by the Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr Jit Ranabhat, and Cllr Baljeet Singh Gillon and see so many fans of the sport there too.
King’s Speech 2024
This month we also saw the first King’s Speech of the new Government. From public rail ownership, the establishment of Great British Energy, new housebuilding and planning bills, Renters’ Rights Bill, Employment Rights Bill, and the emphasis on economic stability, the speech laid out the Government’s upcoming agenda for Parliament.
I’m pleased that reform of the Mental Health Act has also been included. Having recently worked on the mental health brief, I know how vital these reforms will be to provide greater support and equality for those it serves to protect.
Appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office
I am also honoured to have been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office and to have the opportunity to deliver real change as a member of the Government.
In this role, I’ll work in the Cabinet Office on cross-government cooperation and delivery of the Government’s priorities. You can find out more on my website here.
UNRWA Funding
It was important to see the new Foreign Secretary announce that the UK will restart funding to UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the key aid delivery body in Gaza.
In February, I raised this issue directly with the last Government and urged them to commit to a timeline to bring back funding. I join the new Government in their calls for unfettered access for humanitarian organisations alongside an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages and a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. You can find my question here or watch it here.
Parkfest at Bostall Gardens
Finally, it was lovely to be at Parkfest at Bostall Gardens with the Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr Jit Ranabhat, and Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins. Great to meet so many families and local businesses there and I want to thank Bostall Gardens Friends Group for organising such a great community event.
Furthermore:
Lenses Abbey Woods’s Green Flag Award – I am pleased that once again Lenses Abbey Woods retains the Green Flag Award and its worthy recognition as one our country’s best parks.
Opening Day Fixtures released for Erith Town FC – Looking forward to Erith Town FC’s debut in the Isthmian League’s South East-Division. Find out more on their website here: Erith Town FC – Home of The Dockers!
England at the Euros 2024 – I am sure we’re all proud of the England Team’s successful and exciting run to another Euros final this summer. Well done!
D-Day 80th Anniversary – Last month, I was proud to join tributes at the Abbey Wood Memorial Garden to the brave British and Commonwealth soldiers on this historic anniversary. Their courage will never be forgotten.
Grenfell Tower Anniversary – June also marked seven years since the Grenfell Tower fire, which took 72 lives. My thoughts were with the victims, their families and the survivors as we marked this tragic anniversary.
Jo Cox Anniversary – It has also been eight years since the tragic murder of Jo Cox. Her words ‘We have more in Common than that which divides us’, stays with us and drives our sense of purpose for change.
Happy St George’s Day– On Windrush Day, Sunday 22 June, we celebrated the generation that served Britain with greatness, spirit and devotion. We can be inspired by their efforts as we look to change Britain for the Better.
Stay updated on social media
For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).
It was lovely to be at Parkfest at Bostall Gardens last Sunday with the Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr Jit Ranabhat, and Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins.
Great to meet so many families and local businesses there and I want to thank Bostall Gardens Friends Group for organising such a great community event.
I want to thank the Erith & Woolwich Kabaddi Club for organising this year’s Erith and Woolwich Kabaddi Tournament on Winns Common.
I attended last year and so it was great to come again and to be joined by the Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr Jit Ranabhat, and Cllr Baljeet Singh Gill, on the day and see so many fans of the sport there too.
