It was wonderful to attend the opening of the new Gurdwara in Belvedere with the local Sikh community. Celebrating the important work that the Sikh community carry out and learning more about their faith was very special.
It was great to attend the Erith Town FC annual presentation evening and hand out well-earned awards to our local players, as well as recognising the massive amount of work that occurs behind the scenes.
Grassroots football is one of the key pillars of local communities, so celebrating their success is vital.
Up the Dockers!
This month, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Africa Day of Celebration organised by Active Horizons. I was honoured to support an organisation who do so much to foster leadership and promote the voices of the African diaspora.
Every year, the Politics Home magazine recognises 100 Women in Westminster who are leading the way in politics and public life. It was an honour to be recognised as one of the hundred women making a difference, and to be selected amongst other women trailblazers. You can read more about this event here.
On Sunday 5 May, it was great to join Meridian FC at their Community Football Tournament and Health Awareness Day in memory of former Meridian player, Robert Eshun. I also thank the British Society for Heart Failure for joining and raising awareness of the 400,000 people in the UK with undetected heart failure.
Dear Friends,
Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for May 2024.
I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.
Abena
Announcement of the General Election on Thursday 4 July
The Prime Minister announced the General Election will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024. This is my last update as your Member of Parliament before Parliament is dissolved on 30 May.
It’s been an honour to serve as your Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead since 2019. If I am re-elected, I will happily continue these newsletters.
Community Engagement and Heart Health Education Day
On Sunday 5 May, it was great to join Meridian FC at their Community Football Tournament and Health Awareness Day in memory of former Meridian player, Robert Eshun. I also thank the British Society for Heart Failure for joining and raising awareness of the 400,000 people in the UK with undetected heart failure.
Active Horizons Africa Day of Celebration
This month, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Africa Day of Celebration organised by Active Horizons. I was honoured to support an organisation who do so much to foster leadership and promote the voices of young migrants and refugees in London.
Erith Town Football Club Presentation Evening
It was great to attend the Erith Town FC annual presentation evening and hand out well-earned awards to our local players, as well as recognising the massive amount of work that occurs behind the scenes.
Grassroots football is one of the key pillars of local communities, so celebrating their success is vital. Up the Dockers!
Opening of the new Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) in Belvedere
It was also good to attend the opening of the new Gurdwara in Belvedere with the local Sikh community. Celebrating the important work that the Sikh community carry out and learning more about their faith was very special.
Visit to Greenwich Mental Health Hub with Mind
It was great to visit the Plumstead Health Centre this month and meet all the lovely and hardworking staff at South East London Mind. You can find out more about their work here.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW)
It has also been important this month to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). In my role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, I have been working hard on our plans to end the current mental health crisis and wrote about these issues in the New Statesman here.
I was also pleased to attend Mental Health Foundation’s reception in Parliament and to meet Mr Motivator and Jonny Wilkinson, both influential and positive voices promoting good mental health and the importance keeping active.
My Work in Parliament
This month, we winded down Parliament as the Government called a General Election. I spoke at an important debate in Westminster Hall on the need to finally reform the outdated Mental Health Act.
Furthermore:
For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).
You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch
It was important this month to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). In my role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, I have been working hard on our plans to end the current mental health crisis and wrote about these issues in the New Statesman here.
I was also pleased to attend the Mental Health Foundation’s reception in Parliament and to meet Mr Motivator and Jonny Wilkinson, both influential and positive voices promoting good mental health and the importance keeping active.
Many thanks to NHS Confederation for inviting me to speak to their annual Mental Health Conference in Leeds on the urgent need to invest in our mental health services.
It was also important to learn about the innovative approaches taken at Leeds Synergi to tackle ethnic inequalities in mental health.
Dear Friends,
Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for April 2024.
I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.
As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
Abena
Royal Borough of Greenwich Nepalese Society (RGNS) New Year Celebrations
It was lovely to join the RGNS’s celebrations this month as they welcomed a New Year 2081. I want to wish all Nepalis in Erith and Thamesmead and across the whole country a very Happy New Year.
History made for Erith and Belvedere FC
I was inspired to watch history in the making as the first ever girls side from Erith and Belvedere FC under 15’s team played against Sudbury Town at the Acclaim Handling Community Stadium in Welling. Big congratulations to all those involved in making this happen and to the girls on the field from both teams.
NHS Confederation’s Annual Mental Health Conference and visit to Leeds Synergi
Many thanks to NHS Confederation for inviting me to speak to their annual Mental Health Conference in Leeds on the urgent need to invest in our mental health services. It was also important to learn about the innovative approaches taken at Leeds Synergi in tackling ethnic inequalities in mental health.
My Work in Parliament
This month, we have continued to see chaos in Parliament as the Government struggled to pass their flagship Safety of Rwanda Bill.
In my view, this is a failing scheme, with even the Home Office Permanent Secretary saying there is no evidence it will work as a deterrent. Instead, I believe we must put that money into boosting Britain’s border security with a new cross border police unit to smash the criminal smuggler gangs.
Speaking at Lloyds Banking Group’s ‘Black in Business’ reception
It was also great to speak at the ‘Black in Business’ event in Parliament hosted by Channel 4 and Lloyds Banking Group. And it was great to hear from the amazing Black entrepreneurs and business owners, who spoke about the work that has been championed by this initiative.
Furthermore:
For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).
You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch
I was inspired to watch history in the making as the first ever girls side from Erith and Belvedere FC under 15’s team played against Sudbury Town at the Acclaim Handling Community Stadium in Welling.
Big congratulations to all those involved in making this happen and to the girls on the field from both teams.
