If you’re at the Parliament Fair come and see w4mp in the atrium of Portcullis House.. we’ve got beermats, stickers, lollies and jelly babies.
Do jelly babies count as treating?
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CSSC Sports and Leisure
StandardHave you heard of the Civil Service Sports Council?
It’s a fantastic organisation which supports its members with physical, financial and mental wellbeing, as well as providing hundreds of other benefits. Staff of MPs and Peers are eligible to join.
See our page here for further information:
https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/groups-which-staff-can-join/cssc/
Ordering wreaths for Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday
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If you would like to order a wreath for Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday, you can do so by contacting the Royal British Legion directly: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/shop/wreaths
They are able to provide a portcullis badge for the centre of the wreath, but you will need to request this at the time you order the wreath, and only ‘Type C’ and ‘Type G’ wreaths can accommodate a central badge. You have to order by telephone if you want the House of Commons badge because it’s not on the website: 0345 845 1945, and make sure you tell them that you want the green House of Commons badge.
You can order wreaths at any time of year but, obviously, they are busiest in October and November, so do try to order in good time. They suggest that orders for Armistice Day should be placed before 24 October.
What’s happening in Parliament this week (via Hansard Society)
StandardAs the Parliamentary recesss comes to an end (before the usual adjournment for party conferences) the Hansard Society’s Parliament Matters Bulletin has a comprehensive run through the business planned for this week.
You can read it on their website, or suscribe to their weekly email.
Planning your next steps? Hoping to work in public affairs? – Use August wisely!
After life as a Parliamentary Researcher, what’s next on the career ladder? For many, the natural next step is into the world of public affairs, perhaps for an agency or an in-house team. When it comes to job interviews, potential employers will be looking for someone who not only knows parliamentary procedure, but how to build and deliver a public affairs strategy that will achieve client or organisation objectives. The Other Place Public Affairs Ltd is here to help you gain the knowledge, and the confidence, to take that next step.
SPECIAL OFFER!
The Other Place Public Affairs Ltd is running a one-day, online training course which will share the building blocks of successful public affairs planning. It’s facilitated by a former Parliamentary Researcher with over 15 years’ experience of both in-house and agency public affairs.
The course is £250+VAT if you mention W4MP when booking (normally £350+VAT). Maximum six participants. 9.30am-4.30pm, 13 August 2024, online via Zoom.
Contact Carys Davis at The Other Place Public Affairs Ltd on [email protected] for more info and to book your place.
Concerns relating to Health Assured
StandardThe BBC has reported claims that corporate clients of Health Assured, the provider of the staff Employee Assistance Programme, listened in to confidential helpline calls without the knowledge or permission of callers. You can read the House response to this on ParliNet, with contact details for those who need further advice or guidance.
Pathways to Parliament: UK Parliament Work Experience
StandardDo you know anyone aged between 14 and 18 who is interested in the work of Parliament? The Learning and Careers team have partnered with one of the UK’s leading providers for online work experience, Springpod, to run a 3 month on demand virtual work experience programme.
The programme is now live until the 6th of October 2024. Click here to enrol and more information. Please share with anyone who may be interested
Room Available: Highgate
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In home in Highgate (Zone 2).
Full use of house facilities. 30 mins Westminster.
£785 per month incl. ideal for first time Londoner.
Contact: [email protected]
MP Office Manual Published
Between June 2023 to June 2024 a cross-party group of civic technologists worked together to create the MP Office Manual. They are all keen to see MPs with well run offices contributing to a flourishing democracy in the UK.
You can read it at mpofficemanual.uk
The proposals in the manual come from in-depth interviews with current and former MPs office staff and expert advice from 30+ practitioners, allied with a survey of staff members and a review of current literature including all past guides and examples found on w4mp, Hansard Society, and Parliament.
We hope you find it useful – and if you have any suggestions for improving it please get in touch.
Who’s Standing?
A fascinating blog post from Democracy Club where they have analysed their data on the 4,515 parliamentary candidates standing for election on July 4. Read the full details on their website, but some highlights include
- 30% of candidates are female. The majority of candidates were born in the 1960s or 1970s; the average year of birth is 1973.
- 73% of candidates have recent electoral experience. 57% have stood for parliament since 2010, and 36% have stood in a council election since 2016.
- 550 former MPs are standing for election. 1,055 candidates have recent (2018-present) experience as a councillor.
And, crucially, the preferred biscuit of general election candidates is the Digestive, closely followed by Hobnobs. There is a 52/48% split in favour of non-chocolate over chocolate biscuits.