Author: W4MP Editor

Members’ Staff Annual Conference 2025

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The Members and Members’ Staff Services Team (MMSST) invites you to attend the first ever Members’ Staff Annual Conference.

The event will take place on Wednesday 19 March 2025, and will be a hybrid event with spaces available to attend in-person (Portcullis House) and online via Teams.

The conference will spotlight the crucial role that Members’ staff play in supporting constituencies and parliamentary work.

The day will feature a series of workshops led by both internal and external guest speakers, all centred around the theme of housing.

To find out more and to sign up to the event please visit ParliNet: ParliNet | Members’ Staff Annual Conference 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Are you making the most of POST?

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The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) produces a wide range of reliable and impartial scientific research for Parliament.

Recent articles include:

To see the full range of research topics, please visit https://post.parliament.uk/

Updated Changes to Members’ staff security vetting

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In May 2024, the House of Commons Commission endorsed a number of changes to vetting policies, including that all Members’ staff funded by IPSA must be security cleared and this will come into force on 1 April 2025.

Please see this news article for further information: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/information-resources/news-newsletters-notices/news/2025/february/changes-to-members-staff-security-vetting/

and also this w4mp guide to security clearance for Members’ staff

https://w4mp.org/jobs-listings-events/jobs/members-staff-security-verification-questionnaire/

ElectHer One-to-One Support

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Elect Her wants to give you the personal space and time you need, to ask us anything about your journey to elected office so we can signpost you directly to resources and opportunities that we and our partners have in place.

Do you have questions you’d like to ask about how to get started, what support the political parties have in place, questions about funding or just a general catch up about where you are and where you’d like to be?

These 1:1 appointments are the perfect place to ask! If we can help we will, and if not we can refer you to other organisations! There is a whole host of support out there and sometimes you just need a nudge to access it.

We are available for 20 minute slots throughout Tuesday 18th February.

For further information please see here: https://www.elect-her.org.uk/events-workshops/ask-her-february-2025

Calling all SEND Teachers! Apply now for the SEND Quiet Day on 23 May at UK Parliament

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Take part in an exciting adventure around Parliament, tailored to your group’s needs, during some of our quietest times.

Who can apply
You can apply if you are a dedicated SEND school, or a SEND specific group and all of your learners have SEND needs.

What happens on the day
Your group will discover the wonders of Parliament through a sensory tour, and learn more about how laws are made. They will also dive into exciting activities in the Education Centre, such as dressing-up or designing their own law.

The Education Centre will try to make the day as flexible as possible and adapt to the students’ pace, working with you to pitch the sessions appropriately to meet your students’ needs, to ensure a memorable and enjoyable day.

About the application process
You can apply from 3 February via a digital form on the Parliament website. This form will be closing on 25 February at 10am. On the application from, you will be able to tell them more about your group and their specific needs, and your preferred time of the day to visit.

How to get help with your travel costs
There is a travel subsidy available for SEND Schools and SEND groups visiting UK Parliament for SEND Quiet Day. You could be eligible to claim 85% of your travel costs back up to £2,400. Read the terms and conditions for eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Apply here: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/session-workshop/send-quiet-day/

Members’ staff Networking Event

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Time: 14:30 – 16:30
Date: Monday 24 February 2025
Location: Attlee Suite, Portcullis House

The Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST) invites all Members’ staff to attend the first All Members’ Staff Networking Event of 2025.

The event is an opportunity for you to connect with fellow Members’ staff and meet colleagues from the services that are here to support you. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Please email [email protected] to register to attend.  

How the Library can help you with casework – Caseworker Discussion Forum

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The guest speakers at the February Caseworker Discussion Forum will be from the House of Commons Library, covering FAQ pages, online resources, requesting information and more.

Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Thursday 13 February 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953

LAST CHANCE TO RESPOND: MPs’ Staff Survey of Well-being 2024-2025

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The Wellness Working Group is excited to once again share with you the now Annual WWG Survey of Staff working for Members of Parliament

You may remember that the Wellness Working Group undertakes this important anonymous survey of MPs staff to better understand the pressures and effects that our jobs have on our wellbeing. We are delighted that Dr Weinberg from Salford University has agreed to run the survey again for us this year.

The survey is completely anonymous and a chance to be able to help us enact change and to help us all obtain better work places and practices. It should only take about 15 minutes to complete.

Please address any queries you may have to the lead researcher Dr Ashley Weinberg, who is an Occupational Psychologist at the University of Salford: [email protected]

Candidate Clinic

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Elect Her is inviting any women preparing for selection to come to a drop in space, where we can get to know you and support you.

We are offering this as an opportunity so we can understand what you need help and support with.

Whatever it is you need come and join us and our expert team:

Time: 19:00 – 20:15
Date: Monday 3 February 2025
Location: Online

Drop in and ask away!

https://www.elect-her.org.uk/events-workshops/candidateclinicfebeve