Author: W4MP Editor

PolicyMogul Conference Connector

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If you’re going to the party conferences this year, use PolicyMogul’s free tool to meet organisations and policymakers who share your interests.

Simply fill in a short form with some information about you and the kind of people you’re interested in meeting, and PolicyMogul will connect you with relevant people.

https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/eAnhCWL3Di5l7N0lI6jTo1?domain=about.policymogul.com/

The price of postage stamps will rise on 2 October 2023

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The prices of Royal Mail postage stamps will rise on 2 October 2023

  • A first-class stamp for a standard letter will rise to £1.25
  • The price of a second-class stamp for a standard letter will remain at £0.75
  • Large letter first class will rise to £1.95
  • Large letter second class will rise to £1.55

You can find full details of all price rises here: https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2023-09/our-prices-october-2023-ta.pdf

Subject Access Requests – guidance for MPs’ offices

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

The Information Compliance Team has updated its guidance on Subject Access Requests for MPs’ offices and you can find it here

You could also have a look at our page on Data Protection here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/your-office/data-protection/

Design a pie for Parliament!

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

It’s 250 years since the first ‘official’ catering venue opened in the House of Commons and to celebrate this and the work of the catering teams in making Parliament happen, they’re celebrating the culinary creativity of the parliamentary community and inviting you to design a pie for Parliament!

The winner will have their pie on the menu in Bellamy’s and be offered the opportunity to serve on the day, wearing their very own 250 anniversary apron. 

For details about how to enter, please visit the intranet page here

Wellness Working Group August Blog Post

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The Wellness Working Group (WWG) will be publishing a monthly blog, written by Committee Member, Lisa Young, who not only works for an MP but is a trained counsellor. They hope that by publishing this blog, you might find some comfort as well as practical tips to help you through a difficult situation.

You can find the blog on the parliamentary intranet here: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub/SitePages/WWG-Blog.aspx

The August 2023 post relates to receiving calls from people who are struggling to cope, and contains a link to a useful template to guide you through such a call.

Training for Members’ Staff

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The Members’ and Members’ Staff Services Team, along with Teams across the House of Commons, provides a wide range of training, learning and development activities that have been developed to support Members’ staff in their different roles and responsibilities.

To see the dates of courses coming up soon, view the Monthly Training Bulletin. You can also find all the training available to Members’ Staff on ACT.

Note: you must have a parliamentary network account and be connected to the network in order to access the above links.

Caseworker Discussion Q&A: Update from the Members’ Services Team

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Time: 14:00
Date: Thursday 17 August 2023
Location: Online via Teams

Update from the Members’ Services Team, including:

  • Training – Tom Mitchell, Training & Learning Facilitator, will update the group on the Training Ambassador Network, new starter learning pathways, as well as seeking your ideas and feedback for new training courses.
  • Engagement – Lydia Smith, Engagement Manager, will provide an overview of the engagement programme for the remainder of 2023, including an update on the dissolution roadshow events.
  • Wellbeing – Tanya Harris, Health and Wellbeing Manager, will provide an update about the Employee Assistance Programme – Health Assured.

It is nearly one year since the Casework Discussion Forum launched. We would like to use this session to gather your feedback about the Forum, suggestions on how it can be improved, and ideas for what topics you would like to see covered in 2024.