Guide

Guides for MPs Staff

Labour Staff Economy Network

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About the Labour Staff Economy Network:

The Labour Staff Economy Network (LSEN) brings together Labour staff interested in progressive economic policy. Our group provides:

  • Regular events with government ministers, MPs and policy experts, in Parliament and online
  • Opportunities to connect with other Labour staff, MPs and NGOs
  • A safe space to ask questions, learn from each other, and explore policy ideas

You don’t need to be an economist or to be based in parliament to join – we welcome all levels of knowledge as well as constituency staff.

How to Join

If you would like to join LSEN please email labour.staff.economy.network@gmail.com with your name, who you work for and your mobile number. Once verified as a Labour staffer, you will be added to our WhatsApp group and kept up to date with our up coming activities.

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: ring 0345 845 1945, and make sure you tell them that you want the green House of Commons badge – emphasis on ‘green’, as they do come in other colours and you want to make sure you have the right one.

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.

POST – The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

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The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is an impartial research and knowledge exchange service based in the UK Parliament.

POST works to ensure members of parliament from both Houses have access to the latest evidence and expertise on complex and emerging topics.

It is a valuable resource for parliamentarians looking for clear, impartial research evidence on a wide range of science and social science topics, covering health and the environment to housing and computing.

POST:

  • Publishes impartial briefings, drawing on cutting-edge research evidence, and tailored to the needs of parliament. Our unique approach involves extensive consultation with experts and stakeholders. We focus on topical issues where the research evidence is emerging or particularly complex covering science and social science, from health and the environment to housing and computing.
  • Helps parliamentarians connect with the external experts they need through our UK-wide network of academic and research institutions.

To find out more about POST, read their research briefings and learn about how they can help you with your work, find them on the parliament website at post.parliament.uk

More information about their services can be found on ParliNet.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 in Parliament

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Parliament is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), running from 12 – 18 May 2025. MHAW is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and share ways to support good mental health for all. This year, the theme for MHAW set by the Mental Health Foundation is Community. 

There is something for everyone this Mental Health Awareness Week, with events and resources open to Members and Members’ staff taking place throughout the week. Join us to celebrate the power and importance of community in supporting mental health this MHAW.

What’s On

  • Attend a special programme of talks, training workshops and networking sessions
  • Visit the MHAW stall in Portcullis House on 13 May
  • Networking events for Members’ staff in-person (13 May) and online (15 May)
  • Explore a collection of on-demand resources including pre-recorded webinars, interactive notice boards, and information about health and wellbeing services available to you.

The programme of events and training courses taking place throughout Mental Health Awareness Week is available to book here on ACT. 

Find out more and stay up to date on Parlinet: ParliNet | Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

UK Parliamentary Chess Club

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The UK Parliamentary Chess Club was re-launched following the Lords vs Commons match which took place in the Speaker’s House in the spring of 2023.

In the summer of 2024, the Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP very kindly agreed to become the Club Patron, granting them the ability to meet and play in Portcullis House on every Monday evening 6-7.30pm when Parliament is in session.

The club is open to Members of the House of Commons and the Lords along with all staffers who work on the estate; if you are interested in joining please contact the club captain Peter Hornsby at hornsbyp@parliament.uk or on 07528665226.

All ages and abilities are welcome, they have a huge range of players so you certainly don’t need to be a Magnus Carlsen or Judith Polgar!”

Death In Service

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The House funds and administers a Death in Service Scheme for Members’ staff.  All staff employed by MPs permanently or on fixed term contracts longer than 3 months, who are aged between 16 and 75, are automatically covered.  The scheme provides a lump sum payment if you were to die whilst still employed.

To nominate a recipient(s) of this lump sum, please complete an  EOW form Portcullis Death in Service Scheme.docx.  Please submit your completed form via email to PortcullisDIS@parliament.uk

You may update your nominees at any time by submitting a new form . A new form is needed if your employing MP changes as any previous version will be deleted as it will no longer be valid.

For further information, please see this page on the intranet: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/working-here/members-hr-advice-service/members-staff-death-in-service/

Nominating constituents for honours or awards

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Members of Parliament are often asked for assistance in nominating constituents for honours or awards.  The honours system is a way of recognising people’s achievements or efforts in serving their communities or the country.

The House of Commons Library has a document which goes into more detail about the honours system and how to apply: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/honours/

To nominate someone for an honour or award, please visit this website: https://www.gov.uk/honours

There’s also a very useful page here, giving tips on how to write a nomination:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honours-how-to-write-citations/how-to-write-a-nomination-html

The Right to Remain Toolkit

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The Right to Remain Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to the UK immigration and asylum system. It’s free to use, and it’s for people who want to learn more about the legal process, or a particular part of the legal process. It’s written in simple terms by legal experts and by people who have lived experience of the system, and it is available in many languages.

It’s aimed at people who are currently navigating the UK immigration and asylum system as well as those who are helping them to do so.

To read more about this fabulous resource and to access the Toolkit, please see the Right to Remain website by clicking the link below.

Right to Remain Toolkit

The Open University Westminster Showcase

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Invitation for Parliamentary Staff

The Open University Westminster Showcase

Thursday 14 November, 1.15-3pm (drop in at any time)
Attlee Suite, Portcullis House

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to The Open University Westminster Showcase, an event dedicated to Parliamentary staff members. The event will be held on Thursday 14th November, 1.15-3pm in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster. Refreshments will be available.

The event is an opportunity to find out how The Open University (OU) can support you in your day-to-day work in Parliament and in the constituency, the free resources you can share with constituents and local businesses as well as the free learning and development opportunities available.

On the day you can:

  • Learn about the free OU research and insights available to use when you’re writing briefing notes, policy documents or speeches.
  • Explore our free learning and development opportunities available to you and constituents.
  • Hear about the free OU insights local businesses and public services can access to support them with skills development and workforce planning.
  • Have a go at an online experiment via our Queen’s Anniversary award winning OpenSTEM Labs which enables OU students to access scientific equipment wherever in the world they are studying.
  • Network and meet colleagues from across parliament and the research and think-tank sectors.
  • Discover what Mars smells like…

The OU plays a significant role in local communities across the UK, with OU students based in every local area – including in the constituency you support.

Please RSVP and let us know if on the day you would like to collect a copy of your Constituency Profile, which includes useful facts and stats on the number of OU students in your constituency and their demographics.

All parliamentary staff members are welcome so please do share this invitation with anyone you think might like to attend.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Civil Service Football Club

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The Civil Service Football Club (CSFC) are recruiting players for the 2024/25 season from across Government. CSFC run eleven teams competing in games across London, with our home ground  being in Chiswick. This includes eight eleven-a-side men’s teams, two women’s teams and one veteran’s team (40+).

For men training runs every Wednesday at 7pm, for women training is every Thursday evening. Training is held on fantastic facilities at our home ground the Kings House School Sports Ground, London W4 2SH, a 20-minute train ride from Waterloo or Vauxhall to Barnes Bridge.

The club caters for a full spectrum of footballing abilities, ranging from near semi-professional standard in the first team to more socially orientated football in the lower teams. With eleven teams it’s a great way to make friends both within the team you play in and across the club.

The 2023/24 season was a successful season for the club, winning two league titles with other sides being runners up in leagues and Cups. There was a great end of season dinner with 120 players and a very successful tour to Bilbao in Spain including playing a game at Athletic Bilbao’s training ground and attending a La Liga game.

Increased physical activity has been identified as a priority area for Civil Service health and well-being initiatives. Playing competitive 11-a-side football is a great way to exercise, it’s also a great way to socialise and meet people from across the civil service and beyond.

The Civil Service Football Club is one of the most important clubs in football’s history. Recognised as the oldest association football club in the world CSFC were one of the dozen founding sides (most of the others are now defunct or play rugby union) of the Football Association on 28 October 1863, and were also one of the 15 entrants to the first ever FA Cup competition in 1871-72, last season they hosted the FA Cup second round draw. In 2013 they played in the only ever game played inside the grounds of Buckingham Palace

For more information, please email csfc.recruitment@gmail.com

If you are interested in joining our women’s team please email civilservicewomenfc@gmail.com.