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Moneyhelper

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Exclusive webinar for MPs’ staff

  • Boosting financial wellbeing one step at a time
  • A free MoneyHelper webinar for MPs’ staff
  • Monday 6 November, 14.00-15.00
  • Register and more details

During Talk Money Week, MoneyHelper (brought to you by the Money and Pensions Service) is hosting an exclusive webinar to support MP’s staff to have better conversations with constituents about money. Our financial wellbeing experts will help you:

  • Discover how to navigate conversations about money.
  • Learn how MoneyHelper can assist with your constituents’ queries on issues like housing, money, debt, and pensions.
  • Empower your constituents with tools to help enhance their financial wellbeing.

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to an MP’s office, the free MoneyHelper webinar will help you guide your constituents to make more informed financial decisions. Secure your spot and register today!

Subject Access Requests – guidance for MPs’ offices

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The Information Compliance Team has updated its guidance on Subject Access Requests for MPs’ offices and you can find it here: https://intranet.parliament.uk/information-management/data-protection-security/data-protection/gdpr-for-commons-members/subject-access-requests/

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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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: https://intranet.parliament.uk/business-news/news-current-issues/news/2023/october/design-a-pie-for-parliament/

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’ 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.

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 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.

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.

Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology – latest publications

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POST, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, sources reliable and impartial scientific research evidence for the UK Parliament.

It’s latest publications are:

Guide to Free Legal Services to support constituency casework

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Available for MPs’ Offices Only

Guide to Free Legal Services to support constituency casework

The APPG for Access to Justice, which launched last month.

They have been working with a number of law firms to explore the types of legal problems that arise in MPs’ casework and one of the barristers involved, Toby Brown, has put together a comprehensive guidebook of all the law centres and charities across England and Wales which offer legal advice. It covers everything from immigration, domestic abuse, employment, social security, family issues and how to access legal aid.

There are enough hard copies for every MP and it would be an invaluable resource for any constituency office, irrespective of political party.

If you would be interested in obtaining a hard copy please email guide@probonoweek.org.uk and a copy will be sent to you. A PDF version is also available.