Find out what Parliament is doing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, including events, displays and learning resources.
See their website here: Remembering Parliament’s World War Two Contributions
News
News
UK Parliamentary Chess Club
StandardFancy a game of chess?
The Parliamentary Chess Club meets at 6pm every Monday evening in Portcullis House when Parliament is not in recess.
For more information, please see here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/groups-which-staff-can-join/sports-and-social-groups/uk-parliamentary-chess-club/
Trust, public engagement and UK Parliament
StandardA research briefing from POST – the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology.
What is the relationship between public engagement activities and public trust? What makes different types of engagement methods effective, and how can they engage the public and impact trust levels?
Download the briefing here: Trust, public engagement and UK Parliament
Panel Discussion: A Parliamentarian’s Guide to the Unwritten Constitution
StandardTime: 14:00 – 18:00
Date: 2 June 2025
Location: PCH
Open to: All Members and their staff, Peers, and all parliamentary staff.
Registration required before 26 May 2025 – see below
Join our expert panel event to explore the role that politicians and key parliamentary personnel play in sustaining the unwritten dimension of constitutionalism. The event – hosted by the House of Commons’ Parliament, Public Administration and Constitution Hub and in collaboration with legal academics at UCL, Durham University and the University of Ottawa – will explore the content, functions and interactions of different types of unwritten rules and the ways in which parliamentarians channel unwritten rules in the day-to-day work of government.
For full details and registration, please see here: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/events/2025/june/a-parliamentarians-guide-to-the-unwritten-constitution/
New Forums for Members’ Staff
StandardThe MMSST is pleased to announce the launch of two new forums for Members’ Staff, one for Parliamentary Assistants and Researchers and one for staff in Communication and Administration roles.
There are now four dedicated Forums for Members’ staff, each tailored to specific job roles. The forums serve as a space for you to connect with colleagues, ask questions, share best practices, and stay informed about services, training opportunities, and upcoming events.
- Join the Casework Discussion Forumfor staff who handle casework.
- Join the Office Management Forum for staff with office management responsibilities (e.g., Office Manager, Chief of Staff).
- *NEW* Join the Parliamentary Assistants and Researchers Forum
- *NEW* Join the Communications and Administration Forum(e.g., communications manager, communications officer, administration officer).
Stand Up to Harassment – Bystander Training
StandardThe Suzy Lamplugh Trust is hosting free thirty-minute webinars on bystander training. Here’s what they say:
“There has been unprecedented demand for bystander training from both the business world and the general public after the tragic case of Sarah Everard. People and organisations want to take steps to address the prevalence of unwanted and aggressive behaviours such as harassment that underly the broader cycle of violence against women and girls, which the Trust has worked on since its inception over three decades ago. This partnership will allow the Trust to fulfil its objective of standing against harassment alongside the wider public.”
https://www.suzylamplugh.org/Event/stand-up-against-harassment-bystander-training-22nd-may-2025-1200-1230
For dates and registration, please see the website here: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/Events/Category/events
MONDAY NIGHT MEN’S 8-a-SIDE FOOTBALL MATCH
StandardWestminster Wanderers FC is an adult men’s FA standard football club, competing in the Southern Sunday Football League and also organising social football.
We are seeking new players to play our weekly social football match, which has been going for at least 10 years. We play an 8-a-side game at Pimlico Academy every week on a decent sized pitch, getting a good group together each Monday night to enjoy a friendly but competitive match which kicks off at 8.15pm.
We are looking for extra players to join the squad. The expectation is that you will play one or two weeks out of the month, and we operate on the basis that the first 16 who sign up each week get to play. The match lasts for one hour and the fee is £12 to cover our costs. Teams are chosen by the organising group every week, and the invitation to play goes out on Thursday morning for the following Monday.
This is a good game for players who don’t get to play every weekend, for veterans and all those who just want a decent hour of football. We have long-standing Westminster Wanderers playing, as well as students and people who have found out about the game by word-of-mouth. Players include civil servants, researchers, journalists, and people working in public affairs. The matches tend to be quite close and played in a good spirit. The players range from 16 years to over 50 years old and there is an end of year awards.
Pimlico Academy is on Lupus Street, SW1, the nearest tube station is Pimlico, and there is on-street parking and space for bikes.
Please let us know if you want to become part of the squad. Either email us at westminsterwanderers@gmail.com, or link to us at X or LinkedIn.
Alex
WWFC Club Chairman
Meet the Director Drop-in: Parliamentary Maintenance
StandardTime: 11:30 – 14:00
Date: Tuesday 13 May
Location: Portcullis House Hub
Directors from key House Administration teams that provide services to Members will be available to answer your questions, listen to your feedback, or if you just want to learn more about how their teams can support you in carrying out your parliamentary duties.
Meet:
- Mark Ryce, Director of Parliamentary Maintenance
- Andy Doherty and Adnan Al-Ammaren, Deputy Directors of Parliamentary Maintenance
- Whitley Lane will be there alongside additional members of staff to talk/answer questions about Planon.
Avoid health misinformation: Improving constituents’ health literacy
StandardGood Information Toolkit Talk from the House of Commons Library
How does health literacy impact constituents and the NHS? Join us for an essential session focused on improving health literacy, where we will ask:
What is health literacy?
- Understand the fundamentals and why it’s important for effective communication in our communities.
Why does it matter to the NHS and your constituents? - Discover how improved health literacy can lead to better patient outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and help you support your constituents.
- How can we empower constituents to understand information about their health
- Explore how we can improve understanding in written and verbal information. We’ll also step into the shoes of patients who don’t understand what they’re being told about their health, and think about how we can communicate with empathy.
If you’re working in a constituency, this session can help you engage with communities about their health and support informed decision-making.
Time: 14:00
Date: 20 May 2025
Location: Online
Further information and registration: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=7476
Casework Discussion Forum: Local transport Q&A
StandardTime: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: 8 May 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams
The Casework Discussion Forum takes place each month via MS Teams.
The topic for May’s forum meeting will be a Local transport Q&A (UK wide). We’ll be joined by Roger Tyers and Mike Benson from the Library’s Business and Transport team, and Iona Stewart from the Library’s Social and General Statistics team.
The forum is complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which enables you to share ideas and best practice, with support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.
You do not have to be a caseworker to attend these sessions – they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.